Putin Mobilizes Forces Against Russian Paramilitary Chief

President Vladimir V. Putin mobilized Russian troops on Saturday to put down what he called an armed rebellion by the mercenary leader Yevgeny V. Prigozhin, whose forces had claimed control of the southern Russian city of Rostov-on-Don and were seen moving north along a highway toward Moscow.

As security forces were scrambled in southwestern Russia and Moscow, military convoys believed to belong to Mr. Prigozhin’s Wagner forces were seen in the town of Elets, about 250 miles from the capital, according to video posted to social media on Saturday and verified by The New York Times. The armored convoys had traveled from Rostov, and governors along Russia’s major highway to Moscow urged residents to stay away. Videos showed signs of active fighting along the highway.

In a brief address to the nation on Saturday morning, Mr. Putin called Mr. Prigozhin a traitor who had delivered “a stab in the back of our country and our people.” Read more

@nytimes