Wagner Group Rebellion the ‘Most Significant Challenge’ to Russian State: UK Defence Ministry

In this grab taken from video and released by Prigozhin Press Service, on June 23, 2023, Yevgeny Prigozhin, the outspoken millionaire head of the private military contractor Wagner, speaks during his interview at an unspecified location. Prigozhin Press Service via AP

A Wagner group-led armed rebellion launched on Saturday marks “the most significant challenge to the Russian state in recent times,” the British defence ministry said.

The Ministry of Defence (MoD) said there had been “very limited evidence” that the rebelling paramilitary group was met with resistance, and that the loyalty of Russia’s security forces will be “key” to how things play out.