We are monitoring developments in Russia.. and we will consult with allies
In the first American reaction to the acceleration of events in Russia after Commander Wagner’s declaration of rebellion Against the Russian military leadership, a spokesman for the US presidency said on Friday that the White House is monitoring the situation in Russia following the Wagner Group’s uprising against the leadership of the Russian army, indicating that President Joe Biden was briefed on what was going on there.
“We are monitoring the situation and will talk to our allies and partners about these developments,” said Adam Hodge, a spokesman for the White House National Security Council.
“Tell Putin to open the investigation”
In addition, the Kremlin announced on Saturday that the Russian Prosecutor General briefed President Vladimir Putin on an investigation into an “armed rebellion” that was opened following the Wagner Group’s uprising against the leadership of the Russian army.
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said that Prosecutor General Igor Krasnov told Putin to “open a criminal investigation in connection with the attempt to organize an armed rebellion.”
“Targeting back sites for Wagner”
This unprecedented escalation began when the leader of the “Wagner” group called on Friday for an uprising against the leadership of the Russian army, after accusing it of killing a large number of its members in a bombing targeting their rear positions in Ukraine, in an accusation denied by Moscow, demanding Yevgeny Prigozhin’s fighters to arrest him on charges of “calling for Armed rebellion.
Prigozhin also called on the army not to “resist” his troops.
He confirmed that the number of his fighters is 25,000, calling on the Russians, especially the army, to join the ranks of his fighters.
“Not a coup”
The “Wagner” leader denied that he was in the process of carrying out a “military coup,” stressing that he wanted to lead a “march for justice.”
Moscow denies
However, Moscow’s response was not long in coming, as the Ministry of Defense rushed to deny Prigozhin’s accusations, while the National Anti-Terrorism Committee announced the opening of an investigation against the leader of Wagner on charges of “calling for armed rebellion.”
In turn, Russia’s National Committee for Combating Terrorism said in a statement reported by Russian news agencies, “The allegations broadcast in the name of Yevgeny Prigozhin are baseless. The Federal Security Service has opened an investigation on charges of calling for armed rebellion.”
In a later statement, the agency accused Wagner’s leader of seeking to ignite a “civil war” in the country, calling on the group’s fighters to arrest Prigozhin.
“supporting Putin”
This bomb, which Prigozhin’s commander detonated in the face of the Russian military leadership, brings to the open the deep tensions experienced by the Kremlin forces in Ukraine.
Earlier Friday, Prigozhin said that Russian forces were retreating in eastern and southern Ukraine, following the counterattack launched by Kiev forces.
These statements contradict Putin’s recent assurances that Ukraine is suffering “catastrophic” losses in its counterattack.
