Tensions between Yevgeny Prigozhin, the head of the Wagner mercenary group, and the Russian military have escalated after Prigozhin accused the military of “destroying” his fighters and vowed revenge. In response, the Federal Security Service (FSB) called for members of the private military contractor to refuse Prigozhin's orders and detain him, while the prosecutor general’s office opened a criminal investigation. Prigozhin's feud with the military has been ongoing since the war in Ukraine, and it remains to be seen what action he will take in response to the accusations.
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Russian authorities have launched a criminal probe against Yevgeny Prigozhin, the owner of the Wagner Group military contractor, in response to his accusations against the Russian Defense Minister. Former President Donald Trump has criticized aid to Ukraine, while President Joe Biden has made continued aide a priority and has traveled to the wartorn country to underscore U.S. support. The investigation is the latest development in the ongoing conflict between Russia and Ukraine, with the outcome yet to be determined.
Yevgeny Prigozhin, the leader of the Wagner Group, has called for an armed rebellion in Russia, leading to a power struggle and criticism from Adam Kinzinger, a CNN senior political commentator and former GOP congressman. The Wagner Group has been a key piece of Russia's strategy in Ukraine, and Prigozhin has been sharply critical of Russian military leadership. Kinzinger has highlighted the apparent admiration for Putin by former Fox News host Tucker Carlson in the wake of the call.
Wagner Private Military Contractor Enters Rostov Without Resistance, Owner Yevgeny Prigozhin Reports
Wagner Private Military Contractor Enters Rostov Without Resistance, Owner Yevgeny Prigozhin Reports
Yevgeny Prigozhin, the owner of the Wagner private military contractor, recently announced that his forces had driven into the Russian city of Rostov without facing any resistance. Prigozhin also reported that Wagner camps had been struck by rockets, helicopter gunships and artillery fire, and that the troops were greeted by border guards as they moved into the Rostov region. Wagner is a Russian private military company that has been involved in conflicts in Ukraine, Syria, and Libya, and is likely in the region to support the Russian military.
Yevgeny Prigozhin, the head of the Russian mercenary group Wagner, accused the Russian military of “destroying” his fighters and vowed to stop the “evil” of the military leadership. The Russian Defense Ministry quickly denied the accusations, calling them an “informational provocation”. This is the first time Prigozhin has publicly accused the Russian military of such actions, and it remains to be seen how the government will respond.
Yevgeny Prigozhin, known as "Putin's chef", has withdrawn his Wagner mercenary forces from the battle for Bakhmut in Ukraine due to a lack of military support. This follows a US official's comments that ammunition shortages were a pressing concern for Moscow. Prigozhin posted an expletive-laden rant on social media before announcing the withdrawal, raising questions about Russia's ability to sustain offensive operations in Ukraine this year.
Two former Russian convicts have made claims that Ukraine attempted to assassinate Russian President Vladimir Putin in a drone attack on the Kremlin. Azamat Uldarov and Alexey Savichev, who were both pardoned by Russian presidential decrees last year, also claimed to have been commanders of the Wagner Group. Russia has responded to the claims with fury, while Ukraine has denied the accusations and two Russian officials have expressed skepticism. It is currently unclear whether the claims are true, as CNN is unable to independently verify them.
This article reports on a trove of classified US intelligence documents that have been leaked online, which suggest infighting between Russian officials and the Wagner Group's interest in Haiti. The documents appear to include highly classified material and the US government is likely to investigate the source of the leak and take steps to ensure similar leaks do not occur in the future. CNN has not independently verified the documents.