Sat 24 June 2023:
The Kremlin has denied Vladimir Putin has fled Moscow by plane after claiming Russia is ‘facing treason’ from members of the mutinous Wagner group.
One of several planes that the Russian president uses for official visits took off from Moscow’s Vnukovo airport at 2.16pm local time (1216 BST) and then headed north-west.
There have been numerous reports that Vladimir Putin’s presidential plane took off from
According to data from the FlightRadar tracking website, the plane reached the Tver area – about 110 miles from Moscow and where Putin has a residence – before disappearing from the system.
It has not been possible to confirm whether Putin was on the plane and his spokesperson, Dmitry Peskov, has told the Tass news agency the president is “working in the Kremlin”.
FlightRadar data reported that at 3.06pm that the plane disappeared from radars near the Tver region.
Multiple other business jets have also departed the capital and instead headed to St Petersburg, according to reports.
Deputy premier Denis Manturov, left Russia for Turkey on Saturday, according to multiple reports.
It comes after Russian mercenary chief Yevgeny Prigozhin claimed he and his troops had taken control of key sites in Rostov-on-Don, a major logistical hub, including an airfield.
An audio message on the social media app Telegram detailed Prigozhin’s fighters had crossed the border and were “ready to die” in confrontation with those in their way.
Putin's presidential plane reportedly took off from Moscow to St. Petersburg.
At the same time, Peskov states that Putin is working in the Kremlin. pic.twitter.com/DE7WZcvMnw
— Anton Gerashchenko (@Gerashchenko_en) June 24, 2023
Wagner is a private paramilitary group run by Prigozhin who claims to have more than 25,000 fighters under his command.
Its taking of Rostov is significant as the city serves as a main rear logistical hub for Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, particularly in the country’s east.
The Wagner group’s advance, which is edging towards Moscow at speed, comes after Prigozhin earlier accused the Kremlin of deliberately bombing Wagner troops in a series of explosive claims.
The alleged attacks include the bombing of a training camp in Bakhmut, Ukraine, which killed dozens.
Members of the group are believed to have made good ground from Rostov towards Moscow on Saturday, despite the cities being more than 1100km apart.
Increased security measures have been introduced across the city and its famous Red Square has become blocked off by metal barriers.
Moscow residents have also been warned to stay at home and have been told not to go to work on Monday.
SOURCE: INDEPENDENT PRESS AND NEWS AGENCIES
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