Russian army desert Putin and pledge loyalty to Wagner group after coup

24 June 2023 , 21:59

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Russian soldiers have reportedly left their posts at a rebel mercenary group targets Moscow (Image: AP)

Russian soldiers have started to abandon their posts after threats from Wagner rebels who are advancing towards Moscow.

As the mercenaries began to close in, leader Yevgeny Prigozhin announced he was standing down his soldiers.

But now, Putin's military are showing signs of mutiny, with one Russian airborne unit declaring its full sport for the Wagner fighters, the Express reports.

A video posted on social media from a masked paratrooper, who is thought to be apart of the 217 regiment of the 98th airborne division, sees him claim that he and his comrades were ready to stand "shoulder to shoulder" with the rebels.

The paratrooper said: "Wagner lads.... We are with and support you in your quest for justice against the greedy pederasts from the Ministry of Defence, who could not care less about the life of an ordinary soldier.

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"We, like you, took part in difficult battles. We know the price of the life of a simple soldier. We know the price of our blood and we won't let them make cannon fodder out of us.

A spokesman for the Kremlin says Vladimir Putin remains in Moscow (AP)

"So know this - we are with you and are ready to stand shoulder to shoulder with you in your just fight."

The mutiny has sent shockwaves through the Kremlin, which has been struggling with the recent uprising and incidents which have threatened to topple Putin's regime.

Many elites in Moscow began to flee after hearing of the incoming Wagner troops, including Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko.

Videos have emerged online of Russian troops pledging their support for the Wagner rebels (AP)

Putin's aircraft was also reported to have left Moscow’s Vnukovo airport at 2.16pm local time and headed north-west, but a spokesman for the Kremlin denied this and said he was still in the country's capital.

Leaflets from Prigozhin's militia have been distributed in Ukrainian regions controlled by the Russian army, urging troops to ignore their orders and join the fight for "justice".

Members of the Wagner group sit atop a tank in Rostov-on-Don (AFP via Getty Images)

It said: "Shoigu and Gerasimov are traitors of the motherland.

"They have thrown you into the meat grinder to save their own skins. Their sons get fat, while you give your life for the motherland.

Yevgeny Prigozhin's rebels were heading for Putin and Moscow (AP)

"Those creatures are hiding the truth. They have ruined the lives of hundreds of thousands of our lads. They even shoot their own soldiers! And make scape goats out of you!

"Instead of honour from the motherland, you pay with your lives for their brainlessness. We - the Wagner militia - are going on a march for justice to Moscow. Join us! It's not a coup - It's restoration of justice. Together we can stop this evil."