Russian tanks in Moscow to ‘secure Kremlin’ as cowering Putin fears Wagner group is launching coup to overthrow him
Moscow #Moscow
COWERING despot Vladimir Putin deployed tanks on the streets of Moscow last night amid fears the Wagner mercenary group is launching a coup.
Wagner boss Yevgeny Prigozhin vowed to “punish” Russia after he blamed the Kremlin for a missile attack on a Wagner training camp in Bakhmut, Ukraine, which killed dozens.
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Vladimir Putin deployed tanks on the streets of MoscowCredit: Reuters 
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Wagner boss Yevgeny Prigozhin vowed to ‘punish’ Russia as the Kremlin deployed tanks on the streetsCredit: Reuters 
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Putin’s FSB security service opened a criminal case against the Wagner group 
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Police and military vehicles were seen outside the KremlinCredit: Reuters 
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Wagner boss Yevgeny Prigozhin launched a tirade against Russian officialsCredit: AFP
Prigozhin vowed: “We’re on our way to Moscow, and anyone who entered our centres will answer for it.”
He called Wagner’s efforts a “march of justice” amid reports thugs have already passed the first checkpoint on their way to Novocherkassk – where the Russian army headquarters are.
And Prigozhin later claimed his Wagner thugs shot down a Russian helicopter which “opened fire on a civilian convoy”.
Tonight, footage from Moscow showed armoured vehicles racing along the streets – as US officials are “closely watching” events unfold.
And roadblocks manned by special forces were set up around the city as military officials launch a desperate bid to secure both the Kremlin and the Duma building, Russia’s parliament
Meanwhile, tanks and armoured vehicles were seen in Rostov, an important military outpost in Russia.
Earlier footage showed an armoured motorcade whisking Putin to the Kremlin for an emergency meeting.
Reports from inside the Kremlin say “panic” has broken out among Putin’s elite – with no one able to find the despot.
Video appeared to show a military unit in Fryazino, near Moscow, ablaze tonight.
In a video rant circulated on social media and broadcast to Russians after TV channels were apparently hacked, Prigozhin vowed to deploy 25,000 soldiers to topple the country’s leadership.
He said: “Those, who destroyed today our guys, who destroyed tens, tens of thousands of lives of Russian soldiers will be punished.
“I’m asking, no one resist.
“Everyone who will try to resist, we will consider them a danger and destroy them immediately, including any checkpoints on our way.
“And any aviation that we see above our heads.
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Ukrainian defenders fire with a D-30 howitzer at Russian positions near Bakhmut, eastern UkraineCredit: AFP 
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Tanks rolled into the Russian capitalCredit: Twitter 
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The security beef up comes amid coup threats from the Wagner GroupCredit: Twitter
“I’m asking everyone to remain calm, do not succumb to provocations, and remain in their houses. Ideally, those along our way, do not go outside.”
A further message purported to be from the man once known as Putin’s Chef – due to his closeness to Russia’s dictator – read: “All patriots of Russia, true patriots of the country who know history and are not fans of the weak authorities that betrayed the interests of the state, come out into the streets, we’ll find you weapons.
“This night we will settle the issue of traitors and criminals that brought shame upon Russia. Their names are Shoigu and Gerasimov.
“(Defence minister) Shoigu will be hung on the Red Square and will lie in the Mausoleum with Lenin.”
Russia’s FSB security service last night opened a criminal case against the Wagner group and raided its offices in St Petersburg, where Prigozhin was reported to have been just hours earlier.
A spokesman for the spy and security service said branded the move a “stab in the back” and called on Wagner troops “not to make irrevocable mistakes, to stop all uses of force against the Russian people, not to carry out Prigozhin’s criminal and treasonous orders, and take steps to detain him.”
Russia’s Prosecutor General meanwhile charged Prigozhin with “organizing an armed insurrection.”
Vladimir Putin’s spokesman Dmitry Peskov said the Russian president was “aware of the situation unfolding around Prigozhin.”
He added: “All necessary measures are being taken.”
Outspoken Ukrainian advisor Anton Gerashchenko said via Twitter: “It is reported that Wagner’s column has passed the first checkpoints.
“They say they are on their way to Novocherkassk, where the army headquarters are.
“It is also known that a column of 400 vehicles left Millerovo in the direction of Moscow.”
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A column of military vehicles were seen on Moscow’s streetsCredit: Twitter 
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More than 50,000 Wagner Group mercenaries are fighting in eastern UkraineCredit: East2West