Introduction

Yevgeny Pragosian, leader of the brutal Wagner mercenary group, has crossed from Ukraine into Russia. He claims control of Rostov on Don and also the southern military headquarters of the Russian armed forces in that city. Vladimir Putin agreed or appeared to confirm Pragosian's claim, saying that military and civilian functions within the city have been blocked. This all comes after Pragosian heavily escalated his public feud with Russia's defense minister,. Sergey Shoygu, and the head of Russia's armed forces, Valerie Grazimov.