Yevgeny V. Prigozhin, the head of the Wagner private military company, led an armed rebellion in Russia on Saturday and claimed that his forces came within 125 miles of Moscow. Here is how the events unfolded.
1 11 a.m. Friday Prigozhin questions war rationale
In a 30-minute video released at 11 a.m. on Friday, Mr. Prigozhin challenged the wisdom of the Russia-Ukraine war.
Telegram
In a series of posts on social media starting at 11 a.m. Friday Moscow time, Mr. Prigozhin questioned the Kremlin’s motives for the war in Ukraine and accused the Russian defense minister, Sergei K. Shoigu, of ordering deadly airstrikes on Wagner fighters. “The evil borne by the country’s military leadership must be stopped,” he said in a voice recording posted around 9 p.m.
2 Just after midnight Friday Russia orders Prigozhin’s arrest
Russia’s security agencies denounced Mr. Prigozhin in a series of announcements on state media. The Federal Security Service, Russia’s main intelligence agency, opened an investigation against Mr. Prigozhin for armed rebellion.
Videos circulating on social media showed armored vehicles from the military and national guard being deployed in Moscow and Rostov-on-Don, where Mr. Prigozhin said his fighters were approaching.
3 7:30 a.m. Saturday Wagner forces take Rostov-on-Don
Despite the defense measures, Wagner forces took Rostov-on-Don with little resistance. Around 7:30 a.m., Mr. Prigozhin posted a video from the regional military headquarters, claiming to have control of key city installations. Videos on social media showed armed Wagner fighters blending into the metropolis’s bustle: controlling traffic at key intersections, walking around the city with takeout coffee and ordering fast food.
Wagner armored vehicles in Rostov-on-Don on Saturday.
Reuters
4 Saturday morning Wagner forces push to Moscow
As Wagner consolidated control of Rostov-on-Don, its forces pushed north toward Moscow. One column of armored and personnel vehicles appeared to depart from Rostov. Another column crossed from occupied Ukraine into Russia’s Voronezh region further north. They met little resistance and appeared to have shot down a number of Russian military aircraft along the way.
5 10 a.m. Saturday Putin addresses the nation
Mr. Putin made a televised address to the nation, asking for unity in the face of what he called a war against Ukraine and its allies. “Actions that split our unity,” he said, “are a stab in the back of our country and our people.”
6 Early Saturday afternoon Wagner convoy reaches Elets
Wagner’s armored columns pushed through the Voronezh region without entering major cities and stopped on the side of the highway in Elets, a town in the Lipetsk region about 250 miles south of Moscow. The column included mounted tanks, armored vehicles, at least one self-propelled rocket launcher and numerous personnel trucks. It had met little resistance to this point.
7 8:30 p.m. Saturday A surprise deal
Belarus state media unexpectedly announced that the country’s president, Alexsandr G. Lukashenko, had negotiated Mr. Prigozhin’s agreement to halt his forces’ advances. Mr. Prigozhin said in an audio message that his forces had come within 125 miles of Moscow and were “turning around” to head back to their training camps.
8 11 p.m. Saturday Prigozhin leaves Rostov-on-Don
Wagner forces left Rostov-on-Don as some residents came out to show their support. Mr. Prigozhin was among those leaving, driving out of the city in a heavily guarded black S.U.V.
Alexander Ermochenko/Reuters
