6.50pm: Schulze’s 45-minute consultation with key partners

Chancellor Olaf Scholz, US President Joe Biden, French President Emmanuel Macron and British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak discussed developments in Russia this afternoon. The federal government also confirmed it. „They reaffirmed that they will continue to support Ukraine for as long as necessary,” government spokesman Stephen Heppistreet said. According to the participants, the conversation lasted about 45 minutes.

Meanwhile, US Secretary of State Anthony Blinken spoke with his Turkish counterpart Hakan Fidan on the phone about the situation in Russia, according to the Turkish Foreign Ministry.

6:15 pm: France warns against all travel to Russia

France advises against all travel to Russia. The Foreign Ministry in Paris said that this warning comes in light of the high volatility of the military and security situation in the country.

6:12 PM: Melnyk sees Putin’s regime before collapse

According to the former Ukrainian ambassador to Germany, Andriy Melnik, the overthrow of Russian President Vladimir Putin is only a matter of time. „With the Wagner coup, the Rubicon was crossed and a new era of declining power and instability in Russia was ushered in,” Melnik told news portal T Online.

Melnik said that while Putin could succeed in bloodily crushing the uprising and „restoring a certain degree of order,” that „would not protect the Kremlin from impending internal chaos.” „The complete collapse of Putin’s bankrupt regime is only a matter of time.”

5:50 pm: Moscow warns the West

The Russian government warned the West against trying to take advantage of the situation in Russia following the Wagner mercenary uprising. Russia’s Foreign Ministry said in Moscow on Saturday that all attempts by Western countries to achieve their „anti-Russian goals” would be „invalid”. He also stressed that „all goals of the special military operation in Ukraine will be achieved.”

5:40 p.m.: Wagner’s mercenaries are already halfway to Moscow

According to the authorities, Wagner’s mercenary unit has now arrived in the Lipetsk region on its way from Rostov-on-Don in southern Russia to Moscow during its armed uprising against the Russian leadership. “Residents are strongly advised not to leave their homes and to refrain from using public transport,” the region’s governor, Igor Artamonov, wrote on his Telegram channel. But the situation is under control. Lipetsk is located halfway between Rostov and Moscow – about 400 kilometers from the Russian capital.

Unlike the Voronezh region further south, there were no reports of fighting. Videos showed trucks tipping into the ditch. They appear to have been erected in a hurry as a roadblock to stop the column of Wagner’s mercenary unit. Other videos showed how roads were torn up and deep ditches dug. This was intended, apparently, to stop the mercenaries. It was not initially possible to independently verify the authenticity of the videos.

5:35 p.m.: Moscow Mayor – Monday’s off work due to hazards

Due to the uprising of Wagner’s mercenary group against the Russian military leadership, public life in the capital, Moscow, is becoming even more restricted. „The situation is difficult,” admitted Mayor Sergei Sobyanin. He therefore called on residents to limit their movements as much as possible and declared next Monday a day off. This measure aims to „reduce risks”. Sobyanin also called on Muscovites to prepare for road closures.

5:24 PM: Medvedev warns of nuclear escalation

Former Russian President Dmitry Medvedev spoke about the security of Russia’s nuclear weapons. RIA said that the whole world would be on the brink of disaster if they fell into the hands of „bandits”.

5:20 pm: According to the German Foreign Ministry, G7 foreign ministers exchange information about Russia

Foreign Minister Berbock discussed the situation with the G7 foreign ministers. In the late afternoon, the German Foreign Ministry wrote on Twitter that the European Union’s foreign policy representative, Josep Borrell, was also involved in the switch.

The ministry had already amended travel and safety instructions for German citizens in Russia in the morning. There it is now said that the affected areas, especially the city of Rostov and its surroundings, should be avoided.

5:07 PM: According to the Kremlin, Russia has „full support” for Erdogan.

According to the Kremlin, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan pledged his „full support” to Russian President Vladimir Putin in a phone call about the armed uprising in Russia.

The Kremlin said, „The Russian president was briefed on the situation in the country with regard to the attempted armed rebellion.” It added that Erdogan „expressed his full support for the steps taken by the Russian leadership.”

After the phone call, the Turkish presidency said Erdogan was ready to help find a „peaceful solution” to the armed uprising in Russia. Erdogan stressed the importance of „acting wisely”. Erdogan survived a coup attempt in Turkey in 2016, then cracked down on all opponents of the government.

4.45pm: Melnyk sees a „unique opportunity” for a Ukrainian counterattack

Ukrainian Deputy Foreign Minister Andriy Melnik spoke about an opportunity for his country in the war against Russia. The former ambassador to Germany told the German Liberation Network (RND) that „Prigozhin’s uprising, no matter how it ends, presents a unique opportunity for the Ukrainian army to advance our counter-offensive with renewed vigor”.

„Unfortunately, this new fighting spirit alone will not be enough to liberate all the occupied lands.” Melnik calls for „Germany first and foremost” to dramatically increase military aid now. „We desperately need Taurus cruise missiles, we need Tiger attack helicopters to keep Russian forces out. The federal government must finally cross its last red lines.”

4.40pm: Latvia tightens border security and suspends entry for Russians

Faced with the Wagner mercenary uprising in Russia, Latvia has tightened security at its borders. Latvian President-elect Edgars Renkivics said on Twitter that Latvia is closely following the situation in Russia. “Border security has been strengthened,” continued Renkivics, who is currently Latvian foreign minister. In addition, the issuance of “humanitarian visas or other types” and the entry of Russians from Russia into the Baltic country have been suspended due to the current situation.

16:04: Governor – Wagner forces also in Lipetsk region, Russia

According to the local governor, Wagner’s mercenary force also invaded the Russian Lipetsk region. The region is about 360 kilometers south of Moscow, and thus closer to the Russian capital than Rostov-on-Don, where Wagner’s soldiers are said to have congregated for the night. Governor Igor Artamonov announced on Telegram that the authorities will „ensure the safety of residents”. „The situation is under control.” Artamonov did not give details of the alleged presence of the mercenary forces.

3:25 p.m.: Chechen leader Kadyrov sends his troops in

Now the Chechen ruler, Ramzan Kadyrov, is also involved in a military power struggle inside Russia. According to his statements, he sent troops to „zones of tension.” Chechen fighters from the Defense Ministry and National Guard are already on their way, according to Kadyrov, who is considered a close ally of Kremlin President Vladimir Putin. He added, „The uprising must be crushed and if there is a need for tough action, we are ready for that!”

3.40pm: The Flash – USA continues to coordinate closely with partners

Secretary of State Antony Blinken said on Twitter that the United States continues to coordinate closely with its allies and partners in light of developments in Russia. He spoke to the G7 foreign ministers and the EU foreign policy representative. Nothing will change about US support for Ukraine.

3:20 p.m.: Chief Wagner – Army Headquarters Rostov 'without a shot’

The Russian mercenary group Wagner captured the army’s headquarters in the southern Russian city of Rostov „without a single shot,” according to its chief. „We arrived in Rostov and, without firing a shot, took control of the headquarters building,” Yevgeny Prigozhin told Telegram. Not a single person was killed. „Why does the state support us? Because we are marching for justice,” he said. The people of Rostov also support him.

3:10 p.m.: Official Spokesperson – Putin works in the Kremlin

The Kremlin has denied speculation that Russian President Vladimir Putin left Moscow in the wake of the violent uprising of Wagner’s mercenary army. The state news agency Tass quoted Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov 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 Mikhail Mishustin was at his workplace in Moscow.

3:04 PM: Belarus – remains an ally of Russia

The Security Council of Belarus has made it clear that the country will remain an ally of Russia. The commission said Russia’s internal strife was a „gift to the collective West”.

3 p.m.: Pistorius – Germany has no options for action

From the point of view of Defense Minister Boris Pistorius (Social Democratic Party), it is difficult at present to foresee the possible consequences of the armed uprising waged by the army of Wagner’s mercenaries in Russia on the war in Ukraine. „It’s hard to estimate, especially since we don’t know how unstable Russia will become and who will have the upper hand in the end and who will cooperate with whom,” he said on the sidelines of a party conference of the Social Democratic Party in Lower Saxony in Lower Saxony. Urich.

It’s too early to make an assessment, Pistorius said. “If you do that now, it will overshadow the open view of what is really going on.” When asked about Germany’s options, the minister replied: „In this case we have no options for action. It is an internal political struggle in Russia. We cannot yet say whether this will develop into a power struggle. We are being watched.” Follow Pistorius. .

2:47 p.m.: Governor – Fire at fuel storage facility in Voronezh

According to the local government, a fuel depot caught fire in Russia’s Voronezh region in the south of the country. „In Voronezh, a burning fuel depot is being extinguished,” Voronezh Governor Alexander Gusev said on Telegram. At first there was no information about the cause of the fire. However, some media released a video showing a military helicopter in the area before the explosion.

In Russia’s Voronezh region, about 600 kilometers south of Moscow, the Russian military reported „combat operations” due to the uprising of Wagner’s mercenary division. Voronezh is about halfway between Moscow and the southern city of Rostov, and Wagner mercenaries have taken control of military facilities there, according to their chief, Yevgeny Prigozhin, in the morning.

2.35pm: Federal government crisis team meeting

Because of the developments in Russia, the Federal Government’s Crisis Team met. A spokesman for the German Foreign Ministry said, „The federal government is closely monitoring developments in Russia.” To this end, the crisis team of the Federal Government meets at the German Foreign Office under the direction of the State Secretary of the German Foreign Office, Andreas Michaelis. He said that Foreign Minister Berbock had just discussed the situation with the G7 foreign ministers. In addition to Germany, the G7 also includes France, Italy, Japan, Canada, the USA and Great Britain.