The leader of the armed mercenary group heading towards Moscow made an announcement on Saturday, stating that he would be halting the advance. This decision came after Belarus revealed that they had reached a deal with Yevgeny Prigozhin. According to a Telegram audio message from Prigozhin, the Wagner Group troops are now “turning our columns around”. CNN reports that Belarus issued a statement, stating that President Alexander Lukashenko successfully negotiated with Prigozhin after consulting with Russian President Vladimir Putin. The statement further mentioned that Prigozhin agreed to cease the movement of his convoy towards the capital, which was bracing for battle, and instead return to Ukraine.
In his message, Prigozhin disclosed that the Wagner forces had advanced to within 125 miles of Moscow. He explained that they had pushed as far as they could without resorting to violence. Prigozhin stated, “So, understanding the grave consequences that would come with shedding Russian blood, we have decided to turn our column around and head in the opposite direction towards our field camps, as planned.” It remains unclear whether the mercenaries will withdraw from Rostov-on-Don, a city they seized that serves as a Russian military hub. Belarus, being a close ally of Putin, suggested that Wagner could receive security guarantees as part of the agreement.
Earlier in the day, Putin had vowed to take action against those responsible for this rebellion. Russian officials have stated that Prigozhin will be charged with “organizing an armed uprising” against Putin. The Wagner forces are currently engaged in combat alongside the Russian military in Ukraine, and Prigozhin has openly criticized Russian military leaders for not adequately supplying his troops. Prigozhin has specifically demanded the removal of Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu, yet neither he nor the Kremlin addressed this issue on Saturday. Videos circulating online show pro-Wagner banners being taken down in Moscow and the St. Petersburg region following Prigozhin’s announcement. (Read more about stories of rebellion in Russia.)
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