Russian President Vladimir Putin is being regularly briefed about Wagner Boss Yevgeny Prigozhin’s armed coup attempt by the Ministry of Defense, the FSB, the Ministry of Internal Affairs, and the National Guard.
Russia's National Anti-Terrorism Committee said the FSB had opened a criminal case over "calling for an armed rebellion," and that allegations spread on behalf of Wagner chief Prigozhin were "unfounded."
"In connection with these statements, the FSB has opened a criminal case over calls for an armed rebellion. We demand that these illegal actions be stopped immediately," the committee said.
The Prosecutor General's Office confirmed that the case against Prigozhin had been launched, addressing it in an official statement:
"On June 23, 2023, the Investigative Department of the FSB of Russia has initiated a criminal case against Prigozhin E.V. under Article 279 of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation on the fact of organizing an armed rebellion. His actions will be given a proper legal assessment. This crime is punishable by imprisonment for a term of 12 to 20 years"
Russian army general Sergey Surovikin called on Wagner troops to return to their bases and hold their positions.
"I have just come from the frontline, where our troops, our commanders, our soldiers, our fighters, volunteers are carrying out the task, fighting the enemy to the death, with the superior forces of the enemy, suffering losses, but standing on their positions. I appeal to the leadership, to the commanders and fighters of the Wagner PMC. Together with you we have passed a difficult, hard way, we have fought together, taken the risks, suffered losses, we have won together. We are the same blood, we are warriors. ️I call you to stop. The enemy is only waiting for our domestic political situation to deteriorate. We must not play into the hands of the enemy at this difficult time for the country. Before it is too late, we must do something - we must obey the will and order of the President of the Russian Federation, who was elected by the people, we must stop the columns, return them to their permanent bases and areas of concentration, and solve all the problems only peacefully, under the leadership of the Supreme Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation".
Meanwhile, Russia's Defense Ministry reported activity by Ukrainian forces:
"Taking advantage of Prigozhin's provocation to disrupt the situation, the Kiev regime is concentrating units of the 35th Marine Brigade and the 36th Mechanised Brigade of the AFU in Bakhmut tactical direction at the initial line for offensive actions. The servicemen of the Yug Group of Forces are defeating the enemy with air and artillery strikes," the ministry said.
Earlier in the day, footage and audio attributed to Wagner troops and Prigozhin surfaced online alleging that a "missile attack" had been launched at a Wagner camp, and that the strike was "delivered from the rear, that is by forces of the Russian Defense Ministry." The voice attributed to Prigozhin appeared to call for the ouster of the Defense Ministry's leadership. The footage and audio were immediately jumped on by Ukrainian and US state-funded media outlets, which have been reporting heavily on Prigozhin's criticism of Russian generals in recent weeks.
Russia's Defense Ministry addresed the claims, calling them fake:
"All the messages and videos distributed on social networks on behalf of [Wagner Head Yevgeny] Prigozhin about alleged ‘strike by Russian Defense Ministry on the rear camps of the Wagner PMC do not correspond to reality and are an informational provocation," the ministry said in a statement posted to its Telegram page Friday.
"The Armed Forces of the Russian Federation continue to carry out combat missions on the line of contact with the Armed Forces of Ukraine in the area of the special military operation," it added.
A video posted by Prigozhin purporting to show "the aftermath of the rocket strike on the Wagner rear camps" by the forces of Russian Defense Ministry was staged, Russia's Channel One said.
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters that President Putin has been "informed of all events around Prigozhin," and said that "necessary measures are being taken." The press secretary did not elaborate.
Wagner units and Russian Army forces jointly took part in the battle of Artemovsk (Bakhumut), liberating the Donbass city in late May after eight months of heavy fighting which pinned down large concentrations of Ukrainian troops, allowed Russia to train up its mobilized reserves, and resulted in a major defeat for Kiev ahead of its now-stalled counteroffensive.
Putin has been briefed on situation with Prigozhin, measures are being taken — Kremlin
Russian President Vladimir Putin is aware of the situation that is unfolding around Yevgeny Prigozhin, the founder of the private military company Wagner, and the necessary measures are being taken, Kremlin Spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters on Friday.
"President Putin has been briefed on all events around Prigozhin. The necessary measures are being taken," he said.
The Russian Defense Ministry said earlier on Friday that reports circulating on social media that allege the Russian Armed Forces had delivered a strike on "PMC Wagner encampments in the rear" are false. The ministry also said Russian forces continue to perform combat missions along the line of engagement with Ukrainian forces in the area of the special military operation.
Criminal case opened against Wagner head amid threat of escalating confrontation — FSB
A criminal case into calls for rebellion coming from Wagner PMC founder Yevgeny Prigozhin has been opened amid the seriousness of situation and a threat of escalation of confrontation in Russia, the Federal Security Service’s Public Relations Center said.
"Amid the seriousness of situation and the threat of escalation of confrontation in the Russian Federation the FSB has opened a criminal case into the fact of a call for an armed rebellion on the part of Yevgeny Prigozhin," it said.
“We demand the immediate end to all illegal activity,” the anti-terrorism committee stated.
Earlier, the Russian Defense Ministry accused Prigozhin of spreading falsehoods over a video circulating on social media that claimed the Russian military had attacked a base of Wagner fighters.
“A large number of our fighters died. We will decide how we will respond to this atrocity. The next step is ours,” Prigozhin said in a statement commenting on the alleged attack. He then vowed to march on Moscow and hold those responsible to account, warning the military to stay out of his way.
The Defense Ministry described Prigozhin’s claims as “an informational provocation” and said the Russian military was fighting on the frontlines against the Ukrainian troops.
The Prosecutor-General’s Office said that “this crime is punishable by imprisonment for a term of 12 to 20 years.”
According to Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov, Russian President Vladimir Putin has been briefed about the situation involving Prigozhin and Wagner, and “all the necessary measures” are being taken to resolve the matter.
Top Russian general sends message to ’mutinous’ Wagner PMC
Deputy commander of the Russian Joint Forces, General Sergey Surovikin, asked on Friday the fighters of the private military company Wagner Group to stop their “rebellion” against Moscow.
In a short video message released on social media, Surovikin said he had just returned from the front, where Russian forces were standing their ground against the Ukrainian offensive.
“I appeal to the fighters and commanders of the PMC Wagner,” Surovikin said, still wearing his fatigues. “We have walked a difficult road together. We fought together, took risks together, suffered losses together, and won together. We are of the same blood. We are warriors. I urge you to stop. The enemy is just waiting for the internal political situation to worsen. We should not play into the enemy’s hands in these difficult times for our country.”
He urged Wagner troops to submit to the lawfully elected authorities “before it is too late,” return to their barracks and address their grievances peacefully.
Earlier on Friday, Wagner head Yevgeny Prigozhin accused the Russian military of targeting one of the company’s field camps in a rocket attack and killing “many fighters,” vowing to march on Moscow and deal with those responsible and warning the military to stay out of his way.
The Russian Defense Ministry said Prigozhin’s accusations “did not correspond to the truth” and were an “information provocation.” According to Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov, Russian President Vladimir Putin has been briefed about the situation involving Prigozhin and Wagner, and all the necessary measures are being taken.
Russia’s Federal Security Service (FSB) announced on Friday that it had opened an investigation into Prigozhin for allegedly “calling for an armed rebellion.” The crime is punishable by 12-20 years in prison.
Surovikin, an air force general, was put in charge of the operation in Ukraine in October 2022, overseeing a major redeployment in the Kherson Region. In January this year, he became a deputy to General Valery Gerasimov, head of the Russian General Staff and current commander of the operation.
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