Wagner forces aim to topple Moscow's military leadership - in pictures

  • A serviceman from private military company Wagner Group blocks the access to the Rostelecom building in Rostov-on-Don, southern Russia. EPA
    A serviceman from private military company Wagner Group blocks the access to the Rostelecom building in Rostov-on-Don, southern Russia. EPA
  • A military column of Wagner private mercenary group drives along the M-4 highway, which links the capital Moscow with Russia's southern cities, near Voronezh. Reuters
    A military column of Wagner private mercenary group drives along the M-4 highway, which links the capital Moscow with Russia's southern cities, near Voronezh. Reuters
  • A man takes down the poster with writing reading 'Join us at Wagner' on the outskirts of St. Petersburg. AP Photo
    A man takes down the poster with writing reading 'Join us at Wagner' on the outskirts of St. Petersburg. AP Photo
  • People pose for photos on a tank reading 'Siberia' as servicemen from Wagner Group block a street in downtown Rostov-on-Don. EPA
    People pose for photos on a tank reading 'Siberia' as servicemen from Wagner Group block a street in downtown Rostov-on-Don. EPA
  • Wagner forces near the headquarters of the Southern Military District in Rostov-on-Don. Reuters
    Wagner forces near the headquarters of the Southern Military District in Rostov-on-Don. Reuters
  • A Wagner group fighter on a street in the Russian city of Rostov-on-Don. AFP
    A Wagner group fighter on a street in the Russian city of Rostov-on-Don. AFP
  • Fighters from the Wagner group on the streets of Rostov-on-Don close to the headquarters of the Southern Military District. Reuters
    Fighters from the Wagner group on the streets of Rostov-on-Don close to the headquarters of the Southern Military District. Reuters
  • A Russian police patrol on guard at Kremlin in Moscow. EPA
    A Russian police patrol on guard at Kremlin in Moscow. EPA
  • Russian servicemen stand on the streets of central Moscow. EPA
    Russian servicemen stand on the streets of central Moscow. EPA
  • Wagner group fighter stands guard near the headquarters of the Southern Military District in the city of Rostov-on-Don, Russia. Reuters
    Wagner group fighter stands guard near the headquarters of the Southern Military District in the city of Rostov-on-Don, Russia. Reuters
  • Yevgeny Prigozhin, founder of the Wagner mercenary group, speaks inside the headquarters of the Russian army's southern military command centre, which his forces took control of, in the city of Rostov-on-Don. Reuters
    Yevgeny Prigozhin, founder of the Wagner mercenary group, speaks inside the headquarters of the Russian army's southern military command centre, which his forces took control of, in the city of Rostov-on-Don. Reuters
  • Russian police officers guard the Wagner group's headquarters in Saint Petersburg, after President Vladmir Putin described the actions by the mercenary forces as treason. AFP
    Russian police officers guard the Wagner group's headquarters in Saint Petersburg, after President Vladmir Putin described the actions by the mercenary forces as treason. AFP
  • A woman watches Mr Putin's televised address to the nation, in Moscow. EPA
    A woman watches Mr Putin's televised address to the nation, in Moscow. EPA
  • Russian policemen block a street in downtown Rostov-on-Don, southern Russia. EPA
    Russian policemen block a street in downtown Rostov-on-Don, southern Russia. EPA
  • Wagner fighters stationed on a street in Rostov-on-Don. Reuters
    Wagner fighters stationed on a street in Rostov-on-Don. Reuters
  • Russian servicemen block a street in downtown Rostov-on-Don. EPA
    Russian servicemen block a street in downtown Rostov-on-Don. EPA
  • Mr Prigozhin serves food to Mr Putin, who at the time was Russia's prime minister, at the Wagner chief's restaurant outside Moscow. AP
    Mr Prigozhin serves food to Mr Putin, who at the time was Russia's prime minister, at the Wagner chief's restaurant outside Moscow. AP
  • Wagner fighters in Rostov-on-Don. Reuters
    Wagner fighters in Rostov-on-Don. Reuters
  • Policemen guard an area near the Wagner offices, in St Petersburg. AP
    Policemen guard an area near the Wagner offices, in St Petersburg. AP
  • A Wagner fighter stands guard on a street in Rostov-on-Don. Reuters
    A Wagner fighter stands guard on a street in Rostov-on-Don. Reuters
  • Wagner fighters in Rostov-on-Don. Reuters
    Wagner fighters in Rostov-on-Don. Reuters
  • A Wagner fighter on top of an armoured vehicle in Rostov-on-Don. Reuters
    A Wagner fighter on top of an armoured vehicle in Rostov-on-Don. Reuters