Prigozhin declares that he has seized control of Rostov's military headquarters, airbase
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The leader of Russia’s Wagner mercenary company Yevgeny Prigozhin in a video released early on June 24 claimed he had taken control of military facilities in Rostov-on-Don in southern Russia, including the headquarters of Russia’s Southern Military District and a nearby military airfield.
Prigozhin is seen standing outside the headquarters of Russia’s Southern Military District in a video message released by Telegram channels associated with him.
All military facilities in Rostov, including the airfield, are under (Wagner’s) control... There are no problems,” Prigozhin says in the video.
“Everything that is being done, (at the places) we have taken under control, so that the (Russian) attack aircraft do not attack us (Wagnerites), but attack the Ukrainians,” he added.
Prigozhin also demanded access to the highest military leadership of the Russian Federation, or threatened that his forces would "go to Moscow."
"We came here to get the Chief of the General Staff (Valery Gerasimov) and (Russian Defense Minister Serhiy) Shoigu. Until they’re gone, we will be here, blocking the city of Rostov and (then) going to Moscow," Prigozhin said.
He claimed Gerasimov had just "fled from here (the headquarters of the Southern Military District) as soon as he found out that we were approaching the building."
"We came here to end the shame of the country we lived in... We are saving Russia," Prigozhin said.
Meanwhile, the governor of the Rostov region, Vasyl Golubev, announced that all mass events had been canceled in Rostov.
Earlier, Prigozhin accused Shoigu of ordering an attack on Wagner mercenaries and issued a call to “put an end” to the minister’s leadership.
Read also: Prigozhin claims purpose of Russia's war on Ukraine was gain promotion for Shoigu, not deter NATO
Later on June 23, Russia’s FSB security service charged the Wagner Group with “inciting an armed insurrection.”
Meanwhile, an anti-terrorist regime has been introduced in the Russian capital. The Mayor of Moscow, Sergey Sobyanin, told Russian state-owned news agency RIA Novosti that "anti-terrorist measures" are being carried out in the city, including setting up checkpoints on the roads.
Rostov governor Vasili Golubev advised civilians to avoid downtown Rostov-on-Don.
"In connection with the current situation, I ask you to refrain from traveling to the city center and, if possible, not to leave your homes," he wrote in a Telegram post.
Read also: Prigozhin vows to ‘end’ Shoigu, FSB charges Wagner with ‘inciting insurrection’ – updated
Before that, helicopters and military vehicles were spotted all across Russia's Rostov Oblast, while Rostov governor Golubev urged locals to "remain calm" and stay indoors. It was difficult to determine which of these armored vehicles belonged to the Wagner Group, as opposed to the regular Russian army.
"The situation that has developed requires the utmost concentration of all forces to maintain order," Golubev said in a Telegram post.
"Law enforcement officials are doing everything necessary to ensure the safety of the region's population. I'm asking everyone to remain calm and refrain from going outside."
Meanwhile, Prigozhin claimed his mercenaries had shot down a Russian helicopter that was allegedly attempting to fire at them.
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Read the original article on The New Voice of Ukraine
