Open power struggle in Russia – the night at a glance Turkish intelligence reports the assassination of the Kurdish leader

In the middle of the initial phase of the Ukrainian counter-offensive, a power struggle between the Russian military leadership and the Wagner mercenary group escalated. After serious accusations by Wagner boss Yevgeny Prigozhin against Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu and a threat to clear out the Russian military leadership, Russian law enforcement authorities launched an investigation into Prigozhin on Friday evening for attempted armed insurrection. In Ukraine, there was an air raid alert all over the country at the same time, and several cities reported shelling and hits.

According to the Public Prosecution Service, 61-year-old Prigozhin faces a prison sentence of between 12 and 20 years. On Friday night, he accused the military leadership of attacking a camp owned by his mercenaries with artillery, helicopters and missiles, killing many of his men. He threatened countermeasures. He has 25,000 men under his command, which would now explain why such arbitrariness reigns in the country.

“Whoever tries to resist us will be seen as a threat and killed immediately,” Prigozhin threatened. According to him, the Wagner mercenaries have already begun to march towards Rostov-on-Don. The headquarters of the Russian military leadership for the south of the country is located there. The governor of Russia’s Rostov region, which borders Ukraine, called on the population to remain calm and, if possible, not to leave their homes. Security measures were also tightened in the capital Moscow.

In Ukraine, reports of the internal power struggle were met with both satisfaction and ridicule. The Ukrainian army wrote on Twitter: “We are watching.”

Selenskyj praises Western aid and scolds corruption

In his late-night video address on Friday, released ahead of events in Russia, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky called the London conference on his country’s reconstruction a success. There are long-term aid programs from Western countries and Ukraine is increasingly seen as a future EU country, he praised. It was also possible to involve corporations in addition to state actors. “About 500 globally strong companies are interested in investing in Ukraine,” said Zelenskyy.

Air raid siren all over Ukraine – explosions in several cities

In Ukraine, air warnings were again issued across the country on Saturday night. As a result, there were reports of explosions from several cities. There were at least three hits in eastern Kharkiv, including a gas pipeline, that led to fires, Mayor Ihor Terekhov wrote on Telegram. It was reported from the capital Kyiv that missile parts had fallen on a parking lot in a central district. The 16th floor of a residential building next to the parking lot also caught fire, Mayor Vitali Klitschko wrote on Telegram. At least two people were injured.

Correspondents from the national broadcaster Suspilne Media also reported that explosions were also heard in the cities of Dnipro and Kremenchuk. Most recently, rocket and drone attacks had increased, especially in the capital Kyiv.

Zelenskyi fires military officials on suspicion of corruption

Zelenskyj called for the dismissal of a military official who allegedly bought property in Spain during the war. Commander-in-chief Valeriy Salushnyi was given “immediate” instructions to fire the head of the Odessa district’s military replacement bureau, “whom the whole country is talking about,” according to a statement released by the president’s office on Friday. On Thursday, the internet newspaper Ukrajinska Pravda reported that relatives of the military official had bought more than three million euros worth of properties on the Spanish coast and luxury cars.

Ukraine has been fighting off a Russian invasion for nearly 16 months. Since then, there has been general mobilization and a ban on leaving the country for men of military age between 18 and 60. However, many buy their freedom from medical examiners and the district military replacement offices or flee the country in exchange for bribes. According to reports from the SBU secret service, several thousand euros must be paid for each. According to the non-governmental organization Transparency International, Ukraine is one of the most corrupt countries in Europe.

Report: Russia builds temporary bridge to occupied Crimea

Following the damage to the important Chonhar Bridge from the Ukrainian mainland to the Crimean peninsula by Kiev’s army, Russia allegedly built a pontoon there, according to media reports. Such a floating bridge can be seen on satellite photos from the American company Planet Labs, a Ukrainian research team from Radio Svoboda, the Ukrainian-language service of the American foreign broadcaster Radio Liberty, reported on Friday. The bridge is one of three access roads from the Russian-occupied Crimean peninsula to the more northerly and also partially occupied Kherson region. It is considered part of an important supply route for the Russians to supply their own troops at the front.

What will be important on Saturday

All eyes are on Russia on Saturday, where things could escalate, particularly in the city of Rostov-on-Don amid threats from Prigozhin. (sda/dpa)