+++ The governor of the Lipetsk region in southern Russia called on residents not to leave their homes.

Prigozhin’s units were located in this area. Coming from Ukraine, he first arrived in Rostov-on-Don with his fighters. There is the command center of the Russian army for the war of aggression against Ukraine. Meanwhile, news came of Russian airstrikes on a mercenary convoy near Voronezh. This city is located between Rostov and Moscow, about 500 kilometers from the Russian capital. The British BBC verified a video showing a convoy of private military trucks on the highway towards Moscow.

+++ The Kremlin has rejected speculation that President Putin has left Moscow.

The state news agency Tass quoted Putin’s spokesman as saying that „Putin works in the Kremlin”. Earlier there were rumors that Putin may have left for St. Petersburg. According to official information, Prime Minister Mishustin was also at his workplace in Moscow.

+++ According to information from Moscow, Russian President Putin called Turkish Head of State Erdogan.

The Russian presidential office said Erdogan supports the Russian government’s handling of the rebellion by President Prigozhin Wagner. At first there was no comment from the Turkish side.

+++ Combat operations have been reported between Russian mercenaries from the Wagner Group and the Russian army from Russia.

A Reuters correspondent reported that Russian military helicopters attacked a convoy of mercenaries in Voronezh, 500 km south of Moscow. Fights have been previously reported from there via other agencies.

+++ The President of the Russian Republic of Chechnya, Kadyrov, announced the deployment of his special forces.

He wants the support of the Kremlin. „Fighters from the Ministry of Defense and the National Guard of the Chechen Republic have already left for the tense regions. We will do everything we can to preserve Russia’s unity and protect its state,” Kadyrov said in a Telegram.

+++ Russian President Putin spoke to several heads of state from neighboring countries about the Wagner Group uprising.

The Belarusian presidential office said on Telegram that Putin had informed President Lukashenko of the situation. According to the Russian news agency TASS, Putin also spoke with Uzbek President Mirsyoyev. According to his office, after a phone call between Putin and the President of Kazakhstan, Tokayev, he said that it was an internal matter of Russia. Public order must be maintained.

+++ According to Foreign Minister Berbock, the Federal Government is in close contact with Germany’s partner countries due to the uprising of the Russian mercenary army.

The Green Party politician wrote on Twitter that the developments were being watched closely. At the same time, the German Foreign Ministry, where the federal government’s crisis team is currently meeting, said Berbock had discussed the situation with its G7 counterparts.

+++ In light of the Wagner uprising, Ukraine’s presidential advisor Podolzhak keeps open the fate of Russian President Putin.

Podoljak wrote on Twitter that the next 48 hours will decide the new status of Russia. A full-blown civil war is possible, a negotiated transfer of power, or even a temporary respite before the next phase of the Putin regime’s downfall.

+++ Russian President Putin has the support of important politicians.

The speakers of both chambers of the Russian Parliament and heads of administration appointed by Russia in the Russian-controlled regions of Ukraine have expressed their solidarity with Putin in the face of the uprising of the mercenary Wagner Group. The head of the Russian Senate, Matvienko, confirmed that Putin has the full support of the parliamentary chamber. Speaker Volodin called on Russians to support the head of the Kremlin. Similar statements were made by the heads of the administration of regions in Russia-occupied Ukraine.

+++ Green MEP Lagodinsky does not currently assume the end of President Putin’s rule.

The green politician said at Deutschlandfunk that Putin’s regime is in danger in the medium to long term. However, he does not believe that the revolution will come now. The Western position should remain clear: the priority is the victory of the Ukrainian side.

+++ DLF Editor Sabine Adler believes it is possible that a Russian internal war could start with the recent events. „What we see, that the army has landed somewhere near Moscow, that roadblocks have been erected – it certainly does not appear to be a peaceful development.”

+++ Ukrainian President Selinsky evaluated the development in Russia as a sign of the country’s weakness.

He wrote on Twitter that the longer Moscow keeps its forces and mercenaries in Ukraine, the more chaos and problems will increase later. The longer Russia leaves its forces and mercenaries in Ukraine, the more chaos and problems will increase in Russia later.

+++ Mercenary chief Prigozhin stated that he and his men will not surrender as ordered by Russian President Putin.

He denied accusing Putin of treason. Putin is very wrong about that. The fighters of the Wagner Mercenary Group are Russian patriots. Russia no longer has to live with corruption, lies and bureaucracy.

+++ In Russia’s Voronezh region, about 600 km south of Moscow, the Russian army carried out combat missions due to the uprising of Wagner’s mercenary division.

Gusev said that within the framework of „anti-terrorist measures”, the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation carried out the necessary operational and combat operations. Previously there were reports that Wagner insurgents in Voronezh had occupied individual military facilities. The region is located roughly halfway between Moscow and the southern city of Rostov.

+++ Three people were killed in new Russian airstrikes on Kiev.

According to rescue workers, another 11 people were injured. Authorities said earlier that 40 Russian cruise missiles and two drones had been shot down. An apartment building caught fire and parts of the missile landed in a parking lot. During the night, there was another air alert across the country. Explosions were also reported from several other cities, including Kharkiv, Dnipro and Kremenchug.

+++ In light of the power struggle with Wagner’s mercenaries in Russia, the Federal Foreign Office has updated travel advice for the country.

The ministry said that due to the ongoing events, administrative areas affected by a partial travel warning should already be avoided, especially the city of Rostov and the surrounding area. In Moscow, government facilities, especially military ones, have to be largely bypassed. Downtown should be avoided until further notice.

+++ The federal government reacted with concern to reports from Russia about the uprising of the Wagner mercenary group.

A spokesman said they are following events closely. French President Macron and Polish President Duda made similar statements. According to the British intelligence services, the uprising is the „biggest challenge” to the Russian state in recent times.

+++ The Ministry of Defense in London wrote in a report on the situation that the loyalty of the Russian security forces, especially the National Guard, will be decisive in the course of the crisis in the coming hours.

To date, there is only very limited evidence of combat with Wagner’s mercenaries.

Deutschlandfunk reports in detail on current events in 'Information at noon’ from 12:10pm and in 'Information in the evening’ from 6:10pm.

+++ Russian President Putin described the uprising of the mercenary leader Prigozhin as treason.

In a speech broadcast on state television, he spoke of a „stab in the back”. He declared that anyone who participated in the rebellion would be punished. Putin stressed that he would do everything to protect Russia and the Russian people. The army had received the necessary instructions.

+++ A senior adviser to Ukrainian President Selinsky describes the advance of mercenary leader Prigozhin as an „anti-terrorist operation”.

In any case, someone must lose, either Prigozhin or his opponents, Mykhailo Podolyak tweeted: „Everything is just beginning in Russia.”

+++ The Russian Ministry of Defense asked the fighters of the mercenary Wagner Group to refuse allegiance to their boss, Prigozhin.

He „deceived her and led her into a criminal adventure.” Mercenaries must contact the authorities and ensure their safety.

+++ In view of the armed uprising of the Russian mercenary chief Prigozhin, the authorities in Moscow and the surrounding area declared a state of emergency to combat terrorism.

„In order to prevent possible terrorist attacks in the city and region of Moscow, an anti-terrorism system has been established,” said the National Anti-Terrorism Committee.

+++ After the uprising of the Russian mercenary chief Prigozhin, the Moscow Kremlin announced a speech to President Putin.

Kremlin spokesman Peskov said Putin would address the audience soon. The Ministry of Defense called on the fighters of the Wagner Division to move away from Prigozhin. Moscow guarantees their safety.

+++ The power struggle between the Russian mercenary commander Prigozhin and the military leadership in Moscow is nearing its climax.

During the night, fighters from Prigozhin’s Wagner mercenary force invaded the Rostov region from Ukraine. Prigozhin told Telegram this morning that he was at the military headquarters. All of the city’s military facilities are under his control. Chief Wagner also assured that he would go to Moscow if Defense Minister Shoigu and Chief of Staff Gerasimov did not come to him. This does not hinder the „special operation” of Russia in Ukraine.

Russia’s FSB is investigating Wagner’s boss for armed rebellion and has called on its soldiers to capture him. According to state media, security measures have been tightened in Moscow. Heavy military trucks and armored vehicles were seen in several parts of central Moscow early this morning. According to Kremlin spokesman Peskov, President Putin is aware of the situation.

This message was broadcast on Deutschlandfunk on June 24, 2023.