Unrest in the Kremlin on Friday Night; Wagner Commander Accuses Defense Minister of Treason and Marches Toward Moscow

After weeks of verbal and virtual conflict, Yevgeny Prigozhin, the commander of the Russian mercenary group Wagner, escalated the situation into a potential real war on Friday, June 23. Prigozhin, who had long complained about the lack of military supplies for his group to fight against the Ukrainian army provided by the Russian Ministry of Defense, announced on Friday that Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu had stabbed him in the back and caused the deaths of 'many' of his forces through missile attacks. The commander of this paramilitary group, claiming that the Defense Minister ordered missile strikes on Wagner's bases in Ukraine, told Russian army commanders: 'They treacherously deceived us and betrayed us.' He then declared war on the Kremlin, stating that he was marching toward Moscow with all his forces to hang Shoigu in Red Square and bury him next to Lenin. Prigozhin also called on the Russian people to take to the streets and rise against the 'traitors' alongside other Russian soldiers and his men. Early Saturday, June 24, AFP reported that his forces had entered the city of Rostov without facing any resistance. He promised to 'move forward to the end' to oust senior officials from Moscow. Meanwhile, the Russian state news agency TASS reported that the M-4 highway in the Rostov region was blocked and vehicles were being turned back to the city. The news agency also reported that Sergei Surovikin, deputy commander of the Russian Ministry of Defense's joint forces, had asked Prigozhin to follow the orders of President Vladimir Putin and resolve all issues 'peacefully.' The Russian FSB security service announced that it had opened a criminal case against Yevgeny Prigozhin for 'armed rebellion,' which could lead to a 20-year prison sentence. The service also urged Wagner 'fighters' not to follow Prigozhin's orders and to detain him and hand him over to Moscow. According to TASS, Dmitry Peskov, the Kremlin spokesman, stated that Vladimir Putin was aware of Prigozhin's situation and 'necessary measures are being taken.' In response to these events, Garry Kasparov, former world chess champion and a prominent opponent of the Russian government, said: 'It was clear from the beginning that Putin could no longer control the power groups in Russia or cover up internal conflicts, or at least prevent these disputes from turning violent.' Adam Hodge, spokesman for the U.S. National Security Council, also commented on the developments in Russia, stating that the U.S., its partners, and allies are monitoring the situation and consulting with each other. This appears to be the biggest internal crisis Vladimir Putin has faced since the military invasion of Ukraine in March 2022. Yevgeny Prigozhin, considered an ally of Vladimir Putin, had stated on Wednesday, May 24, that if the Russian leadership did not improve its management regarding the war and did not put its entire economy at the service of the war, it might face another revolution. The Wagner group played a key role in the operation to seize the city of Bakhmut in Ukraine, which is considered Russia's biggest victory in the past 10 months.