UK military speaks on civil war in Russia as rebel vows to oust Putin

As Wagner group chief Yevgeny Prigozhin vowed on Saturday to oust President Vladimir Putin, the United Kingdom military has reacted to the insurgence in the country.

Yevgeny said he would “go to the end” to topple the Russian military leadership and dethrone Putin.

Reacting the UK Defence Ministry said in a statement: “Over the coming hours, the loyalty of Russia’s security forces, and especially the Russian National Guard, will be key to how this crisis plays out. This represents the most significant challenge to the Russian state in recent times,” Britain’s defence ministry said in a regular intelligence update.

Prigozhin’s speech comes after Putin made a public speech on Saturday June 24, saying his forces will clamp down on Wagner forces for committing treason.Putin called armed rebellion by mercenary chief Prighozin ‘betrayal,’ and promised to ‘defend the people’ and Russia.“Everyone who took up arms against the army is a traitor. Will do everything to protect Russia,” Putin said while addressing the nation.In response, Wagner PMC said in its Telegram channel, “Putin made the wrong choice. All the worse for him. Soon we will have a new president”

Reports say Wagner forces are just 6 hours away from Moscow even as they take control of military governing bodies in key Russian cities.Wagner now controls both Rostov (population 1.1 million) and Voronezh (also population 1.1 million). Wagner is now approaching Krasnodar (1 million) and Volgograd (950k) without any resistance.