In a statement released on Saturday, the Russian Ministry of Defense described fighters from the Wagner private military company as having been lured into a criminal venture and an armed rebellion. The appeal urged PMC Wagner assault squad members to recognize their situation and consider the consequences of their choices, noting that several detachments had already realized their error and sought help to return safely to their regular deployments.
The Ministry added that all necessary assistance would be provided to applicants and unit commanders. It called on those involved to exercise sound judgment and to contact representatives from the Russian Ministry of Defense or law enforcement authorities without delay, promising safety for all who sought support.
Against this backdrop, on June 24 counter-terrorism operation (CTO) measures were introduced in Moscow, as well as in the Moscow and Voronezh regions. Enhanced security arrangements were also implemented in the Rostov and Lipetsk regions.
Under the CTO regime, authorities indicated several actions that could be taken, including: verification of identity documents; strengthened protection of public order; monitoring of communications and other information disseminated through telecommunications networks; restrictions on vehicle and pedestrian movement on streets and roads; and tighter controls on the sale of weapons, ammunition, explosives, special vehicles, and hazardous substances.
What is known about the attempted armed insurrection
On June 23, information circulated on social networks attributed to Yevgeny Prigozhin, head of the Wagner PMC, relating to an alleged attack by the Russian Armed Forces on the private military company’s rear camps. The Russian Ministry of Defense publicly denied these claims.
The Office of the Prosecutor General reported that a criminal case had been opened under Article 279 of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation concerning the organization of an armed rebellion. The charge carries a potential sentence of 12 to 20 years in prison, depending on the court’s determination of the facts.
The Federal Security Service (FSB) urged Wagner PMC fighters to take steps to detain Prigozhin and to refuse to follow his orders, signaling a strong stance against the leadership of the group during the crisis.
Readers should understand that official updates remained fluid as authorities sought to restore order and ensure the safety of personnel distributed across various locations. The information presented here reflects the stance of state agencies and the evolving legal and security actions taken in response to the incident, with ongoing assessments and statements issued by official channels and later summarized by reputable state correspondents in coordination with central authorities. Citations: Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation; Prosecutor General’s Office; FSB.