Prigozhin claims to have taken control of military targets in Rostov and be heading for Moscow

Yevgeny Prigozhin, Head of the Wagner Private Military Group (PMC), has claimed that he has taken control of the military facilities of Rostov-on-Don, including an airfield, and that his soldiers have already shot down three Russian helicopters; he says they are now "heading for Moscow".

Source: Prigozhin, in a video message

Details: He announced that the Wagner Group has taken control of the local headquarters building, military facilities, and the airfield.

Meanwhile, Telegram channels have posted a video in which, as the caption says, the Head of the Wagner PMC is talking with Russia's Deputy Minister of Defence Yunus-Bek Yevkurov and Deputy Chief of the General Staff Vladimir Alekseev.

Prigozhin informs Yevkurov that the Wagnerites allegedly shot down a third helicopter and "will knock down everyone if they are sent [to obstruct the Wagner Group from advancing – ed.]."

He says that the PMC came to Rostov to "get the chief of the General Staff [Valery Gerasimov] and [Defence Minister Sergei] Shoigu."

Quote: "Until they get here, we are blockading the city of Rostov and heading for Moscow."

Meanwhile, Russian media have reported that the Wagner PMC office in St. Petersburg is ostensibly being searched.

Moscow Mayor Sergei Sobyanin has stated that "counter-terrorist measures aimed at strengthening security measures are being carried out" in the Russian capital. 

Background: 

• Wagner Group leader Yevgeny Prigozhin claimed that the regular Russian army had launched a missile strike on the Wagnerites’ rear camps. According to him, Russian Defence Minister Sergei Shoigu flew to Rostov, where he personally conducted an operation to destroy the mercenaries. 
• Prigozhin’s 25,000 mercenaries are allegedly on their way "to restore justice." At the same time, he asks not to call it a "military coup". Prigozhin added that Shoigu had fled Rostov like a coward and that "this creature will be stopped." The Russian Defence Ministry called the information a provocation.
• Russian dictator Vladimir Putin has been informed of the conflict between Prigozhin and Sergei Shoigu, the Russian Defence Minister. A criminal case is being brought against Prigozhin for incitement to armed rebellion.
• Photos of armoured vehicles on the streets of the Russian city of Rostov-on-Don are being posted on Russian social media following the statement made by Prigozhin about a de facto declaration of war against the Russian army. Checkpoints are being set up at entrances to Moscow.
• Prigozhin claimed that his mercenaries allegedly shot down a helicopter of the Russian army.
• Russian security officials have been regularly reporting to Russian President Vladimir Putin about the measures taken to counter the "armed rebellion" started by Prigozhin. There are now issues with accessing the news in Russia.

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