Wagner launches “crustin” of the state in Russia, military vehicles line up the streets of Rostov

After yesterday evening Prygozhin called on the military to rebel against the main command and defence minister, his uprising, dubbed a coup attempt by official Moscow, has advanced overnight.

In the pictures that are circulating on the telegram, there are armed men taking full control of Rostov's police headquarters.

They are seen climbing to the city's regional police headquarters, belonging to the interior ministry.

Reuters reports that it was not immediately clear who the armed men were. The news agency was able to verify the location as the police headquarters building, but not determine when the video was shot.

Meanwhile, authorities in Russia's southern regions have been placed on alert by taking steps to ensure public security after Yevgeny Pigozin indicated he was planning to send people to Moscow to bring down Putin's military dome.

Russia, meanwhile, has opened a criminal case against the leader of the Wagner mercenary group for alleged armed rebellion, with strong security measures being applied in the capital.

Yevgeny Pigozin in yesterday's address accused the defence ministry of targeting its troops in conflict areas in Ukraine and of ordering a missile attack on Wagner's field camps by killing a large number of his soldiers.

He warned that his troops would move to punish Minister Sergei Shoigu and urged the military not to resist.

“This is not an armed rebellion, but a march of justice“, Prigozhin said.

However, there is no evidence so far of any movement or march by Wagner troops.

The FSB has already urged Wagner fighters not to follow criminal and traitor orders at the request of Prigozhi and instead take steps to capture him.

Local agencies conveyed a statement from the security service, which said that the mercenary chief's comments constitute a call to start armed civil conflict in Russia and are a “thic on the back of” for the country's military.

The Russian Defence Ministry has denied orchestrating an attack on Wagner fighters, describing the charges as false “and an informative provocation”.

According to news agency T The ASS, President Vladimir Putin, has been notified of recent developments and “necessary measures are being taken”.

Security has now been strengthened at key facilities in Moscow, while police and National Guard tried to protect government agencies and transport infrastructure.

Putin will also give a televised speech soon to address the nation.