In a startling escalation of internal conflicts within Russia’s elite, Yevgeny Prigozhin, the chief of the Wagner mercenary group, has claimed that a Russian rocket attack killed many of his fighters. In a series of audio messages released on Friday, Prigozhin vowed to take “revenge” and appeared to declare war on the Russian Ministry of Defence.
The translated message from Prigozhin stated that the PMC Wagner Commanders’ Council had made a decision to stop the “evil” brought by the military leadership. He accused them of neglecting the lives of soldiers and forgetting the concept of justice, which he vowed to restore.
Prigozhin warned that those responsible for the deaths of his fighters and the lives lost in the Russian military would be punished. He urged everyone to remain calm, avoid provocations, and stay indoors. Any resistance would be considered a danger and dealt with swiftly, including checkpoints and aviation.
The mercenary chief called for the restoration of justice within the army and the entire country. He claimed to have 25,000 supporters ready to address the prevailing lawlessness and investigate its causes. Prigozhin invited others to join their cause to bring an end to the chaos.
The statement signals a significant rift between Prigozhin’s private military company and the Russian military leadership. The situation remains highly volatile, and further developments are awaited as tensions continue to rise.
