New Troubles for Putin, Ally Turns Rebel

Mutiny brewing amongst Russia's armed forces. Yevgeny Prigozhin, the head of the Wagner Group (a mercenary of Russian ally) vowed to topple the Russian military leadership, as he accused of it launching strikes on its people and said that he would ‘destroy everything that stands in our way’.

It is believed that the Wagner chief’s announcement came as one of the biggest challenges for Russian President Vladimir Putin, since the start of the Ukraine-Russia war last year. Russian authorities have tightened security measures in several parts of the country after Wagner Chief's announcement.

About Wagner Group

According to US officials, the Wagner Group officially known as PMC Wagner, is Russia’s private military company which is run by an ally of Vladimir Putin which has tens of thousands of fighters.

The group is said to have came into existence in 2014 while backing pro-Russian separatist forces in eastern Ukraine. Originally formed by a former Russian officer, Dmitry Utkin, and financier Yevgeny Prigozhin, who is better known also called ‘Putin’s chef’ as he also owns restaurants that provide services to the Kremlin.

Wagner Group Rebellion

It is said to have been arising that the Russian Defence Ministry of trying to steal Wagner's glory for capturing Ukraine’s Donetsk region salt-mining town of Soledar to which Prigozhin claimed full credit for the mission in January this year.

Prigozhin also complained that the Russian military failed to supply Wagner with ammunition to capture the Bakhmut region and threatened to pull out his men, as reported by the Associated Press.

The rebellious leader claims that Sergei Shoigu had ordered air strikes on his troops, killing a few while the mercenaries were fighting on behalf of Russia in Ukraine. He later posted a series of video and audio recordings and accusing Russian Defence Minister Sergei Shoigu for the attacks on their own ally.

Putin's Reply

Russian President Vladimir Putin is said to have vowed to crush the armed mutiny and he would stand by to defend the people of his country, describing the armed rebellion by the Wagner Group's mercenary chief on a count of ‘treason’. Further calling the mutiny a ‘stab in the back’, says excessive ambitions and vested interests have led to treason.

"It is a blow to Russia, to our people. And our actions to defend the Fatherland against such a threat will be harsh,” Putin said.

"All those who deliberately stepped on the path of betrayal, who prepared an armed insurrection, who took the path of blackmail and terrorist methods, will suffer inevitable punishment, will answer both to the law and to our people,"

Yevgeny Prigozhin on Saturday said that he had taken control of a southern city as part of an attempt to oust military leadership. 

“This is not a military coup, but a march of justice,” he said.