Russian Army helicopters unleashed gunfire upon a Wagner mercenary military convoy along the M4 highway outside Voronezh, coinciding with firefighting efforts to quell a burning fuel tank at an oil depot. PTI photo

In a surprising development, Russian Army helicopters were reported to have opened fire on a Wagner mercenary military convoy along the M4 highway outside the city of Voronezh. The incident occurred on Saturday, coinciding with ongoing firefighting efforts to contain a burning fuel tank at an oil depot in the region.

According to Alexander Gusev, the Governor of Russia's Voronezh region, more than 100 firefighters and 30 units of equipment were deployed to combat the blaze at the oil depot. The governor shared updates on the situation via Telegram, highlighting the collaborative efforts of emergency services, according to Hindustan Times

Adding to the escalating unrest, an unverified claim from a Russian security source, reported to Reuters, suggested that Wagner fighters had taken control of military facilities within the city of Voronezh. However, this claim has yet to be independently confirmed.

The reported attack on the Wagner mercenary convoy and the alleged takeover of military installations have raised concerns about the evolving security situation in Voronezh, located around 500 km south of Moscow. Authorities and observers are closely monitoring the developments as they strive to gather accurate information and assess the implications of these events. Outlook