A section of the Wagner paramilitary group, which recently led a brief mutiny against the Kremlin, reportedly came within close proximity to a Russian Army base that houses nuclear weapons. According to interviews with local residents, the Wagner fighters reached a distance of up to 100 kilometers from the Russian nuclear base, Voronezh-45. However, the outcome of this proximity remains unclear.
Russia’s nuclear stockpile deemed safe by Western officials
Despite the proximity of the Wagner fighters to the nuclear base, Western officials have consistently maintained that Russia’s nuclear stockpile was never in danger during the rebellion. The mutiny, which concluded after Belarus facilitated a deal with Moscow, was not believed to pose a risk to the nuclear arsenal.
Wagner paramilitary group’s objectives and actions
On June 24, Yevgeny Prigozhin, the leader of the Wagner group, instructed his forces to march toward major Russian cities with the aim of removing several generals whom he accused of treason. However, Prigozhin later clarified that his paramilitary group did not intend to overthrow President Vlamidir Putin’s leadership.
Alleged intent to acquire nuclear devices and response
Kyrylo Budanov, Ukraine’s head of military intelligence, stated that the Wagner fighters went further and reached the nuclear base with the purpose of acquiring small Soviet-era nuclear devices. Voronezh-45 is one of Russia’s 12 “national-level storage facilities” for nuclear arms. Despite the proximity, the Wagner fighters were unable to access the technical section of the nuclear storage facility, as the doors were closed.
Panic in the Kremlin and impact on the mutiny’s resolution
The incident reportedly caused panic within the Kremlin and played a role in hastening the negotiated end to the mutiny. A source close to the Kremlin revealed that the Wagner group’s incursion into a zone of special interest, where nuclear munitions are stored, raised concerns among the Americans. However, White House National Security Council spokesman Adam Hodge emphasized that there was no indication that nuclear weapons or materials were at risk.
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