The challenge of Vladimir Poutine mercenaries from wagner groupdirected by Yevgeny Prigozhinhas reached the proportions of a “all-out military confrontation” and represents “the greatest challenge to the Russian state in recent times”, according to the latest report from the intelligence services of the British Ministry of Defense (MoD).

“We are monitoring the situation very closely and seeing how it develops on the ground,” said the firstRishi Sunak at the BBC. “We are in contact with our allies and talking among ourselves. The most important thing is that the parties involved are responsible and protect the civilian population“.

“In the next few hours, the loyalty (to Putin) of the security forces, and in particular the Russian National Guard, will be the key to knowing how this crisis evolves”, could one read in the last dispatch from London, in coordinated action with Washington to make its intelligence reports partially public.

“In an operation called by Prigozhin as the march for freedomWagner Group forces crossed from occupied territory in Ukraine into Russia in at least two places,” read the information posted by the MoD on Twitter.

Rishi Sunak convened a Cobra cabinet urgently on Saturday afternoon to analyze the crisis created by the mercenaries of the Wagner group, after having had telephone conversations with Presidents Biden and Macron and with Chancellor Scholz. “Leaders have agreed to maintain close contact over the coming days,” a Downing Street spokesman said. The “prime minister” was also in contact with President Zelenksi, who informed him of the latest advances in the counter-offensive in the south and east of the country.

British sources claimed that members of the Wagner group occupied most of the strategic points of Rostovincluding the Russian army headquarters from which operations in Ukraine are directed and supervised.

British intelligence reports certify the advance of Prigozhin mercenaries through the county of Vorenezh, “with the virtual certainty that their objective is to reach Moscow”.

Although describing the situation as an “all-out military confrontation”, the MoD points out that there is very little evidence of a possible fight with Russian soldiers, “who mostly reacted with passivity and consent before the Wagner group“.

MoD reports triggered a enthusiastic reaction among British politicians. “This is a huge opportunity for Ukraine to exploit the current mutiny and chaos taking hold in Russia,” said the Conservative MP and chairman of the parliamentary defense committee, Tobias Ellwood.

The BBC, on the other hand, confirmed “with a high degree of reliability” the alleged meeting held in the south of the country between Prigozhin and the Russian Deputy Minister of Defence. Yunus Bek Evkurov. Footage of the encounter was broadcast by a channel on Telegram and verified by British public television using biometric facial recognition techniques.

Country, on alert

All European countries are on alert. Especially those closest to the Ukrainian powder keg. Polish President, Andrzej Dudaheld consultations with allies, as well as with the Prime Minister, Mateusz Morawiecki“Our eastern border is constantly monitored,” said the Polish president, via his Twitter account.

The High Representative for EU Foreign Policy, Joseph Borellreported that the foreign ministers of the G-7 (United States, Canada, United Kingdom, France, Germany, Italy and Japan) held a collective call in which they participated this morning to analyze the situation in Russia.

Washington follows the Wagnerian rebellion very “closely”.

French President, Emmanuel Macron, is also closely monitoring the situation. “The president is following the situation closely. We remain focused on supporting Ukraine,” the French presidency said. A spokesman for the German government, interviewed by AFP, expressed the same opinion.

The Finnish and Swedish governments today expressed concern over the situation in Russia, Efe reported. “We are closely monitoring the development of the situation,” Finnish Prime Minister Petteri Orpo said on Twitter. “The situation is serious”underlined the Swedish Foreign Minister, Tobias Billström, also via this social network.

Latvia is considering adopting “additional security measures”, the country’s foreign minister and president-designate informed, Edgars Rinkevicsvia his Twitter account.