Wagner leader rebels against Russian army

It all started with a statement made by Mr. Prigozhin (pictured) on the evening of June 23, in which he claimed that Russian Defense Minister Sergey Shoigu and Chief of the General Staff of the Russian army Valery Gerasimov had plotted to destroy Wagner by airstrikes on the group's strongholds.

Wagner members with military vehicles in Rostov-on-Don

After making the accusations, he called for a rebellion to “take revenge.” He declared that his 25,000-strong force was “ready to die” in response to the Russian military leadership, and that anyone who tried to resist or hinder his group, on land or in the air, would be considered a threat and immediately destroyed, TASS news agency reported.

Treason

The Russian Defense Ministry immediately denied Prigozhin's accusations and launched an investigation into the incident. The Federal Security Service (FSB)'s Investigative Department later concluded that reports of Russian attacks on Wagner positions in the rear were fake news. The FSB warned Wagner fighters not to follow Prigozhin's orders and called on them to cooperate in his arrest. The National Anti-Terrorism Committee said the Wagner boss's statements were sufficient grounds for initiating a criminal case on charges of inciting an armed uprising. The Prosecutor General's Office later said the criminal case had been initiated legally and properly. The Wagner founder could face 12 to 20 years in prison, prosecutors told TASS.

Recommendations for Vietnamese in Russia

On June 24, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said that in recent days, the security and order situation in Rostov-on-Don and some southern regions of Russia has had complicated developments. In light of the above situation, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs has directed the Vietnamese embassy and representative agencies in Russia to closely monitor the situation and prepare plans to protect and support citizens, especially the Vietnamese community in the above areas.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs recommends that citizens: those who are in the southern cities of Russia and the capital Moscow comply with the laws and instructions of the local authorities; stay at home, refrain from participating in large gatherings or making long trips within the territory of Russia.

Dau Tien Dat

In his address to the nation on June 24, Russian President Vladimir Putin called Prigozhin’s actions a betrayal of Russia and its people. He also condemned Wagner’s treasonous actions and firmly stated that the country’s law enforcement agencies would take decisive action to restore order. The Russian president stressed that a civil war would not be allowed to repeat itself in his country.

According to President Putin, “bottomless” personal ambitions and interests have led to betrayal of the country and its people, betrayal of the efforts that Wagner commanders and soldiers have made to gain control over the regions of the Donbass region in eastern Ukraine. According to him, the fate of Russia is now being decided and all forces should unite, those who try to stage a rebellion will fail and eventually surrender.

Current situation

After Putin’s speech on June 24, Prigozhin refused to surrender, continuing to write on Telegram that “nothing can stop an army that was able to storm the city of Bakhmut (Donetsk region, eastern Ukraine) and win from the biggest meat grinder of the Ukrainian conflict” and that “resistance is useless”. Earlier in the day, Prigozhin said his forces had reached Rostov province, the headquarters of the Russian military in the southern region, which monitors the conflict in Ukraine, without encountering any resistance from Russian soldiers. Moscow did not comment on this information.

What is the military strength of Wagner?

The Wagner group rose to prominence during the conflict in the Donbass region of eastern Ukraine in 2014-2015. However, it was not until September 2022 that businessman Yevgeny Prigozhin confirmed the formation of Wagner. In December 2022, US National Security Council strategic communications coordinator John Kirby said that Wagner had 50,000 fighters in Ukraine, according to Defense One. In addition to Ukraine, Wagner is active in many other regions of the world, including Africa. Wagner has been active in the conflict in Libya, and Moscow has sent Wagner fighters a lot of military equipment, including fighter jets and armored vehicles. Wagner members have also fought in Sudan, Mali and Mozambique.

Yevgeny Prigozhin is said to have come from humble origins in the Russian city of Saint Petersburg, but later became part of President Vladimir Putin's inner circle, according to AFP. He served nine years in prison during the final years of the Soviet Union, but during the chaos of the 1990s, he founded a fairly successful fast food company.

He then branched out into the restaurant industry, opening a luxury venue in Saint Petersburg. The company he founded at one point worked for the Kremlin. Mr Prigozhin is also described as a billionaire with a huge fortune.

Faculty of Arts

Prigozhin said his forces had taken control of military facilities in Rostov-on-Don and Voronezh, CNN reported on his Telegram. Wagner warned that he would send his forces to blockade Rostov-on-Don and advance on Moscow if Shoigu and Gerasimov did not meet with him. Voronezh Governor Alexander Gusev dismissed rumors of military convoys and military equipment deployed by Wagner on roads in the region. Gusev later said the Russian military was "taking the necessary operational measures," without elaborating.

Ramzan Kadyrov, leader of Russia's Chechen Republic, also criticised Mr Prigozhin's efforts and said his country's special forces were on their way to tense areas.

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