Mercenaries march on Moscow

 Daily Mail:

Fears of a coup are growing in Russia this morning after Wagner mercenary boss Yevgeny Prigozhin declared war on Moscow's military leadership and claimed to have marched on the city of Rostov 'unopposed'.

The private army boss claimed to have also shot down a Russian military helicopter in the city - home to the Kremlin's headquarters for the war in Ukraine - which 'opened fire on a civilian column'. 

Prigozhin launched his extraordinary action after calling for the ousting of the Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu and vowing to punish Russian military leaders - whom he accused of killing 'hundreds' of his mercenaries in an air strike.

He also claimed the Russian military top brass is lying to Vladimir Putin and hiding the bodies of a further 2,000 soldiers to conceal losses in Ukraine.

As his Wagner forces entered Rostov on Friday night, Prigozhin said they would take 'all necessary steps' to topple the country's military leadership, declaring 'we will destroy anyone who stands in our way... we are moving forward and will go until the end'.

In response, Russian military vehicles were seen on the streets of Moscow and Rostov-on-Don, where residents have been told to stay in their homes by government officials.

...

Prigozhin has made many threats in recent days and he and his army are apparently acting on those threats.  While Prigozhin has a large force, many of which were former prisoners inside Russia, I suspect he will have difficulty dealing with the Russian army once its mounts a counterattack. 

See, also:

Infighting among Putin's lieutenants seems to reveal signs of 'deep dysfunction'

The video was shocking — not just for what it showed but also for what was said.

Yevgeny Prigozhin, the outspoken millionaire head of the private military contractor Wagner, stood in front of the bloodied bodies of his slain troops in Ukraine and yelled expletive-riddled insults at Russian military leaders, blaming them for the carnage.

“They came here as volunteers and they died to let you lounge in your red wood offices,” Prigozhin shouted. “You are sitting in your expensive clubs, your children are enjoying good living and filming videos on YouTube. Those who don’t give us ammunition will be eaten alive in hell!”
...

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