Russia Crisis: Prigozhin's Wagner group inches closer to Moscow; know what's happening in Russia

PTCNews Desk: Russia will soon have a new president, said Rebellious Russian mercenary chief Yevgeny Prigozhin on Saturday. The remarks came moments after Vladimir Putin vowed to crush the armed rebellion by Wagner mercenaries.

Earlier in the day, the Prigozhin-led mercenaries claimed control of two Russian cities and are advancing towards the capital as part of their attempt to oust the military leadership 

What is happening in Russia?

Yevgeny Prigozhin, the boss of Russia's Wagner mercenary force, claimed his forces had entered Russia to depose the country's military leadership.

On Friday, Russian security services said they had begun a criminal inquiry into Prigozhin for what they called a mutiny.

Prigozhin has long criticised Russia's top military officials for failing in the Ukraine war and is well-known for his feud with the Russian defence ministry.

Moscow Mayor advises against travelling around the city

Moscow Mayor Sergei Sobyanin warned on Saturday that the situation in the capital was "difficult," as forces from the Wagner mercenary group advanced towards the capital in an attempt to depose Russia's military leadership.

"The situation is difficult. I ask you to refrain from travelling around the city as much as possible," Sobyanin said and people warned of possible road closures and announced Monday was a "non-working" day.

Who is Yevgeny Prigozhin?

Yevgeny Prigozhin, a close ally of President Putin, has played a vital role in Russia's military campaign in Ukraine for months. He recruited thousands of people for his Wagner mercenary force, particularly from Russian prisons.

He's had an open feud with the military officials in charge of the war for a long time, but it's now escalated into a revolt.

Wagner forces have claimed to have taken control of the big southern Russian city of Rostov-on-Don and its military facilities.

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What is Wagner Group?

Wagner, founded in 2014 by Prigozhin, had approximately 50,000 mercenary recruits, many of whom were ex-prisoners, fighting in Ukraine at its peak. The group was designated as a transnational criminal organisation by the United States earlier this year, and Wagner has been sanctioned by Australia, Canada, Japan, the United Kingdom, and the European Union. 

For years, the group has operated on battlefields in the Middle East, Africa, and Latin America, where it has been accused of severe human rights abuses.

Wagner's legal standing is questionable since mercenaries are technically illegal in Russia. The group operates independently of the country's official armed forces and has recently rejected Moscow's demands that its members sign formal military contracts.

"A march for justice"

Prigozhin, who is one of Russia's most important figures said that all claims of a military coup are absurd. He says that it is "not a military coup but a march for justice".

So far there has been no attempt to grab control from the government, indicating that this is not a coup. However, it is an attempt to depose Russia's top military leaders, and hence a threat to the president's authority.

A "counter-terrorist operation regime" has been implemented in the Moscow region, and important events have been cancelled.

"There are 25,000 of us," Prigozhin claimed, adding "Everyone who wants, join us." That is not enough to threaten the president, but it does pose a challenge to the military leadership.

Prigozhin "betrayed" Russia?

A clearly irritated Putin told the nation that the armed rebellion by Wagner mercenaries was a "stab in the back" and that the group's leader, Prigozhin, had "betrayed" Russia.

"This is a stab in the back to our country, to our nation," Putin declared in a national address. "What we have witnessed is betrayal. Extravagant ambitions and personal interests lead to betrayal," Putin stated of Prigozhin.

"All those who consciously chose the path of betrayal, who planned an armed rebellion, who chose blackmail and terrorist methods will face unavoidable punishment, before the law and before our people," he warned.

Putin condemned the rebellion as Russia was "fighting the toughest battle for its future" in Ukraine. "The entire military, economic, and information machine of the West is waged against us," Putin declared.

"This battle, when our people's fate is at stake, requires the unification of all forces, unity, consolidation, and responsibility."

An armed rebellion at this moment is "a blow to Russia, to its people," according to the president.

“Those who plotted and organised an armed rebellion, who raised arms against his comrades-in-arms, betrayed Russia. And they will answer for it,” Putin added.

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