On Saturday, the Russian army is conducting “combat” operations in the Voronezh region, which borders Ukraine and is located about 500 km south of Moscow, local authorities announced, amid an armed rebellion by the Wagner mercenary group, AFP reports.

Russian soldierPhoto: DreamsTime / Bumbleedee

“As part of the anti-terrorist operation on the territory of the Voronezh region, the armed forces of the Russian Federation are conducting the necessary operational and combat operations,” Olexandr Gusev, the governor of the region, wrote on Twitter.

Voronezh is about halfway between Moscow and the city of Rostov-on-Don, where Wagner announced the seizure of military facilities on Saturday morning.

Footage of Wagner’s alleged attack on the Russian army in Voronezh appeared on social networks. Mercenaries allegedly shot down an Antonov An-26 military transport plane.

Earlier on Saturday, a source in the Russian security services told Reuters that Wagner’s militants had taken control of facilities in the city of Voronezh. The British news agency said it could not independently verify the information. (Agerpres) (Photo source Dreamstime)