Take a look at the first images of Wagner mercenaries descending on strategic Russian city in an apparent armed rebellion against Putin

Isobel van HagenJun 24, 2023, 17:31 IST

A fighter of Wagner private mercenary group is seen atop of an armoured vehicle in a street near the headquarters of the Southern Military District in the city of Rostov-on-Don, Russia, June 24, 2023.REUTERS

Wagner group troops descended on Rostov-on-Don in Russia in an apparent armed mutiny.
Images show the armed fighters on armored vehicles in the streets of the strategic Russian city.

Russian mercenary troops marched into a Russian city in an apparent armed rebellion, and they may be on the move towards the country's capital. On Saturday, Russian President Vladimir Putin called the Wagner group's actions a "betrayal," and vowed to quell the mutiny.

Videos on social media appear to show Wagner group soldiers descending on the strategic Rostov-on-Don on Saturday after the group's chief Yevgeny Prigozhin said that Russia's defense ministry "must be stopped."

Rostov-on-Don is a critical military hub in southern Russia for the fighting in Ukraine. Located 60 miles from the Ukraine border, the city of more than one million people hosts the HQ of the Russian Southern Military District command, which according to unconfirmed reports, has been seized by Wagner fighters.

Take a look at the first images of the Wagner fighters descending on the city of Rostov-on-Don on Saturday.

Fighters from the Wagner group marched into Rostov-on-Don, Russia from occupied Ukraine on Saturday, and claimed to have taken control of security sites.

Fighters of Wagner private mercenary group are seen atop of an armoured vehicle in a street near the headquarters of the Southern Military District in the city of Rostov-on-Don, Russia, June 24, 2023.Reuters

The fighters were deployed after Wagner Group founder Yevgeny Prigozhin called for "payback" against Russia.

Fighters of Wagner private mercenary group pose for a picture as they get deployed near the headquarters of the Southern Military District in the city of Rostov-on-Don, Russia, June 24, 2023Reuters

There has been an ongoing feud between Prigozhin and Russian leadership throughout the war in Ukraine.

Fighters of Wagner private mercenary group are deployed in a street near the headquarters of the Southern Military District in the city of Rostov-on-Don, Russia, June 24, 2023.Reuters

In an address on Saturday, Putin vowed Russia would defend itself and promised to punish those involved in the events.

Wagner fighters deployed in Rostov-on-Don.REUTERS/Stringer

Russian citizens in the city have been warned to stay inside and urged not to leave their homes.

Fighters of Wagner private mercenary group are deployed near a local circus in the city of Rostov-on-Don, Russia, June 24, 2023.REUTERS

Wagner chief Yevgeny Prigozhin met with Russia's Deputy Defense Minister Yunus-Bek Yevkurov in the city, a video released on Telegram appeared to show. The Russian officials tried and failed to convince Prigozhin to withdraw his troops, ABC News reported.

Founder of Wagner private mercenary group Yevgeny Prigozhin meets with Russia's Deputy Minister of Defense Yunus-Bek Yevkurov, at the headquarters of the Southern Military District of the Russian Armed Forces, in Rostov-on-Don, Russia, in this screen grab from a video released on June 24, 2023.REUTERS

Wagner chief Yevgeny Prigozhin met with Russia's Deputy Defense Minister Yunus-Bek Yevkurov in the city, a video released on Telegram appeared to show. The Russian officials tried and failed to convince Prigozhin to withdraw his troops, ABC News reported.

The armed soldiers appear to be heading north from the city towards Moscow, the UK Ministry of Defence said Saturday.

Fighters of Wagner private mercenary group stand next to an armoured vehicle while being deployed in a street in the city of Rostov-on-Don, Russia, June 24, 2023.REUTERS

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Take a look at the first images of Wagner mercenaries descending on strategic Russian city in an apparent armed rebellion against Putin

Fighters from the Wagner group marched into Rostov-on-Don, Russia from occupied Ukraine on Saturday, and claimed to have taken control of security sites.

The fighters were deployed after Wagner Group founder Yevgeny Prigozhin called for "payback" against Russia.

There has been an ongoing feud between Prigozhin and Russian leadership throughout the war in Ukraine.

In an address on Saturday, Putin vowed Russia would defend itself and promised to punish those involved in the events.

Russian citizens in the city have been warned to stay inside and urged not to leave their homes.

Wagner chief Yevgeny Prigozhin met with Russia's Deputy Defense Minister Yunus-Bek Yevkurov in the city, a video released on Telegram appeared to show. The Russian officials tried and failed to convince Prigozhin to withdraw his troops, ABC News reported.

The armed soldiers appear to be heading north from the city towards Moscow, the UK Ministry of Defence said Saturday.