Prigozhin and his feared 25,000-strong Wagner militia took control of the southern Russian city of Rostov-on-Don Saturday, saying they are 'ready to die' for their 'march of justice', and have been heading north in a hundreds-strong convoy of armoured vehicles. However, two presidential jets were seen flying from Moscow in the direction of St Petersburg. It was reported to have switched off its transponder to prevent tracking the route. Putin earlier addressed the Russian people, warning that Prigozhin had 'stabbed him in the back', as Moscow enters into a lockdown, with troops digging in in preparation to defend the city.Ī spokesperson for the Russian president said Putin was still at work in the Kremlin and had not fled Moscow. Prigozhin initiated a military coup against Putin overnight, which has seen the group take key cities and threaten the President, who called them 'traitors'. A source said Wagner's plan for Moscow was to take up positions in a densely built-up area.Ī number of restrictions have now been introduced around the Russian capital following a decree from the governor as people were told to refrain from travelling round Moscow.
The convoy inching towards Moscow is said to be led by senior Wagner commander and neo-Nazi Dmitry Utkin. Wagner chief Yevgeny Prigozhin is said to have a total of 25,000 men at his disposal and a further 5,000 of them were in Rostov-on-Don, the southern city key to Russia's war in Ukraine that Prigozhin said he had taken control of. Moscow is preparing for war and battening down the hatches as soldiers build outposts and military vehicles flood the streets ahead of the expected arrival of Russia's Wagner militia forces within hours.Ī total of 5,000 Wagner forces are reportedly advancing toward Moscow, currently approaching Lipetsk this evening.
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