Russian Criminal Probe Opened into Calls for 'Armed Mutiny' by Wagner Group's Prigozhin

Russian authorities have opened a criminal probe into calls for an "armed mutiny" following claims by the Wagner group's chief, Yevgeny Prigozhin, that Russia's military conducted missile strikes at his group's rear camps, resulting in the deaths of many of his fighters.

Prigozhin called on Russians to join his forces and punish Moscow's military leadership, warning that anyone who resists will be considered a threat and destroyed.

The Kremlin said Putin had been informed of Prigozhin's claims and "necessary measures are being taken." The FSB security service opened a criminal probe into calls for an "armed mutiny." Prigozhin has previously accused Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu and Valery Gerasimov, chief of the general staff, of being responsible for his fighters' deaths on the battlefield.

The Russian defense ministry denied his claims and called them a "provocation." Russian businessman Yevgeny Prigozhin, known as "Putin's chef," has accused Moscow's top brass of deceiving Russians about the offensive in Ukraine.

Prigozhin's forces, which included tens of thousands of prison recruits, played a central role in Russia's capture of the town of Bakhmut in Donetsk, the longest and bloodiest battle of the conflict.

Prigozhin spent nine years in prison in the final period of the USSR and later became part of Putin's inner circle.

He founded a successful catering company that worked for the Kremlin and was known as "Putin's chef." However, in recent months, Prigozhin has become embroiled in a bitter power struggle with the defense ministry.

He has accused the Russian military of attempting to "steal" victories in Ukraine from his forces and criticized Moscow's "monstrous bureaucracy" for slowing military gains.

Wagner's private military company, which Prigozhin is believed to have control over, has been reported in conflict zones including Syria, Libya, Mali, and the Central African Republic.