Yevgeny Prigozhin, owner of the Wagner private military contractor, made his most direct challenge to the Kremlin yet on Friday, calling for a rebellion aimed at ousting Russia's defense minister.

Catch up on key developments and the latest in-depth coverage of Russia's invasion of Ukraine.

Yevgeny Prigozhin, known as "Putin's Chef" because of his company's origins in the catering business, now fields a mercenary army of 50,000. Its role in Ukraine is central to Russia's war effort.