Sputnik radio on June 24 quoted Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov as saying that President Vladimir Putin had been informed about all events surrounding Mr. Prigozhin and declared that Russia had taken the necessary measures.
Mr. Peskov did not elaborate on those measures or the specific response of the Russian President. President Putin received the above notification from the Ministry of Defense , the Federal Security Service (FSB), the Ministry of Internal Affairs and the National Guard of Russia, according to Mr. Peskov.
Wagner private military company boss Yevgeny Prigozhin. Photo: The Moscow Times
According to the Russian National Anti-Terrorism Committee, the FSB has opened a criminal case on the accusation that Mr. Prigozhin "called for an armed uprising." The committee demanded an immediate end to the illegal actions.
The Russian Prosecutor General's Office also confirmed: "On June 23, the FSB's investigative unit initiated a case against Mr. Prigozhin under Article 279 of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation for organizing an armed rebellion. His actions will be punished appropriately. This crime carries a penalty of 12-20 years in prison."
Russian General Sergey Surovikin has asked Wagner members to return to base and stay put. "We are of the same blood. We are warriors. I call on you to stop..." - Mr. Surovikin emphasized.
Meanwhile, Russian law enforcement agencies said they were doing everything necessary to protect the public, while noting that Ukraine was trying to spread disinformation about the imposition of the curfew.
The Russian Defense Ministry said Ukraine is launching an attack in the direction of Bakhmut city. Photo: Sputnik
The private military company Wagner and Russian forces fought together in Artemovsk (the Russian name for Bakhmut) last May.
A video and audio clip purportedly of Mr Prigozhin and Wagner members circulated on the internet alleging "a missile attack on a Wagner base and that the attack was carried out from behind, that is, by forces of the Russian Ministry of Defense".
The voice believed to be Mr Prigozhin's appeared to call for the dismissal of the head of the Russian Defense Ministry.
On the same day, June 24, the Russian Defense Ministry said that taking advantage of Mr. Prigozhin's provocative actions, Ukraine was concentrating units of the 35th Marine Brigade and the 36th Mechanized Brigade in the direction of Bakhmut City to launch an attack.
According to the Russian Defense Ministry, Russian forces continue to carry out tasks in the area of special military operations.
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