Prigozhin to Putin – everything that happened last night Louis Tomlinson has to cancel the concert – 100 injured fans

It has long been known that Wagner boss Prigozhin and Russian President Vladimir Putin are not best friends. The argument, which has intensified in recent weeks, has now turned into an open confrontation. Last night, Prigozhin accused Russia of attacking Wagner soldiers, for which he now wants revenge. A chronology of events.

Friday evening 21:00: Prigozhin accuses Russia of attacking Wagner

The Moscow military leadership attacked its mercenaries. Prigozhin made this grave allegation in a voice message distributed by his press office on Telegram after 9 p.m. (local time) on Friday. Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu came to the city of Rostov-on-Don, which is close to the Ukrainian border, specifically to attack the Wagner camps in the rear with artillery, helicopters and missiles, Prigozhin said. Many of his mercenaries were killed. He threatened:

Then he got specific:

Anyone who tries to resist will be seen as a threat and killed immediately, Prigschon continued.

22 hours: Russia responds

The Department of Defense immediately dismissed the allegations. All allegations are false and a “provocation”, this is stated in a statement released by the ministry in the evening.

The National Anti-Terrorism Committee also issued a statement calling the allegations baseless:

In addition to the FSB, virtually all other Russian security organs belong to the committee. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said President Vladimir Putin was aware of the matter.

Prigozhin then spoke again on Telegram:

Wagner’s actions would not harm the activities of Russian troops in Ukraine, he added.

00:00.: Security measures in Moscow have increased

Moscow’s critical facilities have been placed under increased protection and security measures in the capital have been tightened. A police source told the Russian news agency TASS. In addition, special units of the Russian National Guard have been put on alert.

12:30 pm: The FSB demands Prigozhin’s arrest

Moments later, the FSB also spoke in person. Prigozhin’s statements were a call for “the start of an armed social conflict and a stab in the back of the Russian soldiers fighting with the pro-fascist Ukrainian forces”.

They also called on the mercenaries of the Wagner group to arrest their boss:

01:50 AM: Prigozhin loses the general of the allied army

In a video message, the leading Russian army general Sergey Surovikin sided with the power apparatus in Moscow. Surovikin called on Prigozhin to end the power struggle. “The enemy is just waiting for our domestic political situation to deteriorate.”

Surovikin is actually considered an ally of Prigozhin, but has now apparently decided to remain loyal to the Kremlin. “We must not play into the hands of the opponent – at this difficult time for the country,” Surovikin said.

He called for submission to “the will and command of the President of the Russian Federation, elected by all the people”.

02:00 AM: Prigozhin wants to march into Rostov-on-Don

Prigozhin was not impressed by this. He wanted to invade the city of Rostov-on-Don in the region bordering Ukraine, he said on Telegram. The headquarters of the Russian army for the south of the country is located there. Responding to calls from Russian investigators to arrest him, he said there was a brotherhood among his team. They are not traitors.

Prigozhin also claimed that the Wagner mercenaries were greeted with hugs by Russian border troops. They would march beyond Rostov. Meanwhile, local media in Rostov-on-Don reported that a base of Wagner’s private army had been operating there for some time. So the mercenaries were already there.

6 hours: Anti-terror measures in Moscow

Mayor Sergey Sobyanin has taken “anti-terrorist measures” in the capital Moscow. For example, stricter traffic controls have already been introduced on the street, he wrote on his Telegram channel on Saturday morning. In addition, restrictions on mass events are possible. “According to the incoming information, anti-terrorist measures are being taken in Moscow to strengthen security measures,” Sobyanin wrote. He asked the more than 13 million inhabitants of the metropolis for their understanding.

The governor of the Moscow region, Andrei Vorobyov, also wrote on Telegram about heightened security measures. Vorobyov also called on people to avoid, if possible, private car journeys towards southern Russia, where the situation is currently particularly tense.

7:30 am: Wagner would occupy military objects

“Military facilities of Rostov, including the airport, are under our control”Prigozhin said in a video released Saturday morning. He claimed his fighters in the border town with Ukraine also controlled the Russian army headquarters for the south of the country. This could not be independently verified at first.

Prigozhin also said in the video that fighter jets for the war against Ukraine continued to take off from the airport in Rostov as planned. “The planes (…) are departing on schedule.”

9:20 am: Putin speaks

After 9 a.m. Putin addressed the Russian people in a televised speech. Any internal turmoil poses a mortal threat to the Russian state and to Russia as a nation, Putin said. She is in shock for Russia and its people. He promised:

He further confirmed the presence of Wagner troops in Rostov-on-Don. The work of the civil and military authorities has been effectively blocked, but Putin promises that decisive measures will be taken to stabilize the situation.

Meanwhile, Ukrainian soldiers at the front are joking and showing how they follow the latest developments while eating popcorn:

11:30.: Fighting in Voronezh, Russia

Authorities reported fighting in the Voronezh region in the southwest of the country. “As part of an anti-terrorist operation, the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation are conducting necessary operational and combat measures in the Voronezh region,” Governor Alexander Gusev wrote on Telegram on Saturday afternoon. “I will continue to inform you about the development of the situation.” The information could not be independently verified.

Gusev did not specifically explain who the army is fighting in the Voronezh region. However, there were earlier reports that the insurgent Wagner fighters had occupied individual military facilities there. The regional center of the same name is located about 470 kilometers from the capital Moscow. It is located about halfway between Moscow and Rostov-on-Don.

(saw with material from the sda ​​and dpa news agencies.)