2023-06-24 09:15:14
The head of the Russian mercenary company Wagner assured today that he is at the headquarters of the Russian army in the city of Rostov – a key command center in the Russian attack against Ukraine – adding that military facilities, including the airport, are in the hands of his men.
“We are at the headquarters, it is 07:30 in the morning” [σ.σ. τοπική ώρα και ώρα Ελλάδας], Yevgeny Prigozhin said in a video uploaded to the Telegram platform. “Military facilities in Rostov are under our control, including the airport,” he added, as uniformed men could be seen marching behind him.
In another video, uploaded to a Telegram account linked to Wagner, Mr Prigozhin is pictured with Russian Deputy Defense Minister Yunus-Bek Evkurov and Lt. Gen. Vladimir Alekseyev, lecturing them on how to treat soldiers .
In the latest video – which cannot be ascertained when or where it was filmed – Mr Prigozhin states that his forces have blockaded the city of Rostov, that they are ready to march on Moscow, while demanding that his leader go to see him General Staff Valery Gerasimov and Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu.
In the first video, the head of Wagner says that military aircraft participating in operations in Ukraine “depart normally” from Rostov airport to carry out their “combat duties” and “there is no problem”.
“The main command center is functioning normally,” continues Mr. Prigozhin, assuring that “no officer” has been relieved of his duties.
“A large number of territories” that had been conquered in Ukraine were “lost” and “many soldiers were killed,” he insists, once again repeating his charge that the military hierarchy is not telling the truth about the situation on the front lines.
The army is losing “up to 1,000 soldiers a day”, Mr Prigozhin said, clarifying that he was talking about dead, wounded, missing and those who refuse to fight.
Source: APE-MPE, AFP, REUTERS, DPA
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