Wagner boss Prigozhin says Russia's 'evil' defense ministry 'must be stopped' in latest shocking provocation

Founder of Wagner private mercenary group Yevgeny Prigozhin. Press service of "Concord"/Handout via REUTERS

• Wagner Group boss Prigozhin accused Russia of attacking and killing his mercenaries on Friday.
• In response, the warlord called Russia's defense ministry "evil" and said it "must be stopped."
• The exchange marked a serious escalation in the long-running feud between Wagner and Moscow.

Wagner Group founder Yevgeny Prigozhin blasted Russia's defense ministry as "evil" on Friday, saying Moscow's military leadership "must be stopped" after an alleged missile strike killed scores of his fighters. 

In a statement shared to social media, Prigozhin seemed to openly declare some sort of fight against Russia's defense ministry, saying that those who were responsible for death of Wagner mercenaries and Russian soldiers should be "punished." 

"PMC Wagner Commanders' Council made a decision: the evil brought by the military leadership of the country must be stopped," Prigozhin said, according to a translation of his statement. "They neglect the lives of soldiers. They forgot the word 'justice', and we will bring it back."

"I'm asking: no one resist. Everyone who will try to resist, we will consider them a danger and destroy them immediately, including any checkpoints on our way," the Wagner chief said. "And any aviation that we see above our heads. I'm asking everyone to remain calm, do not succumb to provocations, and remain in their houses. Ideally, those along our way, do not go outside."

Prigozhin noted that the presidential authority — a nod to Russian President Vladimir Putin, who has historically been close ally of Prigozhin — "will continue operating as before," and that Wagner will eventually return to the front lines whenever it is done. 

—Dmitri (@wartranslated) June 23, 2023

Earlier on Friday, Prigozhin published a video to his Telegram account that he claimed to show the aftermath of a missile attack on Wagner Group positions. He accused Russia's defense ministry of carrying out the attack, in which he claimed many of his mercenaries were killed.  

The video, around a minute and 20 seconds long, showed debris and destruction in an open clearing in a dense forest. At one point, the camera pans over to a crater, where two fires are blazing. 

—Pjotr Sauer (@PjotrSauer) June 23, 2023

Russia's defense ministry denied Prigozhin's accusations. 

"All the messages and videos speaded in social networks on behalf of E. Prigozhin about the alleged 'strike of the Russian Ministry of Defense against the 'rear camps of the Wagner PMC' are untrue and are an informational provocation," Russia's defense ministry said on Telegram. 

"The Armed Forces of the Russian Federation continue to carry out combat tasks on the line of contact with the AFU in the area of the special military operation," Moscow said, referring to its ongoing war in Ukraine. 

Friday's alleged missile strike — and Prigozhin's retaliation comments — represent the most serious escalation in the long-standing feud between Wagner and Moscow. 

This story is developing. Please check back for updates.