The newest on the armed rebel declared by Russian mercenary chief Yevgeny Prigozhin:
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The rebellious Russian mercenary commander who ordered his troops to march on Moscow mentioned he was responding to an assault on his camps in Ukraine on Friday by rival forces from the Russian navy.
The U.S. had intelligence, nonetheless, that Yevgeny Prigozhin was build up his Wagner forces close to the border with Russia for a while. Officers briefed congressional leaders referred to as the Gang of Eight on the buildup earlier within the week, an individual aware of the matter mentioned. The individual was not licensed to talk publicly and spoke to The Related Press on the situation of anonymity. The U.S. intelligence briefing was first reported by CNN.
The navy preparations increase questions on Prigozhin’s rationalization for why he seemingly spontaneously despatched his forces into Russia and whether or not he had as an alternative lengthy been planning a problem to Russia’s navy management.
Wagner troops have performed a vital position within the Ukraine warfare, capturing the jap metropolis of Bakhmut, an space the place the bloodiest and longest battles have taken place. However Prigozhin has more and more criticized the navy brass, accusing it of incompetence and of ravenous his troops of munitions.
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Russian media reported late Saturday that a number of helicopters and a navy communications airplane had been downed by Wagner troops throughout the short-lived rebellion. Wagner chief Yevgeny Prigozhin beforehand mentioned his forces had taken management of the navy headquarters in Rostov-on-Don, in addition to different navy services within the metropolis with none deaths and even “a single gunshot.”
The Kremlin referred the query in regards to the losses to the Protection Ministry, which has stored mum.
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The pinnacle of the personal Russian navy firm Wagner will transfer to neighboring Belarus as a part of deal to defuse rebel tensions and the felony case in opposition to him might be closed, the Kremlin mentioned Saturday.
Yevgeny Prigozhin’s troops who joined him within the rebellion is not going to face prosecution and those that didn’t might be supplied contracts by the Protection Ministry, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov mentioned.
After the deal was reached, Prigozhin mentioned he was ordering his troops to halt their march on Moscow and retreat to area camps in Ukraine, the place they’ve been preventing alongside Russian troops.
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KEY DEVELOPMENTS:
Russia says fees in opposition to mercenary chief who mounted an armed rebel might be dropped
Prigozhin, the Wagner Group chief who urged an rebellion, has lengthy ties to Putin
Comply with AP’s protection of the warfare in Ukraine: https://apnews.com/hub/russia-ukraine
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Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy mentioned late Saturday, shortly earlier than Yevgeny Prigozhin’s announcement of his retreat, that Saturday’s occasions confirmed “that the bosses of Russia don’t management something.” The Kremlin, he mentioned, “confirmed all Russian bandits, mercenaries, oligarchs” that it’s simple to “seize Russian cities and, most likely, arsenals with weapons.”
Switching into Russian throughout his day by day video handle, Zelenskyy claimed that “the person from the Kremlin” was “very afraid.” Zelenskyy used the backdrop of the scenario in Russia to induce allies to present Ukraine F-16 fighter plane and ATACMS tactical ballistic missiles, in addition to underlined the significance of Ukraine becoming a member of NATO.
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The pinnacle of the Wagner group mentioned Saturday he has ordered his mercenaries to halt their march on Moscow and retreat to their area camps in Ukraine to keep away from shedding Russian blood.
The announcement from Yevgeny Prigozhin appeared to defuse a dramatically escalating disaster that represented probably the most vital problem to President Vladimir Putin’s management in his greater than 20 years in energy. Moscow had braced for the arrival of the personal military led by the rebellious commander whereas Putin had vowed that Prigozhin would face harsh penalties.
Prigozhin didn’t say whether or not the Kremlin had responded to his demand to oust Protection Minister Sergei Shoigu. There was no instant remark from the Kremlin.
The announcement adopted a press release from the workplace of Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko saying that he had negotiated a cope with Prigozhin after beforehand discussing the problem with Russian President Vladimir Putin.
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U.S. President Joe Biden spoke with French President Emmanuel Macron, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz and British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak on Saturday in regards to the scenario in Russia. In line with a press release from the White Home, the 4 leaders reaffirmed their “unwavering” help for Ukraine throughout the dialog. Nonetheless, the White Home mentioned U.S. officers had been cautious of weighing in additional on the scenario and “wished to keep away from any remark that may very well be misconstrued to counsel the U.S. was taking a aspect within the apparently inner battle.”
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The governor of the area surrounding Russia’s capital has suspended mass public occasions outside and at academic establishments till July 1.
Gov. Andrei Vorobyov issued a decree with the bans on Saturday because the chief of personal Russian navy firm Wagner mentioned his mercenaries had been heading to Moscow in an armed rebel in opposition to Russia’s protection minister.
The governor’s decree does not apply to the town itself however the surrounding areas.
Nonetheless, Moscow Mayor Sergei Sobyanin warned that site visitors may very well be restricted in elements of the capital as a part of the counter-terrorism operation prompted by the rebel. The counter-terrorism operation permits authorities to tighten safety, impose curbs on site visitors and communications, and to conduct searches with out warrants.
There was no instant phrase of whether or not a curfew can be imposed.
The mayor additionally declared Monday a non-working day for most individuals, apart from public servants and staff of some industrial enterprises.
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A senior Kremlin official has warned {that a} profitable rebel by the Wagner group would imply the mercenaries getting ahold of Russia’s huge nuclear arsenal, which might increase an existential menace to your complete world.
“The historical past of mankind hasn’t but seen the most important arsenal of nuclear weapons below management by bandits,” Dmitry Medvedev, the deputy head of Russia’s Safety Council chaired by President Vladimir Putin, mentioned in remarks carried by Russian information businesses. “Such a disaster is not going to be restricted by only one nation’s borders, the world might be put on the point of destruction.”
He added that “we gained’t enable such a flip of occasions.”
Medvedev has ceaselessly used hardline rhetoric since Russia despatched troops into Ukraine, usually reminding the West about Russia’s nuclear arsenal in a bid to discourage the U.S. and its allies from ramping up weapons provides to Kyiv.
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The Russian International Ministry has warned the West in opposition to making an attempt to make the most of the rebel led by mercenary chief Yevgeny Prigozhin.
The ministry mentioned in a press release Saturday that “we’re cautioning Western nations in opposition to even a touch of utilizing the interior scenario in Russia for attaining their Russophobic objectives.”
It argued that the mutiny performs into the palms of Russia’s enemies and mentioned that the Russian public stands behind President Vladimir Putin.
The ministry mentioned that Moscow appreciates its allies and companions voicing their understanding of the scenario.
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Safety in numerous Russian areas was tightened as authorities sought to thwart an armed rebel spearheaded by mercenary chief Yevgeny Prigozhin.
There was tighter safety notably in areas between the southern metropolis of Rostov-on-Don, the place Prigozhin’s Wagner group appeared to manage navy headquarters, and Moscow.
The governor of the Lipetsk area requested residents to remain at house and chorus from touring. Governor Igor Artamonov mentioned on Telegram that Wagner had entered the province however “the scenario is below management.”
Within the neighboring Tambov area, mass occasions had been canceled Saturday.
The governor of the Kaluga area, simply south of the Moscow area, mentioned that motion on roads in areas on its western, southern and jap borders had been restricted. Vladislav Shapsha wrote on Telegram that individuals ought to “chorus from touring by personal automobile on these roads until completely essential.”
Within the capital, site visitors on the Moscow River was suspended. Cops in bulletproof vests and with machine weapons had been seen close to the doorway of the foremost freeway that hyperlinks Moscow with Voronezh and Rostov–on-Don.
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Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s workplace says he advised Russian President Vladimir Putin on Saturday that Turkey was prepared to assist resolve the stand-off in Russia with the mercenary Wagner group.
The Turkish presidency tweeted that, in a telephone name with Putin, Erdogan “underlined the significance of appearing with frequent sense” and mentioned Ankara might assist resolve occasions as quickly as attainable. It didn’t specify how Turkey might assist.
Turkey has retained shut ties with each Moscow and Kyiv throughout the warfare.
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Ukraine’s deputy protection minister says the “political disaster” in Russia gives Kyiv with a “window of alternative.”
Hanna Maliar wrote on Telegram Saturday that Moscow’s “inaccurate choice” to start out a warfare in Ukraine had led to “the inevitable degradation of the Russian state.”
The rebel by mercenary chief Yevgeny Prigozhin comes as Kyiv’s forces have been probing Russian defenses within the preliminary levels of a counteroffensive.
Talking in Kyiv, International Minister Dmytro Kuleba mentioned that “a coup is happening in Russia, led by Prigozhin and his Wagner troops. Any coup, any downside that emerges in enemy’s rear aligns with our curiosity.”
He added that “it’s early to estimate penalties.”
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International ministers from the Group of Seven main industrial powers conferred Saturday on the scenario in Russia after mercenary chief Yevgeny Prigozhin launched an armed rebel.
The U.S. State Division and German International Ministry gave few particulars of the dialogue, which additionally included the European Union’s international coverage chief.
The State Division mentioned Secretary of State Antony Blinken “reiterated that help by the US for Ukraine is not going to change.” It mentioned that the U.S. “will keep in shut coordination” with allies and companions because the scenario develops.
The G7 contains the US, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, Canada and the U.Okay.
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The Kremlin says Russian President Vladimir Putin spoke to a number of international leaders on Saturday following the armed rebel by mercenary chief Yevgeny Prigozhin.
Spokesman Dmitry Peskov mentioned Putin spoke on the telephone with the leaders of Belarus, Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan and “knowledgeable his counterparts of the scenario.”
Putin additionally spoke with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan. A Kremlin assertion mentioned the Russian chief knowledgeable Erdogan “in regards to the scenario within the nation associated to an tried armed rebel,” and the Turkish president “expressed full help for the steps of the Russian management.”
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Mercenary chief Yevgeny Prigozhin claims that his troops entered the southern Russian metropolis of Rostov-on-Don and not using a single shot and says that nobody was killed throughout what he calls a “march of justice.”
Prigozhin mentioned in a brand new audio assertion on Saturday that “we didn’t contact a single conscript, we didn’t kill a single individual on our method.” He added that the Russian air pressure focused his troops, however they nonetheless managed to grab navy headquarters in Rostov “and not using a single gunshot.”
His claims couldn’t be independently verified. The Russian authorities haven’t reported any casualties to this point, both.
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Estonia and Latvian officers say their nations have stepped up border safety following an armed rebel in neighboring Russia by mercenary chief Yevgeny Prigozhin.
Each nations are NATO members and robust backers of Ukraine, and have tense relations with Russia. Estonian Prime Minister Kaja Kallas wrote on Twitter that Estonia is “carefully following” developments and exchanging info with allies.
International Minister Edgars Rinkevics of neighboring Latvia wrote in an English-language Twitter publish that his nation’s border safety additionally has been strengthened and “visa or border entry from Russians leaving Russia as a result of present occasions gained’t be thought-about.”
Each Kallas and Rinkevics mentioned there was no “direct menace” to their respective nations.
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Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zekenskyy says it’s clear that Russia is affected by “full-scale weak point” after mercenary chief Yevgeny Prigozhin launched an armed rebel.
Zelenskyy mentioned in feedback posted on his Telegram channel Saturday that “anybody who chooses the trail of evil destroys himself.”
He mentioned that “for a very long time, Russia used propaganda to masks its weak point and the stupidity of its authorities. And now there may be a lot chaos that no lie can conceal it.”
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Officers throughout Russia have rallied behind President Vladimir Putin, publicly reiterating their allegiance to the Kremlin and urging mercenary chief Yevgeny Prigozhin to again down.
Vyacheslav Volodin, the speaker of Russia’s decrease home of parliament, the State Duma, mentioned that lawmakers “stand for the consolidation of forces” and help Putin after his handle to the nation on Saturday.
Maria Zakharova, Russia’s International Ministry spokesperson, mentioned in a Telegram publish that “we’ve got one commander in chief. Not two, not three. One. And he urged everybody to unite.”
Ramzan Kadyrov, the chief of Chechnya who has beforehand sided with Prigozhin in his criticism of the navy management, additionally expressed his help for Putin. He mentioned that “the mutiny must be suppressed.”
Up to now, no Russian official has spoken out in help of Prigozhin.
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Sudden help for mercenary chief Yevgeny Prigozhin’s endeavor got here from exiled tycoon turned opposition chief Mikhail Khodorkovsky.
Khodorkovsky mentioned in a Fb publish that Prigozhin’s rebel is “the strongest blow to (Russian President Vladimir) Putin’s repute,” and that serving to him get to Moscow can be “serving to our nation.”
He mentioned Prigozhin had “repeated phrase for phrase what we, the anti-war opposition, have been saying because the starting of the warfare” — that the “goal of the warfare is theft” and nobody believes within the official cause for the warfare in Ukraine.
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A video that appeared on Telegram on Saturday confirmed mercenary chief Yevgeny Prigozhin assembly with Russia’s Deputy Protection Minister Yunus-Bek Yevkurov and deputy chief of the Common Workers Vladimir Alexeyev.
Within the video, whose origin couldn’t not be independently verified, Prigozhin claimed that he and his troops had been “saving Russia” and demanded that Russian authorities surrender Protection Minister Sergei Shoigu and chief of the Common Workers Valery Gerasimov.
“We wish to get the chief of the Common Workers and Shoigu,” Prigozhin mentioned. “Till they’re right here, we’re right here, we’re blocking the town of Rostov and go towards Moscow.”
Within the video, Yevkurov and Alexeyev tried to influence Prigozhin to withdraw his forces from Rostov-on-Don, however to no avail.
Prigozhin, a billionaire with ties to the Kremlin, has a long-running feud with the Russian navy management.
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Ukraine’s head of navy intelligence says the battle between the Russian navy management and mercenary chief Yevgeny Prigozhin is “a frontal conflict of lies and fact.”
Kyrylo Budanov advised Ukrainian tv on Saturday that the battle stands out as a result of Prigozhin, whether or not “you want him or not, he primarily says (the) fact” whereas Russia’s Protection Ministry tells “primarily lies.”
He mentioned that the battle “will not be faux.”
Budanov mentioned that whereas senior Protection Ministry officers speak of advances with younger and courageous troopers, Prigozhin factors to miscalculations, poor tools, lack of coaching and different issues.
He mentioned: “This can be a frontal conflict of lies and fact. Although each fully work within the curiosity of the Russian Federation, we have to keep in mind this.”
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Russian President Vladimir Putin addressed the nation Saturday and vowed to defend the nation and its individuals from an armed rebel declared by mercenary chief Yevgeny Prigozhin.
Putin mentioned the mutiny amounted to “a lethal menace to our statehood” and vowed “robust actions” in response. “All those that ready the rebel will endure inevitable punishment. The armed forces and different authorities businesses have acquired the mandatory orders,” Putin mentioned.
He referred to as Prigozhin’s actions, with out referring to the proprietor of the Wagner personal navy firm by identify, “a betrayal” and “a treason.” He urged “those that are being dragged into this crime to not make a deadly and tragic, distinctive mistake, to make the one proper selection — to cease collaborating in felony acts.”
Putin condemned the rebel at a time when Russia was “preventing the hardest battle for its future” with its warfare in Ukraine. “All the navy, financial and knowledge machine of the West is waged in opposition to us,” Putin mentioned.
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Nomaan Service provider contributed to this report from Washington.