MOSCOW, June 24 Yevgeny Prigozhin's «Wagner» is a good chance for Kiev and they hope to take advantage of it, adviser to the Minister of Defense of Ukraine Yuriy Sak told the Independent newspaper.
As Sak noted, the Ukrainian leadership is closely following «a real military coup.»
«We remain focused on the front line. We make the most of every moment and every opportunity. This one is no exception,» an adviser to the Ukrainian defense minister told the newspaper.
Sergei Cherevaty, spokesman for the eastern group of Ukrainian troops, told the Independent that Ukraine plans to take advantage of the situation with Prigozhin to launch a counteroffensive.
«Without a doubt, we will take advantage of this, as you will see in the near future… We predicted that sooner or later this would happen and lead to an even greater escalation… We will definitely take advantage of the enemy's confusion,» Cherevaty stressed.
Earlier, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine Dmitry Kuleba, commenting on the situation around the rebellion of the founder of Wagner PMC Yevgeny Prigozhin, said that any problems in Russia are in the interests of Ukraine. The head of Ukrainian military intelligence, Kirill Budanov, also backed founder Prigozhin, saying he «often tells the truth» about the situation in the Russian army.
On Saturday night in Rostov-on-Don, the headquarters of the Southern Military District was captured by the Wagner PMC. Groups of armed people are moving around the city, checkpoints have been set up at the entrances and exits. This happened against the backdrop of statements by Yevgeny Prigozhin about allegedly inflicted by the Russian Armed Forces missile and bomb attacks on the camps of PMC «Wagner» — this was refuted by both the Ministry of Defense and the FSB. A criminal case has been opened against Prigozhin for organizing an armed rebellion.
President of the Russian Federation Vladimir Putin called the actions of the rebels a criminal adventure, a stab in the back of Russia and a betrayal, to which exorbitant ambitions and personal interests led. All those who embarked on the path of betrayal, blackmail and terrorist methods will suffer inevitable punishment, the RF Armed Forces have received the necessary orders, the head of state added.
According to Putin, the situation in Rostov-on-Don remains difficult, the work of civil and military authorities is blocked.
In order to prevent possible terrorist attacks on the territory of Moscow, the Moscow and Voronezh regions, a counter-terrorist operation regime has been introduced.
Attempted armed rebellion. Online Reporting >>