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

Luigi Mangione has been charged with the murder of a health insurance CEO

Healthcare CEO murder suspect Luigi Mangione ‘went crazy after surgery’ and called insurers 'parasites’ in manifesto

Israeli soldiers standing next to an armoured vehicle

Israel launches airstrikes across Syria as troops seize more territory

Luigi Mangione, a suspect in the fatal shooting of UnitedHealthcare chief executive Brian Thompson (Pennsylvania Department of Corrections via AP)

Man suspected of killing UnitedHealthcare boss held without bail

Israel Netanyahu’s Trial Explainer

Israel’s Netanyahu is set to give evidence in long-running corruption trial

Hildale, Utah, with mountains in the background

Cult leader who claimed underage girls among his ‘wives’ jailed for 50 years

Abbie's husband Karl Sundgren posted tributes to her online

'Baby Abbie’ who was snatched from hospital as a newborn in 1994 dies aged just 30

c

Murdered schoolgirl Elianne Andam, 15, posted Snapchat moments before being stabbed to death in 'row over teddy bear’

Jorge Ortega

'Just hours from going home to his wife': Tribute to 'devoted' rail worker killed at station as fundraiser launched

A man holding up two nooses in Saydnaya prison

Thousands flock to Assad regime prison in search for missing loved ones

Exclusive
Five former Health Secretaries call for memorial to tens of thousands of stillborn babies buried in unmarked mass graves.

Five former Health Secretaries call for memorial to tens of thousands of stillborn babies buried in unmarked mass graves

The family of Luigi Mangione say they are "shocked and devastated"

Family of Luigi Mangione break silence after 26-year-old charged with murder of health insurance boss

Protests against the arrests of the suspected PKK members

Six people charged in London terror probe linked to banned PKK after 'extensive police investigation'

New promo image shows Stacey, Nessa, Gwen, Bryn and Gavin heading to Essex in the Picasso

Gavin And Stacey star says Christmas special will be 'nothing short of a masterpiece' - as new photos released

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu

Benjamin Netanyahu to take stand in corruption trial

Super Bowl LI - New England Patriots v Atlanta Falcons

Rupert Murdoch loses bid to give eldest son control of media empire in Succession-style legal battle

Luigi Mangione has been charged with murdering UnitedHealthcare's CEO Brian Thompson

Ivy League graduate Luigi Mangione, 26, charged with murdering UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson