Wagner says it has taken the Russian city of Rostov-on-Don near the Ukraine border - residents have been told to stay indoors.

Prigozhin has threatened to march on Moscow unless he meets Russia's defence minister - and the UK says Wagner troops are heading towards the capital.

Prigozhin accused the army of launching a deadly attack on his forces in Ukraine, where Wagner troops are fighting for Russia - Moscow denies this.

President Putin decries "betrayal" and "treason" following a dramatic challenge by the chief of the Wagner mercenary force as Prigozhin called for a rebellion against the army - although he has denied attempting a coup.

In his reply to President Vladimir Putin's TV address earlier today, Wagner boss Yevgeny Prigozhin was defiant, vowing to end "corruption, lies and bureaucracy" in Russia.

It's believed to be the first time that Prigozhin has directly challenged the Kremlin ruler.

He was previously loyal to the president and even nicknamed "Putin's chef" for his catering contracts from the Kremlin.

Prigozhin's earlier scathing criticism of the Ukraine war centred mainly on Defence Minister Sergei Shoigu and Chief of Staff Valeriy Gerasimov, as well as Russia's FSB security service and the country's oligarchs.

In Russia rulers - or tsars - have for centuries been seen as untouchable, and taboo subjects for any criticism. A popular Russian saying is: "The tsar is good, the boyars [nobility around him] are bad."

Well, a claimed deadly Russian strike on a Wagner military base in Ukraine may have been the last straw for Prigozhin.

But he might have also been thinking that his battle-hardened fighters - reportedly as many as 25,000 of them - are now able to have an upper hand in a power struggle with the Kremlin, amid growing public discontent over Russia's full-scale invasion in Ukraine.

On top of that, there have been suggestions that Prigozhin may have some high-ranking backers in the Kremlin.

It is getting hot and Putin is still vowing punishment. He man didn't even know he had lost control over his some of his army men. All the destruction boast he used to make, before him now is a test of his authority and the world is watching keenly how he will deal with this situation.. Life is indeed dynamic

Putin never saw dis coming

Hmm....

Bush meat don dey catch hunter

Putin forgot one of the most important Machiavelli lessons "Never rely on mercenaries" they are loyal to money not to their country or the leader

DaveHarry:
Putin never saw dis coming

Putin is not Gaddafi if those Wagner mess up they will regret it you think Putin don't prepare for a day like this.

helinues:
Bush meat don dey catch hunter

they are brave and courageous but they can't go far. they will run out of resources and manpower. Russia no be Ghana

Blood will flow. Billions, not Millions will perish before Putin is defeated.

superCleanworks:


they are brave and courageous but they can't go far. they will run out of resources and manpower. Russia no be Ghana

That's where I fear Usa and the West. They wouldn't mind funding Wagner group to weaken Russia fight in Ukraine.

Putin was clever to have moved some war heads to Belarus weeks ago, perhaps,he saw this coming

This new development may mar or make Putin nd Russia. Let them tred courteously to avoid see finish by outside forces.

Putin is overrated

helinues:

That's where I fear Usa and the West. They wouldn't mind funding Wagner group to weaken Russia fight in Ukraine.

Putin was clever to have moved some war heads to Belarus weeks ago, perhaps,he saw this coming

the west will not invest in this rebellion till they are sure that the rebels have developed into a hot fire that needs a little breeze (support) to become a wildfire. For now, it just might be 15 minutes of fame.
Russia is a very old horse that has been on this road many times.

SyrusdeHansome:
This new development may mar or make Putin nd Russia. Let them tred courteously to avoid see finish by outside forces.

you really think Putin is going to lose sleep over this? Russia is not a planless and re-active government and this is not new.

superCleanworks:


the west will not invest in this rebellion till they are sure that the rebels have developed into a hot fire that needs a little breeze (support) to become a wildfire. For now, it just might be 15 minutes of fame.
Russia is a very old horse that has been on this road many times.

But they know that the rebellion won't stand no chance to fight Moscow when dem no chop winch.

Most of those Russian soldiers killed in Ukraine are not even Russians, majority of those in the front lines are mercenaries recruited from different part of the world.

That's one of the tactics Putin is using to brainwash his people that their native soldiers are not the one on the front line. The Wagner troops are condemned prisoners

superCleanworks:


you really think Putin is going to lose sleep over this? Russia is not a planless and re-active government and this is not new.

No matter how u see it i bliv Putin didn't envisage anything like this nd that's the problem of dictators. They use force to gain loyalty nd by so doing bliv nobody will summon the courage to stand up to them. The level of opposition a small country like Ukrain has given to them should be an example for other dictators nd future dictators planning to invade smaller countries.

Madmohamed123:
Putin is not Gaddafi if those Wagner mess up they will regret it you think Putin don't prepare for a day like this.

Wagner soldiers already marching towards Moscow as at now, you are here saying anoda tin

This is what American government are good at, they will turn your ali against you to catch you, look at sadam husain, gadafi, Abacha etc, same insider tactics. They use insider to capture their enemies.

Stubborn82:
This is what American government are good at, they will turn your ali against you to catch you, look at sadam husain, gadafi, Abacha etc, same insider tactics. They use insider to capture their enemies.

But how do they managed to perform these

And in another news....

Latvia closes border to Russians

Countries around the world are reacting to the crisis unfolding in Russia - with its closest neighbours taking the most decisive steps.

Latvia - which saw an influx of Russians fleeing when the war in Ukraine began last year - has sealed its border with Russia. In a tweet, the Foreign Minister said entry for anyone leaving "due to current events" would not be considered for entry.

Estonia too has said it is beefing up security along its border, with Prime Minister Kaja Kallas adding that she was in “close touch” with her Latvian, Lithuanian and Finnish counterparts.

Many other countries - including Poland, the UK and the US - have also said they're closely monitoring the situation.

The PMC Wagner convoy has just about 20 vehicles with 2 tanks. How can he take Moscow with that?

Bulk of PMC Wagner are in Rostov. Confident that Russian main battle forces are held up in the front in Ukraine. They have not calculated about Akhmat forces of Chechnya or former Chechyan Rebels. The Akhmat forces have just arrived Rostov in two directions with over 2km military Column. Far outnumbering PMC numbers.

Unless the west also bought Chechyans over through Russian Oligarchs, then PMC Wagner has just commited sucide.

Such a light convoy to Moscow seems to be confident that people will rise up to support them. The reverse is happening since Putin called there actions Treason.

People watch out for killer putin fans on their new disinformation campaign.

They have largely been quiet so far but now they are receiving marching orders from the Reich wing networks like Fox news and others, that has started floating the idea, that Prigozyhn is working with the USA.

That's the most stupid thing ever.

They'll soon flood nairaland with their lies, like you know, they don't have a thinking brain or independent thought.

Watch out for trolls like: Olaadegbu, basilico, ycat, ono, kingsnairaland, benalvino3, panafrican, seunlif and other little trolls as they start their Russian disinformation campaign, which actually goes no where though.

Obrigardo:
People watch out for killer putin fans on their new disinformation campaign.

They have largely been quiet so far but now they are receiving marching orders from the Reich wing networks like Fox news and others, that has started floating the idea, that Prigozyhn is working with the USA.

That's the most stupid thing ever.

They'll soon flood nairaland with their lies, like you know, they don't have a thinking brain or independent thought.

Watch out for trolls like: Olaadegbu, basilico, ycat, ono, kingsnairaland, benalvino3, panafrican, seunlif and other little trolls as they start their Russian disinformation campaign, which actually goes no where though.

Are you for real.
The US and British intelligence have been predicting Regime Change in Russia since the start of the SMO.

Boxes of cash have already been seized from office of Wagner PMC. Which points to well prepared attempts to buy troops. Text message anonymously distributed to Russian troops to trade in dirt on there Ministry of defence. Second text adking them to take a side- hence civil war.

So someone in financing the mutiny. Thats exactly what the west wants to instigate by seizing assets of Oligarchs. So they turn against Putin to end the war.

Unfortunately, the mutiny is not popular among Russians. PMC wagner will soon be Sorrounded by Akhmat forces arriving Rostov. Worst case scenerio the city will be burnt down, and give the govt the neeeded time to reposition troops from the front. The column moving to Moscow is just a show piece, they do not have the numbers to take or control the city, its expected the show down for them will happen tonight, attention will then shift to Rostov.

Meanwhile Ukraine is not taking advantage of this as they said they would. By now they should be over running Russian defence lines.