Prigozhin asserted that his forces had entered the southern Russian city of Rostov-on-Don and established control over its military sites. Videos and images circulating online showed armed individuals surrounding administrative buildings in Rostov, with tanks positioned in the city centre. However, it remains unclear who these armed men are.
The military headquarters in Rostov-on-Don holds significant importance as a logistical base for Russia's offensive in Ukraine. Prigozhin claimed that the planes involved in the Ukraine offensive were departing from the Rostov airfield without interruption.
He also urged the Russian public not to trust the information being presented on state television, stating that the actual casualties and losses suffered by soldiers far exceeded the numbers officially reported.
Meanwhile, Russian authorities had already tightened security in various regions, and Moscow's mayor announced the implementation of "anti-terrorist" measures in the capital and its surrounding areas.
The FSB security service accused Prigozhin of attempting to incite a "civil conflict" and called on Wagner fighters to apprehend him. The Russian defence ministry appealed to the Wagner fighters to exercise reason and distance themselves from Prigozhin, assuring their safety if they chose to do so.
Prigozhin's challenge to Russian President Vladimir Putin marked a significant escalation in tensions. He accused the Russian top brass of deliberately targeting his forces with missile strikes, resulting in the deaths of numerous fighters.
In a series of impassioned audio messages, Prigozhin called for an end to the perceived injustices and encouraged Russians to join him in his cause. However, the Russian defence ministry refuted his claims of an attack on his forces, stating that they were not consistent with reality.
As the situation unfolded, prominent figures expressed their positions. Anti-Kremlin figure Mikhail Khodorkovsky encouraged support for Prigozhin, even if it meant backing "the devil" in opposition to the Kremlin.
On the other hand, a Russian general, Sergei Surovikin, publicly urged Prigozhin to abandon his efforts to remove the defence ministry leadership and to comply with the will and orders of the elected president.
The Institute for the Study of War, based in Washington, expressed scepticism about the success of Prigozhin's attempt to effect a leadership change in the defence ministry but acknowledged that his control over Rostov-on-Don could significantly impact Russia's war effort in Ukraine.
While Ukraine closely monitored the situation, reporting casualties and damage from fresh Russian missile strikes, the United States remained engaged. US President Joe Biden received a briefing on the events in Russia, and the National Security Council announced consultations with allies and partners regarding the developments.
Prigozhin, who had long operated covertly, eventually admitted to his involvement with the elusive Wagner mercenary group and interference in US elections. His forces, comprising a large number of recruited prisoners, played a central role in Russia's capture of Bakhmut, the longest and bloodiest battle in the conflict.
However, Prigozhin recently accused Moscow's top military officials of deceiving the Russian public about the ongoing offensive in Ukraine, contradicting Putin's assertions of catastrophic losses for Ukraine and a lull in fighting.