1/ Russia's security forces are reported to be in disarray following the attempted mutiny by the Wagner Group. It seems to have been perfectly timed for a moment – Friday night – when many personnel were too drunk to respond quickly, while others are refusing to fight Wagner. ⬇️
2/ The VChK-OGPU Telegram channel reports what its sources are saying is the situation within various security organisations. At the FSB and Ministry of Internal Affairs, "Everyone is up and running, urgently reporting in. Now all the offices are like one big after-party."
3/ "80 per cent of the staff smell of booze. Some of them can barely stand on their feet. Can't arm 'em, can't send 'em anywhere. Friday night's the perfect time to start something like this. Everybody's standing around, waiting for something. No introductions."
4/ "A couple of hours more and the conflicts among themselves will start when [the alcohol] starts to wear off."
5/ Unwillingness to fight Wagner appears to be a common theme. "There is real panic in Rostov, especially among the police. There is more than a 40 percent shortfall in personnel among those called up in connection with Operation Fortress" (to defend security installations).
6/ Wagner forces were able to cross the border from Ukraine without opposition, despite orders not to let them through. "Both the border service of the FSB and the Interior Ministry received instructions to stop the Wagner PMC. No one is complying, as it is not realistic."
7/ Most ominously for the Kremlin, elements of the security forces appear to be actively siding with Wagner or refusing to act against it.
8/ "The defence ministry has lost control over a number of units and formations of the South Eastern Military District, it will not be possible to organise defence by the Rosgvardia [Russian National Guard] and the FSB. Local leaders are extremely careful in their statements".
9/ "Attempts to counter Prigozhin are only going through the FSB and the National Guard. The Ministry of Defence has simply withdrawn, junior officers either refuse to follow orders or directly support Wagner."
10/ And Shoigu and the [MOD leadership] team just hid and completely lost touch with reality. The fear is obviously serious."
Wagner is reported to be directly taking control of some South Eastern Military District units.
11/ "A number of units of the Ministry of Defence that participated in the war are beginning to come under the command of Wagner. Entire corps. Shoigu and Gerasimov's people are being removed."
12/ General Gerasimov himself has not been seen in public since the mutiny began. According to Wagner channels, he was in Rostov when it fell to Wagner forces.
13/ He is said to have "escaped from the Rostov [military] headquarters along with people loyal to him” and “is holed up in a civilian apartment with his friends in Rostov.” /end
1/ Transcript of Vladimir Putin's speech this morning:
"I appeal to the Russians, to the military and security agencies and to those who have been pushed onto the path of armed insurgency by deceit and threats.
2/ What we are facing is betrayal. Unreasonable ambition has led to treason. The heroes who liberated Soledar and Artemovsk [Bakhmut], fought for Novorossiya, their name and glory have been betrayed by those who are trying to organize an insurgency.
3/ Pushing the country towards anarchy and fratricide.
Any internal turmoil is a mortal threat to our statehood, to us as a nation. Our actions to defend the Motherland will be tough. All those who have taken the path of betrayal will suffer inevitable punishment.
1/ Wagner Group fighters have been saying goodbye to their relatives over the past 24 hours and telling them to watch the TV news, which suggests that they may have had advance notice of today's dramatic events with Yevgeny Prigozhin.
2/ Verstka reports that worried relatives are saying in Wagner-related chat rooms that their loved ones have "called and said goodbye" in the last 24 hours, and told them to watch for "what [TV channel] Rossiya 24 has to say".
3/ Chat participant Elena Kigeleva says: "Yesterday many guys called and 'conditionally' said goodbye. Many said watch the news." Multiple participants say they can't reach their Wagner men.
1/ Mobilised Russian soldiers facing the Ukrainian counteroffensive in Zaporizhzhya say they are suffering huge casualties from precision shelling by Ukrainian forces, cannot evacuate their wounded, and are brutally treated for refusing orders they consider to be suicidal. ⬇️
2/ The independent Russian news outlet "Look out, news" (ON) reports that men of the 1430th Mobilised Rifle Regiment say that on 8 June, they were sent to hold front line trenches, likely near Robotyne, where they suffered heavy losses under Ukrainian artillery fire.
3/ "Within two weeks, several hundred men were out of action. Most of them have not seen the enemy and suffered from precise shelling ... The khokhols [pejorative term for Ukrainians] are hitting right into the trench. There's no point in sitting there," says one soldier.
1/ The Wagner Group is setting up its own military police force to enforce discipline in the occupied regions of Ukraine, even against Russian army troops, who it says are "boozing like pigs". It's currently seeking recruits among former law enforcement employees. ⬇️
2/ Wagner is recruiting former members of Russia's police and national guard special forces – the SOBR, OMON, GROM and other units – to serve in its new police force. An advertisement asking for volunteers has been posted to its VK (social media) page.
3/ The advert "invites former employees who have experience in operational work and detention" to carry out "detention, operational and commandant functions. The work will be interesting, you can rest assured of that."
1/ The Russian army is having an increasing problem with desertions, according to a leaked document which appears to show hundreds of men deserting from the Airborne Forces (VDV) since 1 February 2023. ⬇️
2/ The document, which has been published by the VChK-OGPU Telegram channel, is likely to come from a military prosecutor's office. It summarises criminal offences in the VDV over an unclear timeframe, probably starting from 1 February 2023.
3/ It states that there have been 325 cases of absence without leave (AWOL, or SOC in Russian), of which 228 men have been recovered and a further 97 are still wanted. Given that the VDV likely has around 40,000 men (45,000 pre-war), this may represent nearly 1% of the total.
1/ Mobilised Russians are being denied leave after months of front-line service in Ukraine, possibly due to manpower shortages in the Russian army. As well as going against promises made by the Russian government, it's likely to cause major problems with combat fatigure. ⬇️
2/ Widespread reports have emerged of Russian soldiers being denied leave, or in some cases only being granted leave if they pay bribes to their commanders (see thread below). Those serving more than 6 months in Ukraine are supposed to get 14 days' leave.
3/ In April/May 2023, videos emerged of Altai Territory soldiers and their female relatives complaining that they were getting neither leave nor pay. More such reports have emerged and are highlighted today by the 'We can explain' (MO) Telegram channel.