Wagner private army stands down coup attempt on Moscow after talks with Kremlin

24 June 2023, 18:43 | Updated: 24 June 2023, 20:21

Putin launched a tirade against the private army, which briefly launched a full-scale coup against his rule
Putin launched a tirade against the private army, which briefly launched a full-scale coup against his rule. Picture: TASS

By Adam Solomons

Russian private army Wagner is standing down its attempted coup on the Kremlin after talks with Vladimir Putin.

Listen to this article

Loading audio...

The mercenary group reportedly had 5,000 soldiers and tanks on their way to Moscow after taking control of southern cities Voronezh and Rostov.

In a voice note shared via the group's Telegram channel, chief Yevgeny Prigozhin said: "They were going to dismantle PMC Wagner. We came out on 23 June to the March of Justice.

"In a day, we walked to nearly 200km away from Moscow. In this time, we did not spill a single drop of blood of our fighters. Now, the moment has come when blood may spill.

"That’s why, understanding the responsibility for spilling Russian blood on one of the sides, we are turning back our convoys and going back to field camps according to the plan."

Revolution? Experts make sense of Wagner rebellion in Russia

The shock U-turn came hours after Putin's plane was seen making a journey from the capital toward St Petersburg, data from tracker FlightRadar showed.

It then disappeared from the radar around 100 miles from Putin's official residence.

But a Kremlin spokesperson insisted Putin remains in his Moscow office.

Dmitry Peskov told Russian state news agency TASS: "Putin is working at the Kremlin."

Russian officials are pictured placing sandbags and sentry guns on the outskirts of Moscow
Russian officials are pictured placing sandbags and sentry guns on the outskirts of Moscow. Picture: Alamy

Wagner vehicles were spotted travelling towards Moscow via motorways surrounding the city.

Around 5,000 Wagner soldiers were also marching on the capital, a source close to Wagner's leadership told Reuters.

Russian state forces fired on Wagner vehicles but were unable to slow their advance from southern cities Voronezh and Rostov.

Moscow's mayor had earlier told residents in the capital not to go to work on Monday "to minimise risks".

Putin ally Sergei Sobyanin wrote via Telegram: "A counter-terrorist operation regime has been declared in Moscow. The situation is difficult.

"I ask you to refrain from traveling around the city as much as possible.

"City services are on high alert."

Ex-PM of Ukraine on Putin accusing Wagner Group of 'treason'

More Latest News

See more More Latest News

A massive explosion ripped through a terrace house in Ilford

Two rushed to hospital after house explosion in Ilford - with 60 firefighters called out to tackle blaze

French rugby players Oscar Jegou, right, and Hugo Auradou, centre

French rugby players cleared of sexual assault in Argentina

Luigi Mangione is taken into court

Man suspected of killing UnitedHealthcare chief appears in court in Pennsylvania

Luigi Mangione yelled at crowds outside court before his hearing.

Suspect in healthcare chief shooting launches into angry outburst outside court as he contests extradition to New York

Alex Jones

Court asked to approve The Onion’s winning bid for Alex Jones’ Infowars

Megan Fox and Machine Gun Kelly

Megan Fox and Machine Gun Kelly 'split' just weeks after announcing pregnancy

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu attends a hearing in his trial on corruption charges

Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu gives evidence in court as he slams 'absurd' corruption allegations

Junior Doctors In England Hold 72-hour Walkout Over Pay

Government departments recommended a pay rise of 2.8% - but union bosses brand it 'barely above the cost of living'

Donald Trump

Trump’s hush money case could be halted but conviction upheld, say prosecutors

Kenneth Chesebro in court

Further charges against Trump lawyers and aide over 2020 fake electors

Massive cuts to the Met were announced today.

With a ‘blackhole’ in the Met Police budget, money isn't the only challenge to effective Met Policing

Exclusive
Suella Braverman speaks to LBC's Andrew Marr

Suella Braverman brands UK-Germany small boats deal 'useless' as she fails to say what she doesn't like about Reform UK

Exclusive
Jamal Khashoggi’s widow has called for an apology and compensation

Jamal Khashoggi’s widow calls for apology and compensation amid 'unfinished business' over his death

Director Ang Lee

Ang Lee to receive Directors Guild lifetime achievement award

Car driving past flames

Wind-driven California wildfire sees thousands ordered to evacuate

Israeli troops near the buffer zone between Syria and Israel in the Golan Heights, as the military also bombed Damascus

Israel to set up 'sterile defensive zone' in Syria as it brands reports IDF tanks are approaching Damascus 'fake news'