Troops from Putin’s FSB security service find £38 million in cash in a van and two buses in a raid on Prigozhin’s Wagner headquarters
Russia’s security service reportedly found £38 million in cash after a raid on Wagner’s headquarters in St Petersburg.
Yevgeny Prigozhin has confirmed that a large amount of money, which was stashed in a van and two buses on the premises, was found during the raid by Putin’s FSB troops – and belongs to the group of mercenaries.
He gave no details on how much the stock was worth, but previous Russian media reported it was about £4 billion rubles, or £38 million.
In an audio message on Telegram, he explained that the money is intended to cover compensation payments from killed Wagner soldiers.
‘Wagner has been working with cash only for 10 years – as agreed in our contract. I fully adhere to it,” he said.
Yevgeny Prigozhin has confirmed that a large amount of money was found during the raid, which was stashed in a van and two buses on the premises.
The Russian security service (pictured) raided the Wagner Center in St. Petersburg earlier today
The raid comes as Moscow prepares for war in anticipation of the expected arrival of Russia’s Wagner militias within hours.
A number of restrictions have now been put in place around the Russian capital following a governor’s decree as the Wagner group pushes north towards Moscow after capturing a key military base earlier today.
Wagner chief Yevgney Prigozhin launched an overnight military coup against Putin, with the group taking key cities and threatening the president, who called them “traitors.”
Addressing the Russian people on Saturday, Putin warned that the military leader had “stabbed him in the back” as Moscow enters a lockdown, with troops digging in in preparation to defend the city. A spokesman for the Russian president said Putin was still working at the Kremlin and had not fled Moscow.
Prigozhin and his dreaded 25,000-strong Wagner militia took control of the southern Russian city of Rostov-on-Don on Saturday, saying they were “ready to die” for their “march of justice.” convoy of armored vehicles.
The group is expected to arrive in Moscow later in the evening.