Wagner Group Claims Control of Rostov; Putin Addresses the Nation

In his first reaction to the unrest in Russia, which escalated on Friday with the advance of Wagner mercenary forces into the city of Rostov, Russian President Vladimir Putin accused the group's commander, without naming him, of 'treason' and described the 'rebellion' as a 'deadly threat' to the state. Putin's remarks were broadcast on Russian state television on Saturday, coinciding with Yevgeny Prigozhin's claim that his forces had taken control of Rostov. Putin acknowledged that the situation in Rostov was 'difficult' following the arrival of Wagner's mercenaries. In his speech, the Russian president called for 'unity' and promised an 'invincible' response to those who 'stabbed from behind.' Hours after Wagner's forces entered Rostov, Reuters published photos of their deployment in various parts of the city, which is a key logistical hub for the Russian army near the Ukrainian border. The British Ministry of Defense also reported on Saturday that part of Wagner's forces were 'likely heading to Moscow.' After weeks of verbal and virtual disputes between Yevgeny Prigozhin, the commander of the Wagner paramilitary group, and senior military officials in Russia, this verbal conflict escalated into a potential real war on Friday, June 23. Prigozhin, who had long complained about the Ministry of Defense's failure to supply his group with military equipment for the fight against the Ukrainian army, claimed on Friday that Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu had 'stabbed him in the back' and caused the deaths of 'many' of his troops through missile attacks. The commander of this paramilitary group, who claims that the Russian 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 heading to Moscow with all his forces to hang Shoigu in Red Square and bury him next to Lenin. Prigozhin also urged the Russian people to take to the streets and rise against the 'traitors' alongside other Russian soldiers and his group. Early on Saturday, June 24, the French news agency quoted the commander of Wagner's mercenaries as saying that his forces had entered Rostov without facing any resistance. He promised to 'push forward to the end' to remove senior officials from Moscow. Meanwhile, the Russian state news agency TASS reported that the M-4 highway in the Rostov region had been blocked and vehicles were being turned back to the city. The news agency also reported that Sergei Surovikin, deputy commander of the Russian Defense Ministry's joint forces, had asked the Wagner commander to follow President Vladimir Putin's orders and resolve all issues 'peacefully.' According to TASS, Dmitry Peskov, the Kremlin spokesman, stated that President Vladimir Putin was aware of Prigozhin's situation and that '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 power groups in Russia and cover up internal conflicts or at least prevent these disputes from turning violent.' Adam Hodge, spokesperson for the U.S. National Security Council, also reacted to the developments in Russia, stating that the U.S., its partners, and allies were reviewing 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 said on Wednesday, May 24, that if the Russian leadership did not improve its management regarding the war and did not dedicate its entire economy to the war effort, 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.