Wagner Private Military Contractor Enters Rostov Without Resistance, Owner Yevgeny Prigozhin Reports

On Saturday, Yevgeny Prigozhin, the owner of the Wagner private military contractor, announced that his forces had driven into the Russian city of Rostov without facing any resistance. Prigozhin said that the young conscripts at the checkpoints stood back and did not offer any resistance, adding that his forces “aren’t fighting against children.”

Prigozhin also said that Wagner field camps had been struck by rockets, helicopter gunships and artillery fire on orders from the chief of the military’s General Staff, Gen. Valery Gerasimov. He added that Wagner troops were greeted by border guards as they moved into the Rostov region and are now driving into the city of Rostov.

The Wagner private military contractor is a Russian private military company that has been involved in conflicts in Ukraine, Syria, and Libya. It is owned by Yevgeny Prigozhin, a close ally of Russian President Vladimir Putin.

The news of Wagner forces entering Rostov without resistance comes amid rising tensions between Russia and Ukraine. In recent weeks, Russia has been building up its military presence in the region, leading to fears of a potential conflict. It is unclear what the intentions of the Wagner forces are, but it is likely that they are there to support the Russian military.