Al Mayadeen English

  • Ar
  • Es
  • x
Al Mayadeen English

Slogan

  • News
    • Politics
    • Economy
    • Sports
    • Arts&Culture
    • Health
    • Miscellaneous
    • Technology
    • Environment
  • Articles
    • Opinion
    • Analysis
    • Blog
    • Features
  • Videos
    • NewsFeed
    • Video Features
    • Explainers
    • TV
    • Digital Series
  • Infographs
  • In Pictures
  • • LIVE
News
  • Politics
  • Economy
  • Sports
  • Arts&Culture
  • Health
  • Miscellaneous
  • Technology
  • Environment
Articles
  • Opinion
  • Analysis
  • Blog
  • Features
Videos
  • NewsFeed
  • Video Features
  • Explainers
  • TV
  • Digital Series
Infographs
In Pictures
  • Africa
  • Asia
  • Asia-Pacific
  • Europe
  • Latin America
  • MENA
  • Palestine
  • US & Canada
BREAKING
Israeli artillery strikes target Khan Younis, the Gaza Strip.
Palestinian media: IOF arrest leader Jamal al-Tawil, who was liberated as part of the prisoner exchange, from his home in al-Bireh.
Palestinian media: 'Israel' launches two airstrikes on eastern Khan Younis, Gaza.
Al Mayadeen’s correspondent in Gaza: Israeli occupation forces carry out demolitions in eastern Gaza City.
Venezuelan Foreign Ministry: The National Armed Forces will remain on alert and mobilized in the face of this extremely dangerous provocation.
Venezuelan Foreign Ministry: This is not a defense exercise, but rather a military aggression aimed at turning the Caribbean into a space for violence and US hegemony.
Venezuelan Foreign Ministry: The government of Trinidad and Tobago has surrendered the country's sovereignty to act as a military colony serving US interests.
Rapid Support Forces attack El-Fasher, west Sudan.
Al Mayadeen correspondent: One martyr and one wounded in an Israeli drone attack on the town of Hafir, west of Baalbek, eastern Lebanon.
Al Mayadeen correspondent: An Israeli drone fired three missiles in the vicinity of the town of Bodai, west of Baalbek.

UK Intelligence says Wagner will 'certainly' intend to reach Moscow

  • By Al Mayadeen English
  • Source: Agencies
  • 24 Jun 2023 15:05
  • 1 Shares
4 Min Read

The British spy branch says that this event is the "most significant challenge" Russia has faced in recent times.

  • x
  • UK Intelligence says Wagner will 'certainly' intend to reach Moscow
    Forces of the paramilitary group Wagner PMC in the Russian region Rostov on Saturday, June 23, 2023 (AFP)

British intelligence said on Saturday that Wagner PMC intends to continue advancing toward Moscow and that the next few hours will determine how the events will develop, Russian Interfax reported.

The private paramilitary group will "almost certainly pursue the goal of reaching Moscow."

The UK's intelligence branch described the event as the "most significant challenge" that Russia has come against in recent times.

"Over the coming hours, the loyalty of Russia’s security forces, and especially the Russian National Guard, will be key to how the crisis plays out. This represents the most significant challenge to the Russian state in recent times," the defense ministry posted on Twitter citing the intelligence report.

"Further Wagner units are moving north through Vorenezh Oblast, almost certainly aiming to get to Moscow. With very limited evidence of fighting between Wagner and Russian security forces, some have likely remained passive, acquiescing to Wagner," the ministry claimed.

Read more: Ukraine launches large-scale offensive in Donetsk: Russian ministry

[5/5] Over the coming hours, the loyalty of Russia’s security forces, and especially the Russian National Guard, will be key to how the crisis plays out. This represents the most significant challenge to the Russian state in recent times.

— Ministry of Defence 🇬🇧 (@DefenceHQ) June 24, 2023

Prigozhin's Wagner take control of Rostov

Earlier on Saturday, Wagner chief Yevgeny Prigozhin announced on his Telegram channel storming the Rostov region and taking over the military headquarters in response to what he claims was a Russian attack on his troops earlier under the orders of the Defense Ministry.

Due to the developing events, Moscow canceled all public events as the PMC came just 6 hours away from the Russian capital amid continued advancements, while Russian security units stormed Wanger's headquarters in St. Petersburg.

Update: Wagner chief Yevgeny Prigozhin and his army have reportedly travelled through several checkpoints on their way toward Moscow, Russia with no resistance.

Prigozhin has called on the Russian National Guard to join his side to fight against the Russian Army.

The Wagner… pic.twitter.com/wF44yJEKL2

— Ed Krassenstein (@EdKrassen) June 24, 2023

Related News

Russia expels two British diplomats over espionage

Russia revokes accreditation of six UK diplomats citing espionage

Prigozhin called on the group's supporters inside the Russian Federation to join his movement and rebel against Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu, as well as the Chief of Staff and commander of the military operations in Ukraine Army General Valery Gerasimov.

The head of Wagner conditioned withdrawing from the city that Shoigu resigns. Meanwhile, the defense ministry rejected his claims of an airstrike targeting his forces.

A national security threat

Prigozhin was slammed with criminal charges for staging an armed mutiny in the region located southwest of Russia.

The Federal Security Service (FSB) said in a statement that a criminal probe was launched due to the seriousness of the situation, which poses a threat to the Russian Federation. FSB called Wagner forces not to comply with Prigozhin’s orders and detain him.

Moscow's Mayor sounded the alarm, while critical structure has been placed under heavy protection and security measures were increased, Russia's TASS said citing a source in a security agency, adding that the Russian National Guard special forces were placed on maximum alert.

In response to Prigozhin's mutiny, Russia's President Vladimir Putin made a live address stressing that he has instructed government bodies to neutralize the threats.

Treason will not go unpunished

Putin vowed that all parties responsible for the attempted armed mutiny in Rostov will face the rule of law and will have to answer to the people of Russia.

"Decisive measures are also being taken to stabilize the situation in Rostov-on-Don. It remains complicated, with the work of civilian and military administrative bodies effectively blocked," Putin said.

All those who "deliberately took the path of treason, who prepared an armed uprising, who took the path of insurrection and terrorist methods, will suffer inevitable punishment, will answer to the law and our people," he said, confirming that he has instructed agencies to neutralize the armed mutiny.

The president also called on those who are "being dragged into this crime not to make the fatal and tragic, unspeakable mistake and to make the only right choice — to stop participating in criminal actions," he said.

Recalling the division that occurred in the country during WWI, Putin confirmed that he will not let this occur again. "We will not let this happen again, we will protect both our people and our statehood from any threats."

Internal turmoil is "a mortal threat to our statehood, to the nation," he added, vowing strict action to protect Russia from such a threat.

  • british intelligence
  • Moscow
  • Yevgeny Prigozhin
  • Rostov
  • Russia
  • war in Ukraine
  • Wagner
  • UK
  • United Kingdom
  • Ukraine
  • Vladimir Putin

Most Read

From previous scenes of the Qassam Brigades targeting an Israeli D9 bulldozer with a Yassin 105 shell, east of Deir al-Balah. (Military Media of the Qassam Brigades)

US knew fatal Rafah blast cause was not Hamas op., says journalist

  • Politics
  • 20 Oct 2025
'Israel’s Digital Iron Dome: Weaponizing the web against Palestine

'Israel’s Digital Iron Dome: Weaponizing the web against Palestine

  • Technology
  • 24 Oct 2025
Abu Hamza, the spokesperson for the Al-Quds Brigades, during a speech televised on October 22, 2025 (Al-Quds Brigades Military Media)

Al-Quds Brigades' Abu Hamza mourns leaders, vows continued resistance

  • Politics
  • 22 Oct 2025
US missionary kidnapped in Niger capital, suspected taken toward Mali

US missionary kidnapped in Niger capital, suspected taken toward Mali

  • Africa
  • 23 Oct 2025

Coverage

All
War on Gaza

Read Next

All
Sheikh Naim Qassem speaks during an interview with Al-Manar TV, October 26, 2025 (Screenshot)
Politics

Hezbollah ready to face 'Israel' in case of war: Sheikh Naim Qassem

A Russian cargo train arrives at Astara Railway Wharf, March 2018 (IRNA)
Economy

Tehran, Moscow to finalize INSTC rail project next month

Iran's Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf addresses the media after submitting his candidacy for the Islamic Republic's upcoming presidential election in Tehran on June 3, 2024 (AP)
Politics

UNSCR 2231 termination marks major win for Iran’s diplomacy: Qalibaf

ap
Politics

'Israel' killed 40 Palestinian children in West Bank since January: UN

Al Mayadeen English

Al Mayadeen is an Arab Independent Media Satellite Channel.

All Rights Reserved

  • x
  • Privacy Policy
  • About Us
  • Contact Us
  • Authors
Android
iOS