On Saturday, a rebellious mercenary commander made an unexpected decision to halt the march on Moscow and instead retreat to field camps in Ukraine. This move seemed to de-escalate a rapidly intensifying crisis, which posed a significant challenge to President Vladimir Putin’s authority. The Wagner Group, a private army led by Yevgeny Prigozhin, had been fighting alongside regular Russian troops in Ukraine.
Moscow had prepared for the arrival of the Wagner Group by setting up checkpoints with armored vehicles and troops on the city’s southern edge. Red Square was closed off, and motorists were advised to avoid certain roads. However, Prigozhin announced that despite being just 200 kilometers away from Moscow, he decided to turn his men back to prevent any bloodshed among Russians. It was unclear whether the Kremlin had responded to his demand to remove Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu, and there was no immediate comment from Putin’s government.
The announcement came after Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko’s office released a statement claiming that they had negotiated a deal with Prigozhin, with Putin involved in the discussions. According to Lukashenko’s office, Prigozhin had agreed to halt the advance in exchange for a proposed settlement that included security guarantees for Wagner troops.
In response to Prigozhin’s declaration of an armed rebellion, Russia’s security services called for his arrest, underscoring the seriousness with which the Kremlin regarded the situation. Security measures were intensified in Moscow, Rostov-on-Don, and other regions. The tense atmosphere was further accentuated by an explosion at a fuel depot in Voronezh, south of Moscow. Firefighters worked to extinguish the resulting fire.
The photographs accompanying the article depict scenes of heightened security and military presence in various Russian cities, including Rostov-on-Don and Moscow. They illustrate the seriousness of the situation and the response from Russian authorities.
The article also mentions previous criticism of the top Russian military brass by Yevgeny Prigozhin, the owner of the Wagner Group. The criticism alleged that the military downplayed the threat posed by the Ukrainian counteroffensive. Russian President Vladimir Putin has remained silent on this matter.
In summary, a rebellious mercenary commander suspended the march on Moscow and ordered his troops to retreat, potentially defusing a major crisis for President Putin. The situation involved the Wagner Group and included negotiations between Prigozhin, Lukashenko, and Putin. Security measures were heightened in response to the rebellion, and there was an explosion at a fuel depot in Voronezh. Photographs depicted the increased security and military presence in various Russian cities. Additionally, previous criticism of the top Russian military brass by Prigozhin was mentioned, with Putin remaining silent on the issue.
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