La Red Square and Lenin's Mausoleum they were closed to visitors due to events: Ria Novosti reports this, citing the press and public relations department of the Federal Security Service of the Russian Federation. “Security measures have been tightened in Moscow, the most important sites are subjected to increased security", as well as “State bodies and transport infrastructurean unidentified security force official told Tass.
The leader of the Wagner mercenary group Yevgeny Prigozhin stated that his troops would shoot down a Russian military helicopter: "A helicopter has just opened fire on a column of civilians."
Prigozhin in a new audio message has publicly said he wants to overthrow the leadership Russian military in Moscow. My troops are ready to "destroy anything” stands in their way. “We are moving forward and we will go all the way.” My forces entered the southern Russian region of Rostov, taking the headquarters of the Russian army in the city of Rostov, key center for the Moscow army's assault on Ukraine, and to have taken control of military sites, including one airport.
FSB and Prosecutor General accuse Wagner's troops of inciting armed revolt (Prigozhin risks up to 20 years), while on the Telegram channel Prigozhin first accuses the Russian armed forces of bombing his bases, then announces that he has made a decision together with the Council of Mercenary Commanders: “The evil that the country's military leadership carries must be stopped. Those who had our boys killed today, those who destroyed tens, many tens of thousands of lives of Russian soldiers, will be punished. A direct attack on Defense Minister Sergej Shojgu who, according to him, would have fled like a coward".
Prigozhin then invited all who are willing to join his 25 men to put an end to this crap. Then the clarification: "This is not a military coup, but a march of justice".
The Russian Defense Ministry in a statement: “All fake. This is an informational provocation, we ask that he put an end to the illegal actions”.
The Kremlin has launched the "Fortress Plan", the tanks have come out on the street. Meanwhile Vladimir Putin”was informed. The necessary measures are being taken“, assures his spokesman Dmitry Peskov.
The Russian media and TV do not leak anything to the population. As Repubblica writes, the political scientist Tatiana Stanovgja warns: “Calm down everyone. So far there is no convincing evidence that there was a coup by Wagnerites and Prigozhin is leading his columns somewhere. No. The demonstration part is very strong though".
Biden follows the situation step by step
The White House is monitoring the situation in Russia after the uprising of the Wagner paramilitary group against the Russian General Staff. A spokesman said, adding that US President Joe Biden is constantly briefed. "We are monitoring the situation and will be speaking with our allies and partners regarding these developments," said White House National Security Council spokesman Adam Hodge.
007 USA had predicted the Wagner-Putin clash
It's been since early January the 007 USA had news of a possible internal clash between the Russian Wagner paramilitary group and the Kremlin. Cnn reports it. Senior US government officials had noted tensions between Moscow and the head of Wagner.
US intelligence expected an escalation in the following months. Also in January, a senior White House representative revealed that Wagner was becoming a "rival center of power vis-à-vis the Russian military and other Russian militaries“. According to American 007 reports, at that time Prigozhin was pursuing his own interests in Ukraineinstead of following the Kremlin's directives.
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