Vladimir Putin is facing ‘the most significant challenge’ to his leadership in decades after the boss of Russia’s Wagner Group of mercenaries launched an armed insurrection.

The militia revolted on Friday, with its leader Yevgeny Prigozhin saying he wanted to punish defence minister Sergei Shoigu and army chief Valery Gerasimov for targeting his troops with rockets.  

Putin vowed to crush the uprising – calling it a ‘stab in the back’ – and warned anyone involved in the ‘rebellion’ will ‘suffer inevitable punishment’.

The Kremlin denied reports he had fled the capital amid several claiming aircraft linked to the president were spotted flying out as Wagner forces close in.

Prigozhin, whose forces have spearheaded the Russian advance in Ukraine, claimed to have captured the headquarters of Russia’s Southern Military District in Rostov without firing a shot.

Western allies have said they are closely following the situation in nuclear-armed Russia.

Britain’s Ministry of Defence said of the uprising: ‘This represents the most significant challenge to the Russian state in recent times.’

Putin’s grip on power may depend on whether he can muster enough loyal troops to combat the mercenaries at a time when most of Russia’s military is in Ukraine.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said: ‘Russia’s weakness is obvious. Full-scale weakness. And the longer Russia keeps its troops and mercenaries on our land, the more chaos, pain and problems it will have for itself later.’

• Putin accuses Wagner chief of ‘treason’ after armed group seizes Russian cit
• Oil depot blitzed by Russian helicopter as Wagner troops ‘seize second city’
• ‘We’ll destroy anyone in our way’: Wagner forces filmed closing in on Moscow

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