Prigozhin’s relationship with Russia’s military has steadily deteriorated amid a grinding battle for the eastern Ukrainian city of Bakhmut. He’s blamed Russian military bureaucracy and incompetence for high casualty rates among Wagner fighters in Bakhmut and his inability to fully capture the city.
In a Telegram post on Saturday, Prigozhin said he had 25,000 Wagners fighters “ready to die” in support of his “march for justice.” Moscow has denied striking Wagner forces.
With Wagner forces staging an armed rebellion and attempting to make their way to Russia’s capital, Moscow Mayor Sergey Sobyanin asked most Moscow residents to stay home on Monday.