leadership, has criticised the leadership, probably closer to them than and putin are and i think it best their loyalties will be divided. at worse, many could come across to wagner and thatis many could come across to wagner and that is wobbly what they are hoping. lets just get our map up on letsjust get our map up on our screens. i believe it is coming... justin, just give us a sense, because we are looking at rostov—on—don and then obviously the m4 and the route that leads to moscow. just give us a sense then of what is happening in each of these places, including varnish. so rostov is obviously — places, including varnish. so rostov is obviously where _ places, including varnish. so rostov is obviously where this _ places, including varnish. so rostov is obviously where this has - places, including varnish. so rostov is obviously where this has started, | is obviously where this has started, as i mentioned, it is the headquarters of southern command. it is the key operational headquarters for the russian military effort in ukraine. that is obviously why the

wagner group sees that early on as a key objective, they pretty much walked in. they have held it since. they left a reasonable force, we think, in that area. although, at the moment, there is some local opposition from the chechens who are approaching rostov. they are very loyal to the regime. that is sort of developing in the city at the moment. so they have seized the city, they didn't have huge strength there, but they do have their headquarters. most importantly, that headquarters. most importantly, that headquarters and the south controls on the communication. so it's really strategically important. prigozhin isn't a critic of the war, he is a critic of the way it is being fought. he thinks it should be fought. he thinks it should be fought more strenuously than it is. they have no interest in stopping the war in ukraine there, it is continuing but under wagner supervision at this point. there is

this flying column that is making its way towards masco and we know that it its way towards masco and we know thatitis its way towards masco and we know that it is somewhere probably two thirds along the route to moscow at the moment. we suspect that it could be up to two and a half thousand people. it's a long string of vehicles. it has fuel and ammunition within it, tanks and armoured personnel carriers. they are not on their tracks, they are on trucks being carried. it also has air defence. being carried. it also has air defence-— being carried. it also has air defence. ., ~ . ., ., defence. thank you so much for all of our defence. thank you so much for all of your analysis — defence. thank you so much for all of your analysis and _ defence. thank you so much for all of your analysis and helping - defence. thank you so much for all of your analysis and helping us - of your analysis and helping us understand the area that we are talking about. joining us now is the chair of the foreign affairs select committee in parliament. thank you so much forjoining us. you are obviously watching and assessing the situation very carefully. we heard from the prior minister a little earlier as well on this.- earlier as well on this. yes, indeed- _ earlier as well on this. yes, indeed. this _ earlier as well on this. yes, indeed. this is _ earlier as well on this. yes, indeed. this is a _ earlier as well on this. yes, indeed. this is a very - earlier as well on this. yes, - indeed. this is a very precarious situation. an unstable and

potentially could collapse russia, thatis potentially could collapse russia, that is not a good thing. we are currently watching competing parts of russian security infrastructure fight it out to determine who they are going to show their loyalty to. whether it be the fsb, the sbb or the military. i would say that those who are celebrating this online should be very cautious because unfortunately these kinds of situations do not always end with a good outcome. find situations do not always end with a good outcome-— situations do not always end with a good outcome. and we know that the prime minister _ good outcome. and we know that the prime minister earlier _ good outcome. and we know that the prime minister earlier said _ good outcome. and we know that the prime minister earlier said that - prime minister earlier said that there were travel alerts refraining from the beginning of this conflict in ukraine, british people who are in ukraine, british people who are in russia not to go there and those who are there to leave. what is your assessment tonight in what is happening in terms of what people should do? w' happening in terms of what people should do? w ., happening in terms of what people should do? a ., ., should do? luck, for the immediate, it seems very — should do? luck, for the immediate, it seems very clear _ should do? luck, for the immediate, it seems very clear that _ should do? luck, for the immediate, it seems very clear that this - should do? luck, for the immediate, it seems very clear that this is - it seems very clear that this is between the military parties, there has been very little that we are aware of so far of civilian endangerment. but of course, they have to assume that there will be. it is really important that every

stairs in a place of safety, that they contact the foreign office to let them know where they are. it is crucial that the government gets that messaging out. for a long time now, i've been calling for all british nationals to leave russia. this has not been a place of safety for a long time, but i'm sure the foreign office will quickly get that messaging out to tell british nationals in russia what to do. going forward, are you speaking to an inconstant conversation with partners with allies about this developing situation and where that leaves and positions britain? yes. leaves and positions britain? yes, so have been _ leaves and positions britain? yes, so have been in _ leaves and positions britain? yes, so have been in contact _ leaves and positions britain? us: so have been in contact with fellow chairs foreign affair committees across europe and also my ukrainian counterparts in the ukrainian parliament over the last 20 hours or so. this is moving so fast and the reality is that it looks like prigozhin will have reached by probably about 8pm today. this is moving very fast and no matter what happens, the face of russia has fundamentally changed as a result of

this. because putin's social contract with the russian people, whereby he is the strong and that gives them security and stability at the cost of individual freedom, liberties and rights, that has been shattered. he has been shown to be somebody who cannot provide that stability. and the question now is, his military prowess, his strategy, his military prowess, his strategy, his capability and resourcing was massively overestimated before the renewed invasion of ukraine. it is internal security infrastructure capabilities and resources just as weakened and badly played out? this is what we are waiting to see. it will also be interesting given that putin has fled the kremlin to see what happens now in terms of that power imbalance. this is a big country, many different organisations, how will that play out? i will draw parallels to the fact that so and scanned the ukrainian mp bits stayed in kyiv and fought alongside their patriots to protect their citizens when they were under attack. the protect their citizens when they were under attack. the question that has been raised _

were under attack. the question that has been raised in _ were under attack. the question that has been raised in this _ were under attack. the question that has been raised in this programme . were under attack. the question thatj has been raised in this programme in the last half hour or so it is, how does putin return from this? when your whole power base, the institutions that you have created of the last two decades start to crumble, how do you come back from it? even if they do crush prigozhin at the end of this? it is it? even if they do crush prigozhin at the end of this?— at the end of this? it is very interesting _ at the end of this? it is very interesting that _ at the end of this? it is very interesting that putin - at the end of this? it is very interesting that putin chose j at the end of this? it is very - interesting that putin chose not to name prigozhin in his recent performances before the media. that normally is a sign that he plans to have that individual assassinated. it is a very interesting way... there is also a very interesting relationship between putin and the prigozhin. prigozhin is not within putin's in a circle. at the same time he is a state asset. wagner wanted troops released our mercenaries from putin's prisons, putin allowed him to access them. prigozhin has been acting as the foreign arm of the russian state and ultimately prigozhin's attacks on jarrah sim of has been helpful to putin in terms of directing anger at

ukraine and away from putin. this isn't as straightforward as it necessarily looks. i think we have to be really cautious in saying that it is either the end of putin all that, for example, there is in something far more complex going on here. i something far more complex going on here. , , ,.,, something far more complex going on here. , ., , something far more complex going on here. , ._ here. i suppose in many ways, when we have seen _ here. i suppose in many ways, when we have seen prigozhin's _ here. i suppose in many ways, when we have seen prigozhin's outbursts i we have seen prigozhin's outbursts over the last few weeks, the question remains, why was he allowed to say the things that he was? why was he allowed to criticise the way that he was? as you say, we have to be cautious around the way we frame all of this. but none of this has really, for those who are russia watchers, come as a complete surprise. i watchers, come as a complete surrise. ~' ., watchers, come as a complete surrise. ~ ., ., ., surprise. i think for a long time man of surprise. i think for a long time many of us _ surprise. i think for a long time many of us have _ surprise. i think for a long time many of us have said _ surprise. i think for a long time many of us have said that - surprise. i think for a long time i many of us have said that russian instability should be a concern. many have said that this would only end with the instability within russia. but there was no joy to be taken from this. because the people who will suffer most once again our russian civilians. this is a fight between two bad guys, to put it in the most kind of western movie form that we can. this is between

mercenaries who have been committing war crimes in africa and the middle east and ukraine, war crimes in africa and the middle eastand ukraine, and war crimes in africa and the middle east and ukraine, and a war criminal who orchestrated mass atrocities when he recruited the illegal invasion of ukraine. the outcomes do not look positive. if putin his successful and he is able to hold onto power, what cost will he achieve that at? if he does, i think we should expect a purge greater than any we have ever seen in russia, because he will want to absolutely consolidate that power. because until now, he has been set and that he has locked up any form of moderate opposition. when people say this is a chance for the opposition, the opposition are in prison and those who are not are not necessarily those who wish to enter the renewed illegal invasion of ukraine. ., ~ , ., the renewed illegal invasion of ukraine. ., . ., ukraine. thank you so much for “oininr ukraine. thank you so much for joining us _ ukraine. thank you so much for joining us and _ ukraine. thank you so much for joining us and for— ukraine. thank you so much for joining us and for all— ukraine. thank you so much for joining us and for all of- ukraine. thank you so much for joining us and for all of your - joining us and for all of your assessment. we'vejust joining us and for all of your assessment. we've just got some breaking news that has come in in the last few minutes while i was speaking to alicia and this time it

is from the mayo of moscow who has said, the situation is difficult. he has put out a statement that it is possible that some writer neighbourhoods within the city will be closed to traffic and has asked moscow whites not to venture out into the city. he said that it is currently being described in moscow as a nonworking day to minimise risk. he said he asked for moscow citizens to refrain from travelling around the city as much as is possible. and that the city services are on high alert. i'm just going to bring my colleague who is with me in the studio. it is interesting that the studio. it is interesting that the mayor of moscow has said that moscow citizens need to treat this as a nonworking day to minimise risk. to as a nonworking day to minimise risk. ., ., ., as a nonworking day to minimise risk. ., . ., ., as a nonworking day to minimise risk. ., ., ., ., ,, ., , , risk. to a lot of russians, this will come _ risk. to a lot of russians, this will come as _ risk. to a lot of russians, this will come as a _ risk. to a lot of russians, this will come as a shock. - risk. to a lot of russians, this| will come as a shock. because risk. to a lot of russians, this - will come as a shock. because they are used to nothing but good news, positive pronouncements from their

top officials, and over the course of the past several hours, they have heard from vladimir putin who said that his country has been stabbed in the back. that there is an armed mutiny and progress. the mayor of moscow is speaking about this crisis and having to declare a day of non—work. this is not a situation that russia has been in for the past 20 years. in fact, since vladimir putin at the very start of his rule, in the early 2000 is, since he put an end to the uprising in chechnya. and whatever happens next, whoever wins in this stand—off, i don't think things will be the same for vladimir putin because he looks wounded. the address that he made this morning was very unusual because he was forced to make it. it

was something that he had to do. over the past decade or so, he chose when to make addresses. and this time, he looked on the back foot. he was having to explain to russians what is happening. last year in february, he launched his special military operations saying that it was a pre—emptive move to make sure russia is safe, secure and that nobody attacks it. find russia is safe, secure and that nobody attacks it.— russia is safe, secure and that nobody attacks it. and this is an external threat _ nobody attacks it. and this is an external threat against - nobody attacks it. and this is an external threat against russia i nobody attacks it. and this is an l external threat against russia and russian values, and now it appears clearly that there is an internal issue as well?— issue as well? and now we are caettin issue as well? and now we are getting images _ issue as well? and now we are getting images of _ issue as well? and now we are getting images of russian - issue as well? and now we are l getting images of russian forces fighting over russians on russian territory. it will be an uphill struggle for somebody like vladimir putin, skilled though he is, to explain why this is happening. lets

no to the explain why this is happening. lets go to the newsroom and speak to our colleague who can give us a bit more of the geography around this. over to you. figs of the geography around this. over to ou. a ., of the geography around this. over to ou. a . , of the geography around this. over to ., , to you. as you have been saying, geography _ to you. as you have been saying, geography is _ to you. as you have been saying, geography is key _ to you. as you have been saying, geography is key to _ to you. as you have been saying, l geography is key to understanding the story — geography is key to understanding the story. so let me take you through— the story. so let me take you through some of the key cities that we be _ through some of the key cities that we be mentioning. ukraine is here with kyiv— we be mentioning. ukraine is here with kyiv and we have got richer and moscow _ with kyiv and we have got richer and moscow and crimea down here. i want to highlight _ moscow and crimea down here. i want to highlight this red area, this is what _ to highlight this red area, this is what we — to highlight this red area, this is what we believe to be the russian —controlled area of ukraine. up until_ —controlled area of ukraine. up until yesterday, that would have included — until yesterday, that would have included the wagner group. because of course, _ included the wagner group. because of course, they have been fighting with russian forces for the offensive that the ukrainians had been _ offensive that the ukrainians had been operating over the last month or so _ been operating over the last month or so the — been operating over the last month or so the a — been operating over the last month or so. the a big city that we have mentioned — or so. the a big city that we have mentioned is about 100 kilometres from the _ mentioned is about 100 kilometres from the border with ukraine. it is where _ from the border with ukraine. it is where the — from the border with ukraine. it is where the wagner mercenaries say they have — where the wagner mercenaries say they have taken control. it is a key city for _ they have taken control. it is a key city for moscow because it is where the h0 _ city for moscow because it is where the h0 of— city for moscow because it is where the hq of the southern part of their military— the hq of the southern part of their military operation is. also, a staging —

military operation is. also, a staging point for going into ukraine. the army uses it for fuel land _ ukraine. the army uses it for fuel land for— ukraine. the army uses it for fuel land for supplies. and indeed, some soldiers _ land for supplies. and indeed, some soldiers are — land for supplies. and indeed, some soldiers are kept there before they io soldiers are kept there before they go into— soldiers are kept there before they go into ukraine. that is one of the cities _ go into ukraine. that is one of the cities the — go into ukraine. that is one of the cities. the evil and that would be mentioning as well, and what we think— mentioning as well, and what we think is— mentioning as well, and what we think is prigozhin and his people went— think is prigozhin and his people went in— think is prigozhin and his people went in there to take control of that — went in there to take control of that the _ went in there to take control of that... the other one is of course voronezh — that... the other one is of course voronezh. they got there by going up the m4 _ voronezh. they got there by going up the m4. voronezh, as you have been saying. _ the m4. voronezh, as you have been saying. there — the m4. voronezh, as you have been saying, there are reports of fighting _ saying, there are reports of fighting between russian forces and the wagner military. that is going on at _ the wagner military. that is going on at the — the wagner military. that is going on at the moment. why is this city key? _ on at the moment. why is this city key? you — on at the moment. why is this city key? you will see, rostov—on—don and moscow. _ key? you will see, rostov—on—don and moscow. it _ key? you will see, rostov—on—don and moscow. it is _ key? you will see, rostov—on—don and moscow, it is halfway between them. so the _ moscow, it is halfway between them. so the british military think that the overall lane, as we've been discussing, is for the wagner military— discussing, is for the wagner military to get to moscow which they could do— military to get to moscow which they could do on— military to get to moscow which they could do on the m4 which carries on to up— could do on the m4 which carries on to up to _ could do on the m4 which carries on to up to moscow. also, we at bbc verified — to up to moscow. also, we at bbc verified have managed to verify that

there _ verified have managed to verify that there is— verified have managed to verify that there is a _ verified have managed to verify that there is a convoy of wagner military vehicles _ there is a convoy of wagner military vehicles in — there is a convoy of wagner military vehicles in this area. and in particular. _ vehicles in this area. and in particular, there is the lipetsk area — particular, there is the lipetsk area the _ particular, there is the lipetsk area. the governor there has said that the _ area. the governor there has said that the wagner forces are being seen _ that the wagner forces are being seen there. in addition to that, kluger, — seen there. in addition to that, kluger, which as you can see is getting — kluger, which as you can see is getting much closer to moscow. the governor _ getting much closer to moscow. the governor there has imposed travel restrictions and there isn't public transport — restrictions and there isn't public transport operating. as you have been _ transport operating. as you have been saying, in the last half hour or so, _ been saying, in the last half hour or so, we — been saying, in the last half hour or so, we now have the mayor of moscow — or so, we now have the mayor of moscow telling moscow citizens to stay indoors as well. you can see how we _ stay indoors as well. you can see how we are — stay indoors as well. you can see how we are slowly moving up this map and the _ how we are slowly moving up this map and the wagner group could head for moscow _ and the wagner group could head for moscow. it's interesting that we've been _ moscow. it's interesting that we've been monitoring this on google maps, the traffic— been monitoring this on google maps, the traffic app on google maps has really— the traffic app on google maps has really been useful today. you will see baroness keir and all of these little points that you can see, the red marks— little points that you can see, the red marks are what we believe to be roadblocks — red marks are what we believe to be roadblocks. i've been monitoring this over— roadblocks. i've been monitoring this over the last few hours and these _ this over the last few hours and these have been moving up and up and

”p these have been moving up and up and up over— these have been moving up and up and up over the _ these have been moving up and up and up over the m4 and you can see... this— up over the m4 and you can see... this means— up over the m4 and you can see... this means they are getting nearer to moscow — this means they are getting nearer to moscow. ., ~ , ., this means they are getting nearer to moscow-— no doubt we will go back to you for more of your analysis and assessment and geography a little later in the programme. know i can talk to my colleague from bbc arabic who is an expert in it wagner forces and their involvement around the world. thank you so much forjoining us. you have made a number of documentaries about prigozhin, who he is, his influence. in fact, at one point, prigozhin was going to sue the bbc and your documentary because he had actually distanced himself from the wagner and said i was not actually in any way involved all the head of it. yes, that is correct. we have been investigating the mercenary group wagner ware before the invasion started and most people started to know who wagner are and what they

are up to. in 2021 release to an investigation into the operations of wagner and the findings of our investigation linked prigozhin to the wagner group. in response to that, yevgeny prigozhin actually tried to launch a libel case against us but he was advised not to do that. i think there has been quite a change in prigozhin and wagner in terms of their publicity and how open they are in their role in wagner. fora open they are in their role in wagner. for a long time, prigozhin was denying he had anything to do with wagner, denying he was the founder or leader of wagner, but that changed several months into the invasion of ukraine and it was then when we saw prigozhin actively rooting for wagner, we saw clips of him in russian prisons offering russian convicts the chance to join

wagner in return for amnesty, so there has been a massive change in that. there has also been a massive change in wagner themselves. for a long time before the invasion in ukraine, wagner was a shadow mercenary group that was seen as close to the russian ministry of defence, that provided russia and russian ministry of defence complete deniability and they were used in specialised operations abroad, so they have been involved in many countries in africa. operations in libya, we started investigations in 2019 into 2022, where they were accused of multiple war crimes and again, their publicity changed quite again, their publicity changed quite a bit after the invasion of ukraine. before the invasion, wagner was very shadowy and did not officially exist. after the invasion, several months in, they became an actual

force. �* ., , ., months in, they became an actual force. ., , ., ., force. and not 'ust an actual force but prigozhin — force. and notjust an actual force but prigozhin himself— force. and notjust an actual force but prigozhin himself very - force. and notjust an actual force but prigozhin himself very vocal i but prigozhin himself very vocal with his rhetoric. we became used to seeing these sorts of videos that would emerge of him screaming and using profanities against the minister of defence for example, against the head of the armed forces, really taking on the military apparatus of russia. yes, this has been _ military apparatus of russia. yes, this has been brewing _ military apparatus of russia. yes, this has been brewing for- military apparatus of russia. isis this has been brewing for a while. there has been a noticeable change in prigozhin and how he presents himself in relation to wagner. as i said, he never admitted he had anything to do with them and now he has seen in clips and videos in the trenches, in a bullet—proof first, actively recruiting, actively talking to his comrades on the front line and i think one of the most unique videos and must have been a changing point quite drastically was the clip of prigozhin with many

bodies behind him, dead bodies of wagnerfighters where he bodies behind him, dead bodies of wagner fighters where he was accusing the russian ministry of defence of letting them down and not providing ammunition. so the merchant between him and the russian ministry of defence has been growing for a while. —— the message between him. him and his units marching towards moscow.— him. him and his units marching towards moscow. thank you so much for “oininr towards moscow. thank you so much forjoining us— towards moscow. thank you so much forjoining us and _ towards moscow. thank you so much forjoining us and for— towards moscow. thank you so much forjoining us and for breaking - towards moscow. thank you so much forjoining us and for breaking all - forjoining us and for breaking all that down for us and of course we do have a live page with the latest updates of developments and i can just see another alert that has come on in the last few minutes saying that the wagner are inching towards the russian capital, that throughout the russian capital, that throughout the day, wagner troops appear to have been moving north towards moscow as we have been reporting and talking to our guests. let's see if we can get that map up for you again

to show you the route, the m4, the motorway that leads to moscow and so when we say they are inching towards, we had justin crump on the programme a little earlier saying it is not a short drive but given the size of russia it is also not a long drive, so if we zoom right in here, we have a vitaliy with us who knows all these roads very well and this highway very well. just give us a sense, for as long as we have known at the existence of vladimir putin as the leader of russia and the group he has had since the year 2000, we have never seen anything like this. ., ., ., ~ ., like this. no, and talking about ma s, like this. no, and talking about mas, it like this. no, and talking about maps. it is _ like this. no, and talking about maps, it is not _ like this. no, and talking about maps, it is notjust _ like this. no, and talking about maps, it is notjust a _ like this. no, and talking about maps, it is notjust a matter. like this. no, and talking about maps, it is notjust a matter of| maps, it is notjust a matter of geography. the speed with which wagner appears to have been able to advance internet cities such as rostov and voronezh is nothing short

of astonishing. —— advance into cities. it took them hours to capture rostov and i think this tells us something about the russian official army's ability and or willingness to fight wagner. speaking about the transformation within wagner and its rhetoric, it is absolutely breathtaking. over the past 24 hours or so, yevgeny prigozhin went from never directly criticising vladimir putin, his rude, extremely salty language was focused on the russian military, the top ranks, and now this morning, i think it was the first time when prigozhin directly challenged, defied vladimir putin and his audio message posted on social media.

yevgeny prigozhin said that the president, and quote, was deeply wrong. president, and quote, was deeply wron. ',.,“ president, and quote, was deeply wrong-_ deeply - president, and quote, was deeplyl wrong._ deeply mistaken wrong. mistaken. deeply mistaken when he said _ wrong. mistaken. deeply mistaken when he said that _ wrong. mistaken. deeply mistaken when he said that wagner - wrong. mistaken. deeply mistaken| when he said that wagner betrayed the motherland. and yevgeny prigozhin also said that he and his people are not going to turn themselves in just because the president wants them to. so this is a whole new level of defiance exhibited by yevgeny prigozhin and of course all this means is he has crossed that important line beyond which there will be no coming back is a favourite of vladimir putin. no, and we often talked about him flying close to the sun but there was also assessment, as you have very eloquently put it to us now, is that putin created these various different apparatus to criticise, so

it felt like it was part of the game plan rather than a putin doing it, he had another arm of what he had created doing it. no doubt tonight vladimir putin is with his inner circle sitting in the kremlin deeply worried about this column marching its way to moscow. it worried about this column marching its way to moscow.— its way to moscow. it should be and we are seeing _ its way to moscow. it should be and we are seeing the _ its way to moscow. it should be and we are seeing the possible - we are seeing the possible beginnings of another struggle. there will be people very keen to fill that vacuum, that gap left once yevgeny prigozhin disappears or is somehow off the scene. what we have just heard about chechen fighters reportedly moving towards rostov—on—don in the south to try and dislodge wagner, this could be evidence of the leader of two

sending her message of i can do it, i can help you in ukraine and provide you with experience fighters. —— leader of chechnya. it is an important front of domestic fighting within russia, but vladimir putin, i would fighting within russia, but vladimir putin, iwould not fighting within russia, but vladimir putin, i would not be surprised if he regrets what he started last year because his special military operation, i really do not think this was part of the plan. indeed, and i will read _ this was part of the plan. indeed, and i will read you _ this was part of the plan. indeed, and i will read you a _ this was part of the plan. indeed, and i will read you a little - this was part of the plan. indeed, and i will read you a little bit - and i will read you a little bit more of what has emerged just a short while ago, if a video posted on telegram and verified by bbc verify. i'mjust losing on telegram and verified by bbc verify. i'm just losing out material as it is all being updated... i have it. it shows lorries blocking a

bridge 97 kilometres from the outskirts of moscow. lorries blocking this bridge! it is unprecedented, - blocking this bridge! it is unprecedented, it - blocking this bridge! it is unprecedented, it is - blocking this bridge! it 3 unprecedented, it is not something i expected to see today, even though i'm not entirely surprised by this happening because this was an unstable system, but the progress at that wagner seems to be making across russia. you that wagner seems to be making across russia.— across russia. you can follow all the developers _ across russia. you can follow all the developers on _ across russia. you can follow all the developers on our _ across russia. you can follow all the developers on our website, | across russia. you can follow all| the developers on our website, it across russia. you can follow all i the developers on our website, it is the developers on our website, it is the usual place. we will be back at the usual place. we will be back at the top of the hour for all the latest development but for now goodbye to our global audiences. you are watching bbc news. i am here with my colleague vitaliyjust discussing the latest developments in ukraine and we are talking about

this wagner group and the troops appearing to be inching ever so closely to the capital. find appearing to be inching ever so closely to the capital.— appearing to be inching ever so closely to the capital. and the big ruestion closely to the capital. and the big question is _ closely to the capital. and the big question is what _ closely to the capital. and the big question is what kind _ closely to the capital. and the big question is what kind of _ closely to the capital. and the big | question is what kind of resistance they are going to meet once they are on the outskirts of the russian capital. the speed with which they are progressing suggest a certain unwillingness and or inability to fight. of course the russian army is or was focused on ukraine and what is happening in russia is obviously very good news for ukraine. wagner was arguably the most effective russian fighting force in russia and now it is out of action and fighting russian military within russia. secondly, this is a distraction for the russian military, so it would not be surprising to see the ukrainians trying to capitalise on the situation. in the past hour or so, the defence ministry in kyiv

issued what seems like a tongue and cheek message to me saying that russian soldiers in ukraine will be safer if they move to russia and the fight, putting themselves there, but at the moment ukraine is watching all that is happening in russia with glee and anticipation. find all that is happening in russia with glee and anticipation.— glee and anticipation. and a vitali , glee and anticipation. and a vitaliy. not _ glee and anticipation. and a vitaliy, notjust _ glee and anticipation. and a vitaliy, notjust ukrainian i glee and anticipation. and a - vitaliy, notjust ukrainian forces and the power base, russian soldiers in ukraine are currently watching this all being played out in russia and no doubt they are as key what is going on, he was in charge and where does this leave us? find going on, he was in charge and where does this leave us?— does this leave us? and this is auoin to does this leave us? and this is going to do — does this leave us? and this is going to do nothing _ does this leave us? and this is going to do nothing to - does this leave us? and this is going to do nothing to boost . does this leave us? and this is i going to do nothing to boost the russian army's morale and one crucial, absolutely vital factor,

russian army's morale and one crucial, absolutely vitalfactor, is whether yevgeny prigozhin can expect to get any support whatsoever from rank and file members of the russian army orjunior commanders from the russian army who will have a certain degree of respect for wagner which has shown itself is a very capable fighting force in ukraine. however, there is a chasm, a cultural chasm between at the russian official army if you like and wagner because top russian security commanders and military commanders, they are there to defend what they will think is law and order, to defend the state. well, wagner is led by someone who has spent nine years in jail, well, wagner is led by someone who has spent nine years injail, his force that uses a huge number of convicts and it is difficult to see

strong tides of affinity between these two forces. ok. strong tides of affinity between these two forces.— strong tides of affinity between these two forces. ok, we will keep ou there these two forces. ok, we will keep you there and _ these two forces. ok, we will keep you there and our _ these two forces. ok, we will keep you there and our audiences - these two forces. ok, we will keep you there and our audiences it - these two forces. ok, we will keep you there and our audiences it can| you there and our audiences it can go to the website to stay updated. you are watching bbc news. live from london, this is bbc news. live from london, this is bbc news. vladimir putin says russia is facing vladimir putin says russia is facing a battle for its future, a battle for its future, in the face of what he called in the face of what he called an "armed mutiny" in the country. an "armed mutiny" in the country. a convoy of wagner mercenary a convoy of wagner mercenary fighters appears to be heading fighters appears to be heading for moscow after launching a rebellion against the russian military. as the convoy advances,

there are clashes between the wagner mercenaries and the military.