Russia coup: Army helicopters open fire on Wagner group on Voronezh freeway | World News

Russian Army helicopters reportedly opened fire on a Wagner mercenary navy convoy on the M4 freeway open air Voronezh metropolis on Saturday. City is over halfway alongside the 1,100-km freeway from Rostov to Moscow, Reuters reported.

This comes shortly after the governor of Russia’s Voronezh space acknowledged emergency suppliers have been trying to put out a burning gasoline tank at an oil depot. Larger than 100 firefighters and 30 fashions of equipment have been engaged on the web site, Alexander Gusev, the governor acknowledged on Telegram.

Earlier on Saturday, a Russian security provide suggested data firm Reuters that Wagner fighters had taken administration of navy providers throughout the metropolis of Voronezh, about 500 km south of Moscow. The declare couldn’t be confirmed independently.

In Rostov, which serves because the precept rear logistical hub for Russia’s complete invasion energy, residents milled about, filming on cellphones, as Wagner fighters in armoured autos and battle tanks took up positions.

[embed]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kGx0_HRZL9A[/embed]

One tank was wedged between stucco buildings with posters selling the circus. One different had “Siberia” daubed in crimson paint all through the doorway, a clear assertion of intent to brush all through the breadth of Russia.

In Moscow, there was an elevated security presence on the streets. Pink Sq. was blocked off by metal limitations.

Russia’s Putin vows to punish Prigozhin

President Vladimir Putin vowed to punish Wagner group’s Yevgeny Prigozhin, who led his troops out of Ukraine. Putin denounced the insurrection as “a stab throughout the once more.” It was the most important menace to his administration in over 20 years in vitality.

As a result of the fast-moving events unfolded in Russia, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky acknowledged Moscow is struggling “full-scale weak spot” and that Kyiv was defending Europe from “the unfold of Russian evil and chaos”.

In his take care of, Putin often known as the actions by Prigozhin, whom he didn’t level out by establish, a “betrayal” and “treason.”

Outfit reaches Rostov-on-Don

Prigozhin confirmed he and his troops reached Rostov-on-Don after crossing the border from Ukraine.

He posted a video of himself on the navy headquarters in Rostov and claimed that his forces had taken administration of the airfield and totally different navy providers throughout the metropolis. Completely different films on social media confirmed navy autos, along with tanks, on the streets.

Prigozhin acknowledged his forces confronted no resistance from youthful conscripts as they crossed into Russia, saying his troops “aren’t combating in the direction of youngsters.”

Prigozhin moreover acknowledged Wagner’s forces shot down a Russian navy helicopter that fired on a civilian convoy, nonetheless there was no unbiased affirmation of that. He alleged that Widespread Valery Gerasimov, chief of the Widespread Workers, ordered the assaults following a gathering with Shoigu, the place they decided to destroy Wagner.

The defence ministry denied attacking the Wagner camps. Prigozhin acknowledged he had 25,000 troops beneath his command and urged the army to not provide resistance.

Residents of Russia’s Lipetsk urged to stay residence

Authorities in Russia’s southwestern Lipetsk space urged residents to stay at residence on Saturday after the Wagner mercenary group vowed to take up arms to topple the nation’s navy administration.

“To ensure laws and order and the safety of the residents of the Lipetsk space, the operational headquarters of the world asks residents with out urgent wish to not depart their properties and refrain from any journey by non-public or public transport,” the press service of the regional authorities acknowledged in an announcement on social media.

The announcement acquired right here as a result of the governor of the neighbouring space of Voronezh, the place the army acknowledged it was primary “battle” operations, voiced assist for President Vladimir Putin after officers acknowledged an oil depot was on fire there.

(With inputs from Reuters and AP)