Did Wagner Group take over military headquarters? What we know

Films purporting to present the Wagner Group seizing Russian armed forces headquarters in Rostov have emerged right after corporation founder Yevgeny Prigozhin claimed to have taken the initial phase in his “war” from the Russian defense ministry.

In an audio statement early Saturday morning, Prigozhin explained that his mercenary forces were “coming into Rostov” without the need of resistance. Hours before, on Friday, he claimed that he was “declaring war on the Russian Ministry of Protection” in retaliation for an alleged assault on his forces positioned in Ukraine.

A quick time later, movie confirmed unknown troops encompassing the Russian Southern Military services District headquarters in Rostov, which has performed a vital position in orchestrating the Russian war in Ukraine. Various industry experts claimed that the online video showed Wagner troops having command of the developing.

“All those are not Russian Countrywide Guard troops,” Alexander Vindman, the Ukrainian-born former U.S. Military lieutenant colonel, tweeted alongside a video clip of the building being surrounded by troops. “That seems like Wagner troops moving into the SMD HQ.”

“The problem of why Prigozhin head to Rostov relatively than Moscow is answered by the storming of the SMD HQ,” Vindman additional. “It it the most strategic concentrate on in the South of Russia if you happen to be targeting the Ministry of Protection. Now that Prigozhin has the HQ does he consolidate or shift on.”

Michael McFaul, previous U.S. ambassador to Russia, also commented on the video clip shared to Twitter.

“Wow,” McFaul tweeted. “This is a instant (albeit however compact and brief) of what Trotsky and Tilly known as “twin electric power” — 2 groups each individual declaring sovereignty around the identical territory- 1917, 1991, 1993, 2023.”

“Yep, it really is for real, at least for now,” he wrote in response to a human being questioning the veracity of the footage. “Footage from Rostov is fairly stunning. Wagner seems in management of this significant city.”

The Open up Supply Intelligence Observe Twitter account available supplemental commentary on the pictures, stating that it appeared Wagner Group forces have been surrounding the making but had been joined by members of the Russian army.

“These do show up to be Features of the Wagner Group exterior of the Southern Army District Headquarters, but some of the Soldiers are also wearing ‘Rosgvardia’ Patches and Countrywide Guard/Armed service Vehicles can be found which will make this Exceptionally Complicated,” the account tweeted.

A regional Rostov media report did not ensure that the Wagner Group experienced taken manage of military services headquarters but stated that “folks in camouflage” were bordering the headquarters and other Russian government buildings.

The properties that the unnamed troops had been surrounding reportedly bundled the Russian Federal Protection Assistance (FSB), the police section and the Ministry of Interior Affairs.

In a assertion posted to Telegram, Rostov Governor Vasily Golubev urged inhabitants to continue to be indoors and keep away from the metropolis heart owing to “the recent condition.”

“Expensive compatriots!” wrote Golubev. “In link with the latest circumstance, be sure to refrain from trips to the town middle and, if attainable, do not leave your houses.”

Prigozhin, after declaring that he had crossed into Rostov before Saturday early morning, claimed that a Russian helicopter experienced fired at his convoy before getting shot down by Wagner forces.

Videos posted to social media that purportedly showed armored motor vehicles and helicopters convening in the region were being reportedly confirmed by using geolocation as staying taken in central Rostov, according to CNN.

Additional unconfirmed videos shared on the net later on purportedly confirmed Wagner forces participating with the Russian army in Voronezh, hundreds of miles from Rostov, on the road to Moscow.

“I’ve built the drive from Rostov to Moscow at the very least a dozen periods,” Vindman tweeted. “Voronezh is extra than midway to Moscow. If reviews of Wagner fighting in Voronezh are precise, then they are several hours absent from Moscow.”

Newsweek has reached out to the Russian Ministry of Defense by means of electronic mail for comment.