On June 24, small units from the Akhmat special forces approached Rostov-on-Don, maintaining a distance of roughly 500 to 700 meters from the Wagner PMC forces. They waited for a directive from the Russian Ministry of Defense, yet no order arrived to trigger any active engagement. This account came from the broadcast of the Russia 1 channel, with Apty Alaudinov, the commander of Akhmat, speaking on air.
According to Alauddinov, the Akhmat fighters had established a position near the Big Log and had dispatched scouts to survey all the locations where the rebel forces were reported to be stationed. He asserted that the unit was prepared for any possible outcome, emphasizing readiness and situational vigilance rather than impulsive action. The commander underscored a preference from the Ministry of Defense to avoid direct confrontation, expressing hope that the crisis could be resolved without escalation. Despite this, Akhmat fighters signaled their willingness to execute the orders given by their commander should a decision to advance be issued.
Earlier, on the evening of June 23, Wagner PMC chief Yevgeny Prigozhin announced that Russian Defense Ministry forces had allegedly struck rear camps of the private military group. He said his fighters were moving toward Russia in what he described as a “march for justice”, framing the actions of the Ministry as an attack on his unit. The Defense Ministry rejected these accusations, denying any wrongdoing and restating that official directives remained in force.
The morning of June 24 saw Wagner PMC forces tightening their control over Rostov-on-Don by sealing administrative buildings and beginning a measurable maneuver toward Moscow. President Vladimir Putin addressed the situation, describing Prigozhin’s stance as a form of treachery and warning the Wagner leadership and its subordinates about the potential consequences of continued opposition. The remarks underscored the Kremlin’s insistence on preventing governance disruption and maintaining state authority, while also signaling the gravity of the internal rift in the security apparatus.
Later that evening, the Akhmat fighters, affiliated with the Chechen leadership, entered Rostov-on-Don as the events unfolded, aligning with the broader objective of restoring order and protecting strategic interests within the region. Correspondents noted that Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko, who had been involved in mediating discussions, participated in confidential negotiations aimed at defusing the standoff. The talks yielded a provisional framework described as an acceptable resolution that would provide security guarantees for the fighters involved in the private military company. Throughout these developments, Wagner’s leadership reportedly characterized the situation as an attempted riot or insurrection, insisting that the deployment of their columns had been reconsidered in response to the evolving conditions on the ground.”
This sequence of events illustrates how the security forces, paramilitary structures, and political leadership interacted under the strain of a major internal challenge. Observers and analysts noted the delicate balance between asserting state authority and avoiding a broader confrontation that could destabilize the region. The situation remained highly fluid, with all sides signaling a preference for de-escalation while preparing for possible contingencies should orders change or the political calculus shift.