Interestingly and perhaps relevantly, R-o-D was the first major city taken back (however briefly) by the Red Army in WWII; in 1941 when the German overextended themselves.
Putin has given a televised speech (in which he never mentioned Prigozhin by name) where he called today’s Wagner actions a traitorous back stabbing and compared it to the 1917 revolution. He urged Wagner to stop, and promised that anyone opposing the current regime will be held responsible. He also stated that the Russian military has been ordered to stop Wagner, as an anti-terrorist move.
Putin acknowledged that Rostov on Don was no more in total Russian control, and called all Russians to support the regime.
Alexei Navalny, main Putin’s opponent, supported Prigojine’s coup.
Fighting in action near Voronezh (500 km south of Moscow) , one Russian helicopter and maybe one Russian aircraft downed.
Wow. From now until who-knows-when, maps showing the evolution of this war will have to include a third color.
(Also, I thank the knowledgeable Dopers for informing us so well on this crisis).
I thought the 1917 revolution was considered a Good Thing.
Putin has been in the “actually czarism was good” bandwagon for awhile now.
At this moment, Russian forces and Wagner(ites) fighting in Voronezh, 500 km south of Moscow.
Also reported: distinct lack of resistance to Wagner elsewhere.
Um… does Putin remember that the 1917 revolution was successful in deposing the tsar? And that currently he’s the “tsar”?
Igor Girkin:
Airstrike on Wagner convoy (video):
Supposedly, private jets are leaving the Moscow area, at least some destined for Turkey. Totally unsubstantiated at this point but the notion that this might in fact be the case is … interesting.
What will be interesting is if other agitators use this as an opportunity to make their move. i.e. the Belarussian opposition groups, Chechen rebels and so on.
Wagner has proceeded past Voronezh (despite Russian resistance), and is heading for Lipetsk, on their (attempted) way to Moscow.
Chilly times, this midsummer.
Obviously, his not-well-thought-through reference meant to imply that the danger to the tsardom is in the same category as back then. Commentators have taken this to mean that Putin is actually scared, and the only possible outcome in the not-too-distant future is the death of either Prigozhin or Putin, with the odds of survival vastly in Putin’s favor. But weirder things have happened.
And as I’ve said for a long time now, this is what it will come down to: who will the regular forces support? Sure, the official Russian army has a lot more men and equipment than Wagner, but if they sit it out, or actively support Wagner, then Putin has a problem.
And the more early success Wagner has, the more likely the regular troops are to abandon Putin. “Nothing succeeds like success”, and the last 24 hours have been some of the most successful for any Russian troops in this whole war.
It’s interesting to look at Google Maps traffic layer and see the state of the M4 road that goes from Rostov-on-Don to Moscow. Heavy traffic north of Voronezh which is half way to Moscow.
There is a very recent video of a military helicopter, verified by the BBC as being from the city of Voronezh, destroying an oil depot. Most people are interpreting this as the Russians destroying their own facility to prevent Wagner from being to use it.
https://twitter.com/christogrozev/status/1672577469507837954
https://twitter.com/KevinRothrock/status/1672579025338871815
https://twitter.com/christogrozev/status/1672578805842563073
From BBC News.
https://www.bbc.com/news/live/world-europe-66006142
Summary
- President Putin decries “betrayal” and “treason” following a dramatic challenge by the chief of the Wagner mercenary force
- Yevgeny Prigozhin called for a rebellion against the army - although he has denied attempting a coup
- Wagner says it has taken the Russian city of Rostov-on-Don near the Ukraine border - residents have been told to stay indoors
- BBC News Russian sources also say Wagner mercenaries have seized military facilities in Voronezh, which is halfway between Rostov and Moscow
- 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
- On Friday night, security in Russia was tightened, the internet was restricted and military trucks were spotted on Moscow streets
- Prigozhin accused the army of launching a deadly attack on his forces in Ukraine, where Wagner troops are fighting for Russia - Moscow denies this
All of this is good news for Ukraine, I hope they make the best use of it.
Oryx starts count of Russian loyalist and Wagner rebel equipment losses in the 2023 Russian civil war:
https://pbs.twimg.com/media/FzYU888WwAEd_g0?format=png&name=900x900