Who is Yevgany Prigozhin, head of Wagner group that has vowed to topple Russian leadership

New Delhi: The leader of the notorious Russian mercenary group, Wagner, Yevgeny Prigozhin, has issued a strong declaration, vowing to take down Russia’s military leadership, shortly after being accused by the Kremlin of “armed rebellion.”

In a brazen move, Prigozhin confirmed that his Wagner fighters had entered Russia through the Ukrainian border, specifically targeting the city of Rostov-on-Don. He asserted that his forces would eliminate anyone who obstructed their mission, prompting the local governor to urge citizens to remain calm and indoors. According to Prigozhin, his fighters had successfully downed a Russian military helicopter, claiming it had fired upon a civilian convoy. However, the exact location of the incident remains unverified.

The Wagner Group, a private mercenary army known for fighting alongside the regular Russian forces in Ukraine, has been experiencing escalating tensions with Russia due to disagreements over war strategies. Prigozhin has openly criticized Russia’s military leadership since the last few months.

The 62-year-old mercenary leader accused the military of carrying out a deadly missile strike on his troops on Friday and vowed to exact punishment. However, no evidence was provided to support his claim. Authorities swiftly denied any involvement in the alleged strike and demanded that Prigozhin halt his “illegal actions.”

In an audio message posted on the social media platform Telegram, Prigozhin emphasized the need to stop the “evil” within Russia’s military leadership and called for a “march for justice.”

“Those who killed our lads, and tens of thousands of lives of Russian soldiers [in the war in Ukraine] will be punished.

“I ask you not to resist. Anyone who does will be considered a threat and destroyed. That goes for any checkpoints and aviation on our way.

“Presidential power, the government, the police and Russian guard will work as usual.

“This is not a military coup, but a march of justice. Our actions do not interfere with the troops in any way.”

The situation has prompted Russia’s President Vladimir Putin to receive continuous updates, according to his spokesperson. Moscow has heightened their security measures, focusing on key locations such as government buildings and transportation facilities as reported by their state-owned news agency TASS. The governor of Russia’s Lipetsk region, Igor Artamonov has also advised residents against traveling south as it is 175 miles north-east of the nearest Ukrainian border. “A decision has been taken to reinforce security measures in the region. I ask everyone to remain calm,” he said. The Ukrainian Ministry of Defence tweeted on Friday saying, “We are watching.”

Amidst the escalating tension, General Sergei Surovikin, the deputy head of the Russian forces in Ukraine, called upon Prigozhin to cease the convoys and return them to their bases. “We are of one blood, we are warriors,” he said in a video. “You mustn’t play into the enemy’s hands at a time that is difficult for our country.” Lt Gen Vladimir Alekseyev, another senior commander, described Prigozhin’s actions as a betrayal to the nation and the president, akin to a stab in the back.

Russian state media reported that the Federal Security Service (FSB) had launched a criminal case against Prigozhin, accusing him of “calling for an armed rebellion” and attempting to instigate an armed civil conflict within Russia. The FSB called on Wagner fighters to disregard his orders and take measures to apprehend him. Russia’s defense ministry issued a statement refuting the social media reports of Russian strikes on Wagner camps, dismissing them as false information provocation.

These recent events follow a video message in May where Prigozhin confronted the bodies of his fallen troops, berating Russia’s defense minister Sergei Shoigu and Chief of the General Staff Valery Gerasimov for inadequate ammunition supplies. Prigozhin claimed that the war in Ukraine had been initiated “so that Shoigu could become a Marshal”. He accused the Ministry of Defense of deceiving the public saying, “The Ministry of Defence is trying to deceive the public, deceive the president and tell a story that there was some crazy aggression by Ukraine, that – together with the whole Nato bloc – Ukraine was planning to attack us.”

The situation continues to unfold, with tensions mounting between the Wagner Group and Russia’s military leadership. The White House has expressed its vigilance and intention to consult with U.S. allies in response to the developments.