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UPDATE: Kremlin Denies Claims Putin Has Fled As Wagner Fighters Move Closer To Moscow

By Chris King • Updated: 24 Jun 2023 • 17:42

Image of Wagner PMC boss Yevgeny Prighozin.

Image of Wagner PMC boss Yevgeny Prighozin. Credit: Telegram Concorde press agency

UPDATE: Saturday, June 24 at 5:30 pm

Claims that President Vladimir Putin had fled Moscow were denied by Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov today, Saturday, June 24. He assured the leader was busy working in the capital and attending to the matters at hand.

A private jet known to be used by the leader was monitored taking off and the news was subsequently posted on social media. Its transponder was then allegedly switched off.

Further claims were made suggesting Putin had gone into hiding at his palace in Valdai, which could account for one report that claimed a presidential helicopter was spotted flying in the direction of St Petersburg.

He made a televised address to the nation in which he called Yevgeny Prigozhin’s ‘armed rebellion’, the result of ‘exorbitant ambition’ that led to treason and betrayal.

Putin described the situation to citizens of the Russian Federation and military personnel, as well as to those: “who were dragged into a criminal adventure by deceit or threats, pushed onto the path of a serious crime – an armed rebellion”, as reported by TASS.

Wagner forces are on the move again

Wagner forces are said to have already secured the city of Rostov-on-Don and some of them are reportedly on the move again, now heading towards the Lipetsk region, in the direction of Moscow.

According to gazeta.ru, Igor Artamonov, the governor of the region, said on his VKontakte page that Wagner equipment had been seen moving around the region.

“Law enforcement agencies and authorities, including in municipalities, are taking all necessary measures to ensure the safety of the population. The situation is under control. There are no failures in the operation of critical infrastructure”, Artamonov said.

He stressed that he and the team and representatives of ‘all departments’ had been working since last night in the operational headquarters.

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UPDATE: Saturday, June 24 at 01:30 am

A convoy of several hundred Wagner vehicles, estimated to be at least 50 km in length, has reportedly crossed over the Russian border from Ukraine. It is said to be headed for Moscow.

Yevgeny Prighozin, the Wagner boss, is said to have stated: “We have crossed state borders … We’ll destroy anything that gets in the way. … We go all the way”.

The mercenary chief said in one Telegram message: “Today a missile strike was launched against us. Then helicopters. Then artillery. The command to destroy PMC Wagner was given by the Chief of General Staff after a meeting with Shoigu”.

Online video footage is currently almost zero because the internet has been limited in Russia since the capital was put on high alert. Some footage is appearing though, which shows military vehicles blocking streets in the city of Rostov-on-Don.

This would be the first major city that the Wagner forces will have to pass if they want to make it to Moscow.

Gerashchenko posted a message on Twitter from an alleged source in the Russian media: “The source says there is panic in the Kremlin, no one can reach Putin”. It continued:  “Source: Right now the Kremlin is negotiating about something with General Governor Dyumin”.

“Source: Some people in the Kremlin, from the presidential administration, are finding out about a possible emergency relocation. One of the few available destinations is Uruguay”, it concluded.

He also made an interesting observation about the two recent video messages that were broadcast earlier by General Surovkin and the deputy head of Russian intelligence urging Wagner fighters to stand down.

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UPDATE: Friday, June 23 at 11:58 pm

Russian military vehicles have been filmed moving into locations around Moscow this evening, Friday, June 23. It would appear that the city has been placed on high alert in the aftermath of the Wagner PMC situation.

Social media is buzzing with reports about the activity. According to most reports, locations of high importance are being protected.


A video appeared on the Baza Telegram featuring General Surovkin, known to be friendly to Prighozin. He made an appeal to the Wagner boss: “I urge you to stop, the enemy is just waiting for our internal political situation to escalate. We can not play into the hands of the enemy at this difficult time for the country”.

“We are of the same blood, we are warriors, the enemy is just waiting for the internal political situation in the country to escalate, you cannot play into the hands of the enemy”.

Surovikin is the commander-in-chief of the Air and Space Forces of Russia, and the former commander of the United Group of Russian Forces.


Footage appeared on the Baza Telegram channel showing military helicopters and vehicles deployed in downtown Rostov-on-Don, Russia. A similar situation is being reported in border settlements in the region. It would appear that Defence Minister Shoigu is trying to prevent Wagner PMC from entering Russia from Ukraine.

It has been reported that Wagner’s column has passed the first checkpoints. They are said to be on their way to Novocherkassk, where the army headquarters are. A column of around 400 vehicles allegedly left Millerovo earlier driving in the direction of Moscow.

It was also reported that the business jet belonging to Belarussian dictator Alexandr Lukashenko had taken off from Minsk at around 1 am local time, with his family on board.

Anton Gerashchenko, an advisor to the Minister of Internal Affairs of Ukraine posted footage of vehicles passing through streets in the Russian capital.

Yevgeny Prighozin posted yet another message on Telegram after General Surovkin was shown in a video urging Wagner to back down. “All of those generals with shaking hands urging “musicians” to stop – they have practically signed their own verdicts. The tribunal is yet to come, inevitably. Surovikin is yet to answer for giving up Kherson”, he wrote.

The Wagner chief has now called on the Russian National Guard to change sides: “The most promising politician appeals to the National Guard (Rosgvardia) with an offer that is better not refused. Obeying criminal orders and attempting to interfere with the planned campaign of Justice will end badly for employees who have made the wrong choice”.

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Friday, June 23 at 10:34 pm

There is a very tense situation in Russia this evening, Friday, June 23, following accusations made by the Wagner PMC chief Yevgeny Prighozin.

The mercenary boss claimed that his men had been targeted today by shelling ordered by the Russian Ministry of Defence.

He subsequently threatened to take action against those he deemed to be responsible for the alleged attack that he said killed a large number of his fighters.

According to Dmitry Peskov, the Kremlin press secretary, President Vladimir Putin had been fully informed of the situation that was unfolding, reported gazeta.ru.

‘President Putin has been informed of all the events around Prigozhin. The necessary measures are being taken’, he said.

Earlier, the Russian Ministry of Defence of the Russian Federation denied all the claims made by Prighozin on his Telegram channel about their ‘delivering a blow to the Wagner PMC rear camps’.

The ministry emphasised that the Russian Armed Forces were conducting combat missions on the line of contact with the Ukrainian army as per normal.

Prighozin’s Telegram has been working overtime all day, with more and more messages being posted.


A message posted on the board of Prighozin’s Concord press agency from the editorial board of ‘Glas Naroda’ asked
“Hello, dear Yevgeny Viktorovich! An alleged statement by you to the Investigative Committee regarding Defence Minister Sergei Shoigu and Chief of the General Staff Valeriy Gerasimov has appeared online. Can you confirm the authenticity of this document? We thank you in advance for your answer!”.

The reply was: “Yes, these are the same statements on Gerasimov and Shoigu, according to which they must incur responsibility for the genocide of the Russian people, the murder of tens of thousands of Russian citizens and the transfer of Russian territories to the enemy”.

“And the transfer was premeditated, just like the murder of Russian citizens and genocide. Shoigu has genocide on ethnic grounds”, it concluded.

In one message, he said: “The majority of the military are warmly supporting us. We get messages: ‘Finally, justice in the army will come! Finally, you will ensure we will get the ammo and won’t be thrown as meat!’ Just now, the information came through: in Rostov morgue, the Minister of Defence ordered to hide 2,000 bodies, which are held there to avoid showcasing the losses”.

“Shoigu will be hanged on Red Square and lie down in the mausoleum together with Lenin. All patriots of Russia, real patriots of the country who know history, who are not fans of a weak government that betrayed the interests of the state, take to the streets, and we will find weapons”, he is reported as saying.

“This night we will resolve the issue of traitors and criminals who have dishonoured Russia. Their names are Shoigu and Gerasimov”, he allegedly added.

It has also been claimed that Russian state media and Telegram channels have been banned from mentioning any of Prigozhin’s statements.

At the time of writing, it was reported by the state-run TASS news agency that a criminal case has now been initiated against the Wagner boss by the National Anti-Terrorism Committee for what could be classed as ‘armed mutiny’. They called on Prigozhin to immediately stop his illegal actions and alleged incitement.

In a statement, the NAC said: “The allegations spread on behalf of Yevgeny Prigozhin have no basis. In connection with these statements, the FSB of Russia initiated a criminal case on the fact of calling for an armed rebellion. We demand an immediate stop to illegal actions”.

Unverified reports appearing on social media are now claiming that Russian military police officers who flew out of Rostov earlier have just arrived at the Wagner PMC headquarters in St. Petersburg.

It has just been reported also that OMON Riot police have surrounded the Wagner PMC headquarters in Molkino. Wagner troops based there have allegedly taken up defensive positions to repel any potential assault.

Helicopters armed with Gatling guns have also been deployed to the area. This base is shared with the GRU 10th Separate Special Purpose Brigade.

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Written by

Chris King

Originally from Wales, Chris spent years on the Costa del Sol before moving to the Algarve where he is a web reporter for The Euro Weekly News covering international and Spanish national news. Got a news story you want to share? Then get in touch at editorial@euroweeklynews.com

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