Yevgeny V. Prigozhin, the top of the Wagner non-public navy firm, led an armed rebel in Russia on Saturday and claimed that his forces got here inside 125 miles of Moscow. Right here is how the occasions unfolded.
1 11 a.m. Friday Prigozhin questions battle rationale
In a 30-minute video launched at 11 a.m. on Friday, Mr. Prigozhin challenged the knowledge of the Russia-Ukraine battle.
Telegram
In a collection of posts on social media beginning at 11 a.m. Friday Moscow time, Mr. Prigozhin questioned the Kremlin’s motives for the battle in Ukraine and accused the Russian protection minister, Sergei Ok. Shoigu, of ordering lethal airstrikes on Wagner fighters. “The evil borne by the nation’s navy management should be stopped,” he stated in a voice recording posted round 9 p.m.
2 Simply after midnight Friday Russia orders Prigozhin’s arrest
Russia’s safety companies denounced Mr. Prigozhin in a collection of bulletins on state media. The Federal Safety Service, Russia’s foremost intelligence company, opened an investigation in opposition to Mr. Prigozhin for armed rebel.
Movies circulating on social media confirmed armored automobiles from the navy and nationwide guard being deployed in Moscow and Rostov-on-Don, the place Mr. Prigozhin stated his fighters have been approaching.
3 7:30 a.m. Saturday Wagner forces take Rostov-on-Don
Regardless of the protection measures, Wagner forces took Rostov-on-Don with little resistance. Round 7:30 a.m., Mr. Prigozhin posted a video from the regional navy headquarters, claiming to have management of key metropolis installations. Movies on social media confirmed armed Wagner fighters mixing into the metropolis’s bustle: controlling site visitors at key intersections, strolling across the metropolis with takeout espresso and ordering quick meals.
Wagner armored automobiles in Rostov-on-Don on Saturday.
Reuters
4 Saturday morning Wagner forces push to Moscow
As Wagner consolidated management of Rostov-on-Don, its forces pushed north towards Moscow. One column of armored and personnel automobiles appeared to depart from Rostov. One other column crossed from occupied Ukraine into Russia’s Voronezh area additional north. They met little resistance and appeared to have shot down a variety of Russian navy plane alongside the way in which.
5 10 a.m. Saturday Putin addresses the nation
Mr. Putin made a televised handle to the nation, asking for unity within the face of what he known as a battle in opposition to Ukraine and its allies. “Actions that cut up our unity,” he stated, “are a stab at the back of our nation and our folks.”
6 Early Saturday afternoon Wagner convoy reaches Elets
Wagner’s armored columns pushed via the Voronezh area with out coming into main cities and stopped on the facet of the freeway in Elets, a city within the Lipetsk area about 250 miles south of Moscow. The column included mounted tanks, armored automobiles, no less than one self-propelled rocket launcher and quite a few personnel vehicles. It had met little resistance thus far.
7 8:30 p.m. Saturday A shock deal
Belarus state media unexpectedly introduced that the nation’s president, Alexsandr G. Lukashenko, had negotiated Mr. Prigozhin’s settlement to halt his forces’ advances. Mr. Prigozhin stated in an audio message that his forces had come inside 125 miles of Moscow and have been “turning round” to go again to their coaching camps.
8 11 p.m. Saturday Prigozhin leaves Rostov-on-Don
Wagner forces left Rostov-on-Don as some residents got here out to point out their help. Mr. Prigozhin was amongst these leaving, driving out of town in a closely guarded black S.U.V.
Alexander Ermochenko/Reuters
