Moscow prepares for siege – Ukraine’s Main Intelligence Directorate

This was reported by the Defence Intelligence of Ukraine.

"After Prigozhin's demarche and the start of the Wagner PMC's movement towards the capital of Russia, a counter-terrorist operation (CTO) regime was declared in a number of Russian regions," the statement said.

According to the intelligence, in this regard, the security forces received permission to:

• listening to any conversations and checking correspondence;

• conducting detentions and searches without additional approvals;

• forceful access to private and office premises;

• use of motor vehicles of citizens and organisations;

• disconnection of all types of communication;

• "removal of individuals from areas and facilities".

The intelligence agency notes that Moscow is currently virtually isolated by police and military units. It is noted that there are reinforced patrols at every intersection and at the exits from the city. A large number of buses without numbers and insignia with armed men inside are moving around the city. Interregional passenger transport has been suspended.

In particular, freight and postal services have been suspended in the Russian capital. Law enforcers are conducting massive searches of vehicles with a focus on large closed vans.

"Civilian and official traffic on the M4 Don federal motorway (Moscow - Voronezh - Rostov-on-Don - Krasnodar - Novorossiysk) has been virtually stopped. All lanes have been freed for military and freight vehicles. Armed checkpoints have been set up at all exits from the motorway," the Ukrainian intelligence added.

• On 23 June, Russian troops allegedly launched a missile attack on the Wagner PMC base. On 24 June, Wagner soldiers surrounded the headquarters of the Russian Southern Military District in Rostov-on-Don and moved in columns towards Moscow. Shoigu responded with air strikes. Read more about the events here.

• Russia’s Roskomnadzor state communications regulator has warned of possible restrictions of Internet service in the area of the counter-terrorist operation.