Wagner seize control of Russian military HQ in Rostov-on-Don after commanding officer FLED when mercenaries arrived

Wagner seize control of Russian military HQ in Rostov-on-Don after commanding officer FLED when mercenaries arrived: Militia leader Prigozhin says 25,000 men will march on Moscow to take out 'evil' military chiefs as Putin charges him with armed mutiny

Fears of an attempted coup in Russia grew on Saturday after Wagner militiamen stormed the military and ministerial headquarters in the southern city of Rostov-on-Don. Russia, led by embittered mercenary boss Yevgeny Prigozhin, is poised to avenge Moscow's murder. his men

Prigozhin released a new message at 7:30 a.m. Moscow time on Saturday, saying his men had infiltrated the Southern Defense Command in Rostov-on-Don and were controlling the city's airport.

Government officials urged local residents to stay indoors, but some watched the action and even streamed the action live on their cellphones.

Prigozhin, who was once a confidant of Vladimir Putin before declaring war on Moscow's military rulers, said in a video that the senior command post officer fled when he learned Wagner's troops were approaching .

"We have it under control so that the attack planes do not bring us in, but attack the Ukrainians." The main control center headquarters is functioning normally. There are no problems, not a single official has been caught. If we also tell you that the PMC Wagner intervened and things like that... When we came here, we confirmed again: a lot, a lot of territory was lost. Three to four times as many soldiers were killed as reported to commanders. And it is reported ten times less than what is said on television. "Cases per day can reach 1,000 people on some days." "Something went wrong at the front [it's wrong]," Prigozhin said.

“It is the missing dead, the injured and the so-called refusers who refuse, not because they are afraid, but because they have no way out, no ammunition, no control.” “The chief of staff fled from here as soon as he heard that as we approached the building,” he concluded.

New photos showed Wagner fighters marching through the streets of Rostov-on-Don on Saturday morning, with one photo showing a member flashing the V for the victory sign.

Footage shared on social media showed troops in front of the military headquarters in the south - which plays a crucial role in handling the war in Ukraine - while others could be seen less than half a mile around the Rostov office of the interior ministry.