Speaks a Wagner mercenary for the rebellion against Putin: We had no idea what was going on.

A mercenary who participated in the attempted uprising against Russian President Vladimir Putin says he and his fellow fighters “had no idea” what was going on.

In the space of just 24 hours, the leader of the Wagner Group, Yevgeny Pgozhin, organized a uprising, sending troops to the southern town of Rostov, then further towards Moscow.

Wagner fighters rarely speak to the media, but BBC Russo spoke with a young commander who found himself in the middle of the action.

Gleb é not his real name. He was formerly involved in fighting for the symbolic city of Bakhmu in eastern Ukraine. With the start of the uprising, he was resting with his unit in the barracks in the Russia-dominated Luhansk region.

Early in the morning on June 23rd, they received the call to join a column of Wagner warriors leaving Ukraine.

The order came from a Wagner commander, whom Gleb is reluctant to mention for security reasons but who was acting in accordance with Pigozin's orders and Wagner Command Council.

Gleb says that no one was told where the column was going, but he was surprised to realize that they were leaving the front line.

Wagner's fighters faced absolutely no resistance, he says, as they crossed the Russian border in the Rostov region.

Channels closely linked to Wagner on the Telegram message application later confirmed that border guards at the Bugayevka checkpoint had left their weapons as Wagner fighters arrived.

These channels distributed a photo allegedly showing two dozen unarmed individuals from the site.

As they approached Rostov-on-Don, the fighters were ordered to surround all buildings of the city's law enforcement agency and invade the military airport. The Globe unit was told to take control of the Federal Security Service regional offices (FSB).

As they approached the building, it seemed to be completely closed and empty. They flew a drone upstairs to check for any signs of life.

Eventually, in half an hour, a door opened, and two people took to the streets.

Rostov's reporters have reported a situation similar to many government buildings inside and around the city.

Wagner warriors would first fly over them and then surround them. No one was allowed to leave, but the couriers were allowed to enter with food.

While all of this was happening, Wagner's leader Piggozhin was at the Russian Army's South Military District Headquarters meeting Russian Deputy Defence Minister, Lieutenant General Yunus-beast Yeevkurov and Deputy Chief of General Staff General Vladimir Alexeyev.

Prygozhin demanded that they hand over Chief of General Staff Valery Gerasimov and Defence Minister Sergei Shoigu.

A video footage showing Wagner's chief, Yevgeny Pigozin making a speech at Rostov-on-Don on June 24th

At the same time that Prigozy was at his meeting, there was another column of Wagner fighters on the move.

Gleb confirms media reports that this column was run by the founder of Wagner Dmitry Utkin, a former Special Forces officer rarely seen in public.

This column was on the main highway to Voronnesji and apparently aimed at Moscow, he says.

So, did Gleb know about the plan, or did he plan to do Prygozy?

He swears as he bluntly says he had no idea. We learned what was happening from the telegram, just like you.