Moscow has increased security measures in response to mounting tensions amid the possibility of the unrest.

Also read | Is Russia on brink of Civil War, public speculates as Wagner Group vow assault on Putin’s army

Senior Russian military officers have spoken out in opposition to Yevgeny Prigozhin, the powerful and outspoken commander of the Wagner mercenary company.

As tensions between the Russian military and the Wagner Group escalated, videos depicting an increased presence of military vehicles in certain areas of Moscow began circulating on social media. These videos captured the attention of the online community, further highlighting the growing concerns and the perceived gravity of the situation. 

Also read | Will Chicago Bulls guard Lonzo Ball miss 2023-24 season, complete injury update

Yevgeny Prigozhin has been slammed with a criminal investigation on suspicion of encouraging armed rebellion with the goal of unseating Russia’s defense minister. The allegations against Prigozhin led to the inquiry, which highlighted a significant charge against him involving a possible threat to national security.

He unleashed a vicious attack against the Russian military on Telegram, accusing them of carrying out a deadly attack on his forces. He singled out Sergei Shoigu, the defense minister, and accused him of directing a rocket attack on Wagner’s field camps in Ukraine, where his forces were reportedly fighting for Russia. Prigozhin declared that he was determined to stop the alleged malfeasance and referred to the military hierarchy as “evil.”

He made some strong allegations against Sergei and claimed that the defense minister forced Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin to fight Ukraine, and directed him towards the war. He said Sergei made Russia go to war by saying Ukraine is planning an attack along with NATO and will launch an attack on Russia.

Also read | Who was Terry Price? Cause of death, net worth, age, relationship, career, family and more

Reacting to the claims, the Russian defense ministry promptly rejected Yevgeny Prigozhin’s explosive accusations, claiming that they were not grounded in truth and were instead a calculated ploy to elicit a response. In response, Russian security launched a criminal investigation against Prigozhin.