Yevgeny Prigozhin, the head of Russia’s Wagner Group, has claimed that the military leadership has killed 2,000 of his fighters. He has vowed to seek revenge, stating that the “evil” brought by the military leadership must be stopped.
He called on Russian soldiers from the National Guard to join his side as he declares a ‘march of justice.’
In a statement on his official Telegram channel, Prigozhin said that he and his 25,000 troops would “figure out why chaos is happening in the country.” He denied that he was calling for a military coup, but the Russian FSB intelligence and Anti-Terrorism Committee are now investigating Wagner’s leadership for incitement of armed rebellion.
The Russian Defense Ministry has denied Prigozhin’s accusations, calling them “not true and an informational provocation.”
The Kremlin has said that President Vladimir Putin has been informed of the situation and that “necessary measures are being taken.”
The Wagner Group is a private military company (PMC) that is believed to have close ties with the Russian government. It was founded by Prigozhin, a wealthy businessman who owns multiple restaurants and catering companies that provide services for the Kremlin, in 2014.
The Wagner Group has been involved in several conflicts worldwide, including in Ukraine, Syria, Libya, and the Central African Republic. The United States, the European Union, and the United Kingdom have all imposed sanctions on the Wagner Group and its members.
The group is estimated to have between 20,000-25,000 fighters.
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