<p>Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky on Friday ordered the security at his country's border with Belarus to be tightened after the arrival of fighters from the mercenary group Wagner in the neighbouring nation.</p>

<p>The mercenary group's fighters and its chief were offered an exile in Belarus after their mutiny against Russian military leadership&nbsp;was aborted last week. As a part of a deal, President Vladimir Putin gave the fighters a choice of signing contracts with the Russian defence ministry, returning to civilian life or going into exile in Belarus.</p>

<p>Zelensky, on Friday, said that he had been informed of the situation in Belarus by the Ukrainian intelligence service GUR, foreign intelligence services and border guards.&nbsp;</p>

<p>"By the decision of the Stavka (chief of staff), Commander-in-Chief (Valery) Zaluzhny and General (Sergey) Nayev were instructed to strengthen the northern direction in order to guarantee peace. There are appropriate deadlines," the Ukraine leader said in a video posted on Telegram.&nbsp;</p>

<h2><strong>Wagner mutineers 'can join army or go to Belarus': Putin</strong></h2>

<p>Russian President Vladimir Putin, in a televised address to the nation late on Monday, said that he would honour his promise to allow Wagner fighters to relocate to Belarus, if they wanted, or to sign a contract with the Defence Ministry or simply return to their families.</p>

<p><strong>Also read:&nbsp;</strong><a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/explained-how-lukashenko-emerged-as-a-key-player-to-resolve-wagner-situation-608913">Explained | How Lukashenko emerged as key player to resolve Wagner situation</a></p>

<p>"I thank those soldiers and commanders of the Wagner Group who made the only right decision - they did not turn to fratricidal bloodshed, they stopped at the last line. Today, you have the opportunity to continue serving Russia by entering into a contract with the Ministry of Defence or other law enforcement agencies or to return to your family and friends. Whoever wants to, can go to Belarus. The promise I made will be fulfilled."</p>

<p>He then thanked the Wagner mercenary fighters and commanders who had stood down to avoid bloodshed.</p>

<p>“We knew and we know that the vast majority of the fighters and commanders of the Wagner Group are also Russian patriots, devoted to their people and state. They proved it with their courage on the battlefield, liberating the Donbas and Novorossiya. They tried to use them in the dark against their brothers-in-arms, with whom they fought together for the sake of the country and its future. Therefore, from the very beginning of the events, on my direct instructions, steps were taken to avoid a lot of bloodshed."</p>

<p>Belarus leader Alexander Lukashenko offered Wagner chief Yevgeny Prigozhin refuge after he aborted the armed rebellion against Moscow a week ago.</p>

<p><em>(With inputs from agencies)</em></p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>

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Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky on Friday ordered the security at his country's border with Belarus to be tightened after the arrival of fighters from the mercenary group Wagner in the neighbouring nation.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky on Friday ordered the security at his country's border with Belarus to be tightened after the arrival of fighters from the mercenary group Wagner in the neighbouring nation. The mercenary group's fighters and its chief were offered an exile in Belarus after their mutiny against Russian military leadership was aborted last week. As a part of a deal, President Vladimir Putin gave the fighters a choice of signing contracts with the Russian defence ministry, returning to civilian life or going into exile in Belarus. Zelensky, on Friday, said that he had been informed of the situation in Belarus by the Ukrainian intelligence service GUR, foreign intelligence services and border guards. "By the decision of the Stavka (chief of staff), Commander-in-Chief (Valery) Zaluzhny and General (Sergey) Nayev were instructed to strengthen the northern direction in order to guarantee peace. There are appropriate deadlines," the Ukraine leader said in a video posted on Telegram. Wagner mutineers 'can join army or go to Belarus': Putin Russian President Vladimir Putin, in a televised address to the nation late on Monday, said that he would honour his promise to allow Wagner fighters to relocate to Belarus, if they wanted, or to sign a contract with the Defence Ministry or simply return to their families. Also read: Explained | How Lukashenko emerged as key player to resolve Wagner situation "I thank those soldiers and commanders of the Wagner Group who made the only right decision - they did not turn to fratricidal bloodshed, they stopped at the last line. Today, you have the opportunity to continue serving Russia by entering into a contract with the Ministry of Defence or other law enforcement agencies or to return to your family and friends. Whoever wants to, can go to Belarus. The promise I made will be fulfilled." He then thanked the Wagner mercenary fighters and commanders who had stood down to avoid bloodshed. “We knew and we know that the vast majority of the fighters and commanders of the Wagner Group are also Russian patriots, devoted to their people and state. They proved it with their courage on the battlefield, liberating the Donbas and Novorossiya. They tried to use them in the dark against their brothers-in-arms, with whom they fought together for the sake of the country and its future. Therefore, from the very beginning of the events, on my direct instructions, steps were taken to avoid a lot of bloodshed." Belarus leader Alexander Lukashenko offered Wagner chief Yevgeny Prigozhin refuge after he aborted the armed rebellion against Moscow a week ago. (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE

Volodymyr Zelensky orders tighter security on Ukraine-Belarus border after arrival of Wagner fighters

<p>Former United States president Donald Trump, who is also an admirer of Russian President Vladimir Putin, on Thursday, said that Putin was "somewhat weakened" by the Wagner revolt and that now was the time for the US to mediate and try negotiating a peace deal between Russia and Ukraine to end the war.</p>

<p>"I want people to stop dying over this ridiculous war," Trump said in a conversation with news agency Reuters.</p>

<p>On being asked about the foreign policy, Trump said that China should be given a 48-hour deadline to get out of what sources familiar with the matter say is a Chinese spy capability on the island of Cuba 90 miles (145 km) off the U.S. coast.</p>

<p>Speaking about Ukraine, the former US president said that everything would be "subject to negotiation" if he were president, and added that Ukrainians have strongly waged the fight to defend their country and have "earned a lot of credit".</p>

<p>"I think they would be entitled to keep much of what they've earned and I think that Russia likewise would agree to that. You need the right mediator or negotiator, and we don't have that right now," he said.</p>

<p>He further said that the United States should now be making efforts to bring both the countries, Russia and Ukraine, together to force peace.</p>

<p>"I think the biggest thing that the U.S. should be doing right now is making peace — getting Russia and Ukraine together and making peace. You can do it," he added. "This is the time to do it, to get the two parties together to force peace."</p>

<p>During his tenure, Trump had become friends with his Russian counterpart, who now Biden says has "become a bit of pariah around the world" for invading Ukraine.</p>

<p>Trump then said that Putin has&nbsp;been 'weakened' by the mutiny by the mercenary group Wagner, which took place last weekend.</p>

<p><strong>Also read:&nbsp;</strong><a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/german-chancellor-olaf-scholz-says-russian-president-putin-weakened-by-wagner-mutiny-609856">German Chancellor Olaf Scholz says Russian President Putin 'weakened' by Wagner mutiny</a></p>

<p>"You could say that he's (Putin) still there, he's still strong, but he certainly has been I would say somewhat weakened at least in the minds of a lot of people," he said.</p>

<p>If Putin were no longer in power, however, "you don't know what the alternative is. It could be better, but it could be far worse," Trump said.</p>

<p>Speaking on the war crime charges levied against Putin by the International Criminal Court last March, Trump said that the fate of the Russian President should be discussed when the war is over "because right now if you bring that topic up, you'll never make peace, you'll never make a settlement."</p>

<h2><strong>Olaf Scholz says Wagner mutiny 'weakened' Putin </strong></h2>

<p>Earlier, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz said the mutiny by mercenary group Wagner had "weakened" Russian President Vladimir Putin.</p>

<p>In his first extensive comments about the aborted rebellion, Scholz said it would "surely have long-term consequences in Russia".&nbsp;</p>

<p>"I do believe that he (Putin) is weakened," Scholz told public broadcaster ARD.</p>

<p>"It shows that the autocratic structures, the power structures, have cracks and he in no way sits as firmly in the saddle as he always claims," the German leader said.</p>

<p>"But I don't want to take part in speculation about how long he'll stay in office, it could be a long time or short, we don't know."&nbsp;</p>

<p><em>(With inputs from agencies)&nbsp;</em></p>

<p><br />
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Former United States president Donald Trump, who is also an admirer of Russian President Vladimir Putin, on Thursday, said that Putin was "somewhat weakened" by the Wagner revolt and that now was the time for the US to mediate and try negotiating a peace deal between Russia and Ukraine to end the war.

Former United States president Donald Trump, who is also an admirer of Russian President Vladimir Putin, on Thursday, said that Putin was "somewhat weakened" by the Wagner revolt and that now was the time for the US to mediate and try negotiating a peace deal between Russia and Ukraine to end the war. "I want people to stop dying over this ridiculous war," Trump said in a conversation with news agency Reuters. On being asked about the foreign policy, Trump said that China should be given a 48-hour deadline to get out of what sources familiar with the matter say is a Chinese spy capability on the island of Cuba 90 miles (145 km) off the U.S. coast. Speaking about Ukraine, the former US president said that everything would be "subject to negotiation" if he were president, and added that Ukrainians have strongly waged the fight to defend their country and have "earned a lot of credit". "I think they would be entitled to keep much of what they've earned and I think that Russia likewise would agree to that. You need the right mediator or negotiator, and we don't have that right now," he said. He further said that the United States should now be making efforts to bring both the countries, Russia and Ukraine, together to force peace. "I think the biggest thing that the U.S. should be doing right now is making peace — getting Russia and Ukraine together and making peace. You can do it," he added. "This is the time to do it, to get the two parties together to force peace." During his tenure, Trump had become friends with his Russian counterpart, who now Biden says has "become a bit of pariah around the world" for invading Ukraine. Trump then said that Putin has been 'weakened' by the mutiny by the mercenary group Wagner, which took place last weekend. Also read: German Chancellor Olaf Scholz says Russian President Putin 'weakened' by Wagner mutiny "You could say that he's (Putin) still there, he's still strong, but he certainly has been I would say somewhat weakened at least in the minds of a lot of people," he said. If Putin were no longer in power, however, "you don't know what the alternative is. It could be better, but it could be far worse," Trump said. Speaking on the war crime charges levied against Putin by the International Criminal Court last March, Trump said that the fate of the Russian President should be discussed when the war is over "because right now if you bring that topic up, you'll never make peace, you'll never make a settlement." Olaf Scholz says Wagner mutiny 'weakened' Putin Earlier, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz said the mutiny by mercenary group Wagner had "weakened" Russian President Vladimir Putin. In his first extensive comments about the aborted rebellion, Scholz said it would "surely have long-term consequences in Russia". "I do believe that he (Putin) is weakened," Scholz told public broadcaster ARD. "It shows that the autocratic structures, the power structures, have cracks and he in no way sits as firmly in the saddle as he always claims," the German leader said. "But I don't want to take part in speculation about how long he'll stay in office, it could be a long time or short, we don't know." (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE

Donald Trump says Putin 'weakened' by Wagner mutiny, it's time to broker peace

<p>General Sergei Surovikin, the deputy commander of Russia’s military operations in Ukraine, was detained by the Russian authorities after he went briefly missing following the short-lived rebellion of the Wagner’s forces, Moscow Times newspaper reported citing sources.</p>

<p>Surovikin, nicknamed "General Armageddon" by the Russian press for his aggressive tactics in the Syrian conflict, is a decorated soldier and a veteran of Russia’s wars in Chechnya and Syria. It is said that he is a close friend of&nbsp;Wagner chief Yevgeny Prigozhin.</p>

<p>He was last seen on Saturday when he appeared in a video appealing to mercenary leader Yevgeny Prigozhin to halt his mutiny.</p>

<p>The newspaper citing two sources close to Russia’s Defence Ministry, reported that Surovikin was arrested on Wednesday because he “chose” Wagner chief Yevgeny “Prigozhin’s side during the uprising”.</p>

<p>It is also being reported that Surovikin was aware of Prigozhin’s coup plans, but did not alert the top brass in the Russian defence ministry.</p>

<p>A Russian military blogger, Vladimir Romanov, also reported Surovikin’s arrest on Wednesday, the Moscow Times reported.</p>

<p>Additionally, there are also reports of the arrest of the military “affiliates” of Surovikin who had been “accused of complicity in the rebellion”.</p>

<h2><strong>Kremlin’s response</strong></h2>

<p>During a press conference on Thursday, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov did not provide information about the reports of Surovikin’s detention and referred the matter to the defence ministry, which has yet to make a statement.</p>

<p>Asked by reporters if the Kremlin could clarify the situation with Surovikin, Peskov said: "No, unfortunately not."</p>

<p>"So, I recommend that you contact the defence ministry; this is its prerogative," he said, according to Reuters news agency.</p>

<p>When a reporter asked if President Vladimir Putin still continued to trust Surovikin, Peskov said, "He is the supreme commander-in-chief and he works with the defence minister and with the chief of the General Staff."</p>

<p><strong>Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/explained-vladimir-putin-wanted-to-kill-wagner-chief-yevgeny-prigozhin-but-stopped-heres-how-609686">Vladimir Putin wanted to kill Wagner chief Yevgeny Prigozhin but stopped. Here's what happened</a></strong></p>

<p>Questions about "structural units within the ministry," Peskov said, should be addressed to the defence ministry.</p>

<p>When asked about Prigozhin's whereabouts, Peskov said he did not have information about the Wagner chief’s location at the current time.</p>

<p><strong>Also read |</strong>&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/nepali-gurkhas-joining-wagner-group-eyeing-russian-citizenship-report-609705">Nepali Gurkhas joining Wagner group while eyeing Russian citizenship: Report</a></p>

<h2><strong>What will happen to Wagner's troops?</strong></h2>

<p>On Monday, the Russian Defence Ministry said that preparations are underway for Wagner's troops, who numbered 25,000, to hand over their heavy weapons to the Russian military.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Prigozhin had said those moves were being taken ahead of a July 1 deadline for his fighters to sign contracts to serve under the Russian military's command.</p>

<p><em>(With inputs from agencies)</em></p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>

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General Sergei Surovikin, the deputy commander of Russia’s military operations in Ukraine, was detained by the Russian authorities after he went briefly missing following the short-lived rebellion of the Wagner’s forces, Moscow Times newspaper reported citing sources.

General Sergei Surovikin, the deputy commander of Russia’s military operations in Ukraine, was detained by the Russian authorities after he went briefly missing following the short-lived rebellion of the Wagner’s forces, Moscow Times newspaper reported citing sources. Surovikin, nicknamed "General Armageddon" by the Russian press for his aggressive tactics in the Syrian conflict, is a decorated soldier and a veteran of Russia’s wars in Chechnya and Syria. It is said that he is a close friend of Wagner chief Yevgeny Prigozhin. He was last seen on Saturday when he appeared in a video appealing to mercenary leader Yevgeny Prigozhin to halt his mutiny. The newspaper citing two sources close to Russia’s Defence Ministry, reported that Surovikin was arrested on Wednesday because he “chose” Wagner chief Yevgeny “Prigozhin’s side during the uprising”. It is also being reported that Surovikin was aware of Prigozhin’s coup plans, but did not alert the top brass in the Russian defence ministry. A Russian military blogger, Vladimir Romanov, also reported Surovikin’s arrest on Wednesday, the Moscow Times reported. Additionally, there are also reports of the arrest of the military “affiliates” of Surovikin who had been “accused of complicity in the rebellion”. Kremlin’s response During a press conference on Thursday, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov did not provide information about the reports of Surovikin’s detention and referred the matter to the defence ministry, which has yet to make a statement. Asked by reporters if the Kremlin could clarify the situation with Surovikin, Peskov said: "No, unfortunately not." "So, I recommend that you contact the defence ministry; this is its prerogative," he said, according to Reuters news agency. When a reporter asked if President Vladimir Putin still continued to trust Surovikin, Peskov said, "He is the supreme commander-in-chief and he works with the defence minister and with the chief of the General Staff." Also read | Vladimir Putin wanted to kill Wagner chief Yevgeny Prigozhin but stopped. Here's what happened Questions about "structural units within the ministry," Peskov said, should be addressed to the defence ministry. When asked about Prigozhin's whereabouts, Peskov said he did not have information about the Wagner chief’s location at the current time. Also read | Nepali Gurkhas joining Wagner group while eyeing Russian citizenship: Report What will happen to Wagner's troops? On Monday, the Russian Defence Ministry said that preparations are underway for Wagner's troops, who numbered 25,000, to hand over their heavy weapons to the Russian military. Prigozhin had said those moves were being taken ahead of a July 1 deadline for his fighters to sign contracts to serve under the Russian military's command. (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE

Russian general who went missing after Wagner’s uprising arrested: Report

<p>Russian President Vladimir Putin on Wednesday said that he did not doubt the support of Russian citizens during the uprising by the mercenary group Wagner.</p>

<p>"I did not doubt the reaction in Dagestan and in all of the country," he said as he met Sergei Melikov, the head of the Caucasus region, according to an extract of the meeting aired on Russian television.</p>

<p>Putin released this statement in his response to Melikov, who had remarked that "there was not a single person in Dagestan who did not support decisions made by the leaders of the Russian Federation" over the aborted rebellion.</p>

<h2><strong>Putin wished to ‘wipe out’ Wagner chief after mutiny</strong></h2>

<p>Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko claimed that he had requested Russian President Vladimir Putin not to "wipe out" mercenary chief Yevgeny Prigozhin amid the armed mutiny of Wagner group that pushed Russia to the brink of civil war.&nbsp;</p>

<p><strong>Also read:&nbsp;</strong><a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/explained-vladimir-putin-wanted-to-kill-wagner-chief-yevgeny-prigozhin-but-stopped-heres-how-609686">Explained | Putin wanted to kill Wagner chief Yevgeny Prigozhin, but stopped. Here's what happened</a></p>

<p>Initially, Putin had promised to crush the mutiny which it compared to the wartime turmoil that had led to the revolution of 1917 followed by civil war. However, hours later the Wagner chief finalised a deal which allowed him along with some of his fighters to go to Belarus.</p>

<p>On Tuesday, Wagner chief flew to Belarus from Russia. Lukashenko, while talking about the conversation he had with Putin on Saturday, made use of the Russian criminal slang phrase used for killing someone which is similar to the English phrase to "wipe out".</p>

<p>"I also understood: a brutal decision had been made (and it was the undertone of Putin's address) to wipe out the mutineers," said Lukashenko in a meeting of his army officials as well as journalists on Tuesday, as reported by the Belarusian state media.</p>

<p>"I suggested to Putin not to rush. 'Come on,' I said, 'Let's talk with Prigozhin, with his commanders.' To which he told me: 'Listen, Sasha, it's useless. He doesn't even pick up the phone, he doesn’t want to talk to anyone'," he stated.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The same Russian verb was used by Putin in 1999 about Chechen militants, as he vowed to "wipe them out in the sh*thouse". The remarks made by Putin became a widely quoted emblem of the Russian leader's severe persona.</p>

<p><em>(With inputs from agencies)&nbsp;</em></p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>

<p><strong>WATCH WION LIVE HERE</strong></p>

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Russian President Vladimir Putin on Wednesday said that he did not doubt the support of Russian citizens during the uprising by the mercenary group Wagner. "I did not doubt the reaction in Dagestan and in all of the country," he said as he met Sergei Melikov, the head of the Caucasus region, according to an extract of the meeting aired on Russian television.

Russian President Vladimir Putin on Wednesday said that he did not doubt the support of Russian citizens during the uprising by the mercenary group Wagner. "I did not doubt the reaction in Dagestan and in all of the country," he said as he met Sergei Melikov, the head of the Caucasus region, according to an extract of the meeting aired on Russian television. Putin released this statement in his response to Melikov, who had remarked that "there was not a single person in Dagestan who did not support decisions made by the leaders of the Russian Federation" over the aborted rebellion. Putin wished to ‘wipe out’ Wagner chief after mutiny Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko claimed that he had requested Russian President Vladimir Putin not to "wipe out" mercenary chief Yevgeny Prigozhin amid the armed mutiny of Wagner group that pushed Russia to the brink of civil war. Also read: Explained | Putin wanted to kill Wagner chief Yevgeny Prigozhin, but stopped. Here's what happened Initially, Putin had promised to crush the mutiny which it compared to the wartime turmoil that had led to the revolution of 1917 followed by civil war. However, hours later the Wagner chief finalised a deal which allowed him along with some of his fighters to go to Belarus. On Tuesday, Wagner chief flew to Belarus from Russia. Lukashenko, while talking about the conversation he had with Putin on Saturday, made use of the Russian criminal slang phrase used for killing someone which is similar to the English phrase to "wipe out". "I also understood: a brutal decision had been made (and it was the undertone of Putin's address) to wipe out the mutineers," said Lukashenko in a meeting of his army officials as well as journalists on Tuesday, as reported by the Belarusian state media. "I suggested to Putin not to rush. 'Come on,' I said, 'Let's talk with Prigozhin, with his commanders.' To which he told me: 'Listen, Sasha, it's useless. He doesn't even pick up the phone, he doesn’t want to talk to anyone'," he stated. The same Russian verb was used by Putin in 1999 about Chechen militants, as he vowed to "wipe them out in the sh*thouse". The remarks made by Putin became a widely quoted emblem of the Russian leader's severe persona. (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE

President Vladimir Putin says 'did not doubt' support of Russian citizens during mutiny

<p>A jet belonging to Russian mercenary chief Yevgeny Prigozhin flew to Belarus from Russia on Tuesday (June 27). Several media reports mentioned that a flight-tracking website showed Wagner chief's plane flying out of Rostov and landing near Minsk.&nbsp;</p>

<p>It was confirmed by Belarus leader Alexander Lukashenko, who&nbsp;was quoted as saying&nbsp;by the state&nbsp;media Belta that Prigozin was currently in Belarus.&nbsp;</p>

<p>As quoted, the Belarusian leader said that "security guarantees have been given" as promised to Russian President Vladimir Putin. "I see Prigozhin's been flying aboard this plane - yes, indeed he’s in Belarus today," he was&nbsp;quoted as saying.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Lukashenko also said that Belarus is not building any camps for the group, but will accommodate them if they want.</p>

<p>According to the Reuters news agency, &nbsp;Lukashenko said, "We offered them one of the abandoned military bases. Please - we have a fence, we have everything - put up your tents."&nbsp;</p>

<p><strong>Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/us-knew-about-wagner-rebellion-but-kept-it-secret-from-most-allies-reports-609144">US knew about Wagner's rebellion plans but kept it secret from most allies: Reports</a>&nbsp;</strong></p>

<p>This comes just a few days after Prigozhin led an armed revolt against Putin's government on Saturday.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Lukashenko, who mediated a deal to halt a mutiny by Prigozhin's mercenary fighters, said on Tuesday that long-standing tensions between Moscow's army and the Wagner mercenary group had been mismanaged.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The mutiny came after a series of claims and counterclaims made by the Wagner chief as the feud between him and the Russian army escalated for months. Prigozhin made increasingly scathing statements against generals.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Lukashenko said, "We missed the situation, and then we thought that it would resolve itself, but it did not resolve."&nbsp;</p>

<p>Lukashenko also said that it had been "painful" to watch events unfold in Russia. He further mentioned that during the crisis situation, he had put Belarusian troops and police on full alert.&nbsp;</p>

<p>"Two people who fought at the front clashed, there are no heroes in this case," he added, referring to the Wagner chief and his rival Defence Minister Sergei Shoigu.&nbsp;</p>

<p><strong>Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/president-putin-begins-address-to-russians-thanks-citizens-for-patriotism-during-wagner-revolt-609015">Putin says Wagner mutineers 'can join army or go to Belarus' in his address to Russians</a>&nbsp;</strong></p>

<p>The Russian defence ministry also said on Tuesday that it was preparing to take over military hardware belonging to the Wagner mercenary group.</p>

<p>The defence ministry said in a statement online, "Preparations are underway for the transfer of heavy military equipment from the private military company Wagner to units of the Russian armed forces."&nbsp;</p>

<h2><strong>Putin accuses the West&nbsp;</strong></h2>

<p>The Russian president on Monday&nbsp;accused Ukraine and its Western allies of wanting Russians to "kill each other". During a Monday night address, he also claimed that Prigozhin's uprising was "doomed to fail". He made a special mention to the civilians for showing "unity" in the face of a "treacherous" rebellion.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The Kremlin on Tuesday said that Putin's authority had not been weakened by the armed mutiny. Meanwhile, Putin said that the group of Wagner mercenaries failed to win the support of the Russian people or its army.&nbsp;</p>

<p><strong>Watch:&nbsp;Has Putin's credibility been damaged?&nbsp;</strong></p>

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<p>In a televised address to law enforcement agencies outside the Kremlin, he said, "People who were drawn into the rebellion saw that the army and the people were not with them."&nbsp;</p>

<p>Putin told troops from the defence ministry, National Guard, FSB security service and interior ministry, "You de facto stopped a civil war."&nbsp;</p>

<p>"In the confrontation with rebels, our comrades-in-arms, pilots, were killed. They did not flinch and honourably fulfilled their orders and their military duty," he said, before holding a minute's&nbsp;silence in their memory, without saying how many died.&nbsp;</p>

<p><em>(With inputs from agencies)&nbsp;</em></p>

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A jet belonging to Russian mercenary chief Yevgeny Prigozhin flew to Belarus from Russia on Tuesday (June 27). Several media reports mentioned that a flight-tracking website showed Wagner chief's plane flying out of Rostov and landing near Minsk.

A jet belonging to Russian mercenary chief Yevgeny Prigozhin flew to Belarus from Russia on Tuesday (June 27). Several media reports mentioned that a flight-tracking website showed Wagner chief's plane flying out of Rostov and landing near Minsk. It was confirmed by Belarus leader Alexander Lukashenko, who was quoted as saying by the state media Belta that Prigozin was currently in Belarus. As quoted, the Belarusian leader said that "security guarantees have been given" as promised to Russian President Vladimir Putin. "I see Prigozhin's been flying aboard this plane - yes, indeed he’s in Belarus today," he was quoted as saying. Lukashenko also said that Belarus is not building any camps for the group, but will accommodate them if they want. According to the Reuters news agency, Lukashenko said, "We offered them one of the abandoned military bases. Please - we have a fence, we have everything - put up your tents." Also read: US knew about Wagner's rebellion plans but kept it secret from most allies: Reports This comes just a few days after Prigozhin led an armed revolt against Putin's government on Saturday. Lukashenko, who mediated a deal to halt a mutiny by Prigozhin's mercenary fighters, said on Tuesday that long-standing tensions between Moscow's army and the Wagner mercenary group had been mismanaged. The mutiny came after a series of claims and counterclaims made by the Wagner chief as the feud between him and the Russian army escalated for months. Prigozhin made increasingly scathing statements against generals. Lukashenko said, "We missed the situation, and then we thought that it would resolve itself, but it did not resolve." Lukashenko also said that it had been "painful" to watch events unfold in Russia. He further mentioned that during the crisis situation, he had put Belarusian troops and police on full alert. "Two people who fought at the front clashed, there are no heroes in this case," he added, referring to the Wagner chief and his rival Defence Minister Sergei Shoigu. Also read: Putin says Wagner mutineers 'can join army or go to Belarus' in his address to Russians The Russian defence ministry also said on Tuesday that it was preparing to take over military hardware belonging to the Wagner mercenary group. The defence ministry said in a statement online, "Preparations are underway for the transfer of heavy military equipment from the private military company Wagner to units of the Russian armed forces." Putin accuses the West The Russian president on Monday accused Ukraine and its Western allies of wanting Russians to "kill each other". During a Monday night address, he also claimed that Prigozhin's uprising was "doomed to fail". He made a special mention to the civilians for showing "unity" in the face of a "treacherous" rebellion. The Kremlin on Tuesday said that Putin's authority had not been weakened by the armed mutiny. Meanwhile, Putin said that the group of Wagner mercenaries failed to win the support of the Russian people or its army. Watch: Has Putin's credibility been damaged? × In a televised address to law enforcement agencies outside the Kremlin, he said, "People who were drawn into the rebellion saw that the army and the people were not with them." Putin told troops from the defence ministry, National Guard, FSB security service and interior ministry, "You de facto stopped a civil war." "In the confrontation with rebels, our comrades-in-arms, pilots, were killed. They did not flinch and honourably fulfilled their orders and their military duty," he said, before holding a minute's silence in their memory, without saying how many died. (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

Russia-Ukraine war: Lukashenko says Wagner chief Prigozhin is in Belarus

<p>The United States took aim at Russia's&nbsp;Wagner&nbsp;Group&nbsp;and imposed sanctions on Tuesday on companies it accused of engaging in illicit&nbsp;gold&nbsp;dealings to fund the&nbsp;mercenary&nbsp;force.</p>

<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo">The US&nbsp;Treasury Department in a statement said it slapped sanctions on four companies in the United Arab Emirates, Central African Republic and Russia it accused of being connected to the&nbsp;Wagner&nbsp;Group&nbsp;and its leader, Yevgeny Prigozhin.</div>

<p>The companies engaged in illicit&nbsp;gold&nbsp;dealings to fund the militia to sustain and expand its armed&nbsp;forces, including in Ukraine and some countries in Africa, the Treasury said.</p>

<p>"The&nbsp;Wagner&nbsp;Group&nbsp;funds its brutal operations in part by exploiting natural resources in countries like the Central African Republic and Mali," the Treasury's Under Secretary for Terrorism and Financial Intelligence, Brian Nelson, said in a statement.</p>

<p>"The United States will continue to target the&nbsp;Wagner&nbsp;Group’s revenue streams to degrade its expansion and violence in Africa, Ukraine, and anywhere else."</p>

<p>The&nbsp;Wagner&nbsp;Group&nbsp;did not immediately respond to the US&nbsp;allegations.</p>

<p>The US&nbsp;State Department ahead of the announcement said that the action against&nbsp;Wagner&nbsp;was unrelated to an aborted mutiny last weekend.</p>

<p>Wagner, whose men in Ukraine include thousands of ex-prisoners recruited from Russian jails, has grown into a sprawling international business with mining interests and fighters in Africa and the Middle East.</p>

<p>Russian President Vladimir Putin said on Tuesday that the finances of Prigozhin's catering firm would be investigated after his mutiny, saying&nbsp;Wagner&nbsp;and its founder had received almost $2 billion from Russia in the past year.</p>

<p><strong>Also watch |&nbsp;'They will squash you like a bug': Belarus president says he warned Wagner boss Prigozhin | Details</strong></p>

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<p>Wagner&nbsp;has fought in Libya, Syria, the Central African Republic, Mali and other countries, and has fought the bloodiest battles of the 16-month-old war in Ukraine. It was founded in 2014 after Russia annexed Ukraine's Crimea peninsula and started supporting pro-Russia separatists in Ukraine's eastern Donbas region.</p>

<p>The United States has previously imposed sanctions on&nbsp;Wagner&nbsp;and Prigozhin. Washington has repeatedly warned of what it says are&nbsp;Wagner's destabilising activities and has ramped up sanctions against the private army following Russia's invasion of Ukraine.</p>

<p>The companies hit with sanctions on Tuesday included Central African Republic-based Midas Resources SARLU and Diamville SAU, Dubai-based Industrial Resources General Trading and Russia-based Limited Liability Company DM.</p>

<p>The United States also issued an advisory highlighting risks raised by&nbsp;gold&nbsp;trade in sub-Saharan Africa due to what it said was increasingly concerning reporting related to the role of illicit actors, including the&nbsp;Wagner&nbsp;Group.</p>

<p><strong>Also read |</strong>&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/eastern-european-nato-allies-say-wagners-move-to-belarus-will-create-regional-instability-609436">Eastern European NATO allies say Wagner's move to Belarus will create regional instability</a></p>

<p>Washington also imposed sanctions on Andrey Nikolayevich Ivanov, a Russian national the Treasury accused of being an executive in the&nbsp;Wagner&nbsp;Group&nbsp;and said he worked closely with senior Malian officials on weapons deals, mining concerns and other&nbsp;Wagner&nbsp;activities in the country.</p>

<p>Russia's embassy in Washington and Industrial Resources did not immediately respond to requests for comment.</p>

<p>Reuters could not immediately reach a spokesperson for Midas Resources, Diamville or Limited Liability Company DM.</p>

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The United States took aim at Russia's Wagner Group and imposed sanctions on Tuesday on companies it accused of engaging in illicit gold dealings to fund the mercenary force.

The United States took aim at Russia's Wagner Group and imposed sanctions on Tuesday on companies it accused of engaging in illicit gold dealings to fund the mercenary force. The US Treasury Department in a statement said it slapped sanctions on four companies in the United Arab Emirates, Central African Republic and Russia it accused of being connected to the Wagner Group and its leader, Yevgeny Prigozhin. The companies engaged in illicit gold dealings to fund the militia to sustain and expand its armed forces, including in Ukraine and some countries in Africa, the Treasury said. "The Wagner Group funds its brutal operations in part by exploiting natural resources in countries like the Central African Republic and Mali," the Treasury's Under Secretary for Terrorism and Financial Intelligence, Brian Nelson, said in a statement. "The United States will continue to target the Wagner Group’s revenue streams to degrade its expansion and violence in Africa, Ukraine, and anywhere else." The Wagner Group did not immediately respond to the US allegations. The US State Department ahead of the announcement said that the action against Wagner was unrelated to an aborted mutiny last weekend. Wagner, whose men in Ukraine include thousands of ex-prisoners recruited from Russian jails, has grown into a sprawling international business with mining interests and fighters in Africa and the Middle East. Russian President Vladimir Putin said on Tuesday that the finances of Prigozhin's catering firm would be investigated after his mutiny, saying Wagner and its founder had received almost $2 billion from Russia in the past year. Also watch | 'They will squash you like a bug': Belarus president says he warned Wagner boss Prigozhin | Details Wagner has fought in Libya, Syria, the Central African Republic, Mali and other countries, and has fought the bloodiest battles of the 16-month-old war in Ukraine. It was founded in 2014 after Russia annexed Ukraine's Crimea peninsula and started supporting pro-Russia separatists in Ukraine's eastern Donbas region. The United States has previously imposed sanctions on Wagner and Prigozhin. Washington has repeatedly warned of what it says are Wagner's destabilising activities and has ramped up sanctions against the private army following Russia's invasion of Ukraine. The companies hit with sanctions on Tuesday included Central African Republic-based Midas Resources SARLU and Diamville SAU, Dubai-based Industrial Resources General Trading and Russia-based Limited Liability Company DM. The United States also issued an advisory highlighting risks raised by gold trade in sub-Saharan Africa due to what it said was increasingly concerning reporting related to the role of illicit actors, including the Wagner Group. Also read | Eastern European NATO allies say Wagner's move to Belarus will create regional instability Washington also imposed sanctions on Andrey Nikolayevich Ivanov, a Russian national the Treasury accused of being an executive in the Wagner Group and said he worked closely with senior Malian officials on weapons deals, mining concerns and other Wagner activities in the country. Russia's embassy in Washington and Industrial Resources did not immediately respond to requests for comment. Reuters could not immediately reach a spokesperson for Midas Resources, Diamville or Limited Liability Company DM. WATCH WION LIVE HERE:

US targets Wagner Group in curbs on gold firms suspected of funding mercenary forces

<p>Wagner group chief Yevgeny Prigozhin's plan to capture Russia's military leadership failed due to leaked intel about the rebellion plot which ultimately forced the warlord to improvise and launch the revolt pre-maturely, Wall Street Journal reported quoting Western officials.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The planned seize&nbsp;included amassing ammunition, fuel, tanks, armoured vehicles, and mobile air defences, as per the reports.&nbsp;This is the first such disclosure and potentially answers why plan by Wagner chief failed after 36 hours.&nbsp;Western officials believe that the original plan had a good chance of success, but it was compromised, forcing Prigozhin to lean toward the alternative plan.&nbsp;</p>

<p><strong>Also Read |</strong> <a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/india-dhruv-advanced-light-helicopter-safety-flaws-addressed-says-report-609658">India: Dhruv Advanced Light Helicopter safety flaws addressed, says report</a></p>

<p>Moreover, according to Western intelligence, the ease with which Wagner's troops seized the city suggests the possible involvement of regular forces commanders in the plot.&nbsp;</p>

<h2><strong>Premature launch and intelligence leaks</strong></h2>

<p>Prigozhin's intention was to capture Russian Defence Minister Sergei Shoigu and General Valery Gerasimov during their planned visit to the southern region. Russia's Federal Security Service (FSB) discovered the plot two days before its execution.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Gen. Viktor Zolotov, commander of the National Guard of Russia, confirmed to state media on Tuesday that the information about the rebellion had leaked from Prigozhin's camp. “Specific leaks about preparations for a rebellion that would begin between June 22-25 were leaked from Prigozhin’s camp,” Zolotov said.</p>

<p><strong>Also Read |</strong> <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/sweden-police-allow-quran-burning-protest-outside-stockholms-main-mosque-609615">Sweden police allow Quran burning protest outside Stockholm’s main mosque</a></p>

<p>Western intelligence agencies obtained knowledge of the plot through electronic communications intercepts and satellite imagery, media reports said citing people aware of the development.&nbsp;</p>

<h2><strong>Questions on Putin's authority as rebellion despite leaks</strong></h2>

<p>The fact that Wagner's troops advanced close to Moscow despite the Kremlin's awareness of the conspiracy raises questions about the extent of Putin's authority.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Prigozhin believed that a faction of Russia's armed forces would join the rebellion and turn against their own commanders. Prigozhin's forces managed to capture the city of Rostov, a strategic command point for an invasion of Ukraine.&nbsp;</p>

<p><strong>Watch | Concert economics explained: The craze for high-profile concerts</strong></p>

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<p>It is believed that Prigozhin communicated his intentions to senior military officers, including Russian army general and Commander of the Aerospace Forces Gen. Sergei Surovikin, but it remains unclear how the FSB became aware of the plans, as per the officials.&nbsp;Surovikin condemned the plot and ordered airstrikes on the Wagner column, the only attack by regular troops against the rebels.&nbsp;</p>

<p>However, reports about Surovikin's involvement were dismissed as speculation by Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov.&nbsp;</p>

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Wagner group chief Yevgeny Prigozhin's plan to capture Russia's military leadership failed due to leaked intel about the rebellion plot which ultimately forced the warlord to improvise and launch the revolt pre-maturely, Wall Street Journal reported quoting Western officials.

Wagner group chief Yevgeny Prigozhin's plan to capture Russia's military leadership failed due to leaked intel about the rebellion plot which ultimately forced the warlord to improvise and launch the revolt pre-maturely, Wall Street Journal reported quoting Western officials. The planned seize included amassing ammunition, fuel, tanks, armoured vehicles, and mobile air defences, as per the reports. This is the first such disclosure and potentially answers why plan by Wagner chief failed after 36 hours. Western officials believe that the original plan had a good chance of success, but it was compromised, forcing Prigozhin to lean toward the alternative plan. Also Read | India: Dhruv Advanced Light Helicopter safety flaws addressed, says report Moreover, according to Western intelligence, the ease with which Wagner's troops seized the city suggests the possible involvement of regular forces commanders in the plot. Premature launch and intelligence leaks Prigozhin's intention was to capture Russian Defence Minister Sergei Shoigu and General Valery Gerasimov during their planned visit to the southern region. Russia's Federal Security Service (FSB) discovered the plot two days before its execution. Gen. Viktor Zolotov, commander of the National Guard of Russia, confirmed to state media on Tuesday that the information about the rebellion had leaked from Prigozhin's camp. “Specific leaks about preparations for a rebellion that would begin between June 22-25 were leaked from Prigozhin’s camp,” Zolotov said. Also Read | Sweden police allow Quran burning protest outside Stockholm’s main mosque Western intelligence agencies obtained knowledge of the plot through electronic communications intercepts and satellite imagery, media reports said citing people aware of the development. Questions on Putin's authority as rebellion despite leaks The fact that Wagner's troops advanced close to Moscow despite the Kremlin's awareness of the conspiracy raises questions about the extent of Putin's authority. Prigozhin believed that a faction of Russia's armed forces would join the rebellion and turn against their own commanders. Prigozhin's forces managed to capture the city of Rostov, a strategic command point for an invasion of Ukraine. Watch | Concert economics explained: The craze for high-profile concerts × It is believed that Prigozhin communicated his intentions to senior military officers, including Russian army general and Commander of the Aerospace Forces Gen. Sergei Surovikin, but it remains unclear how the FSB became aware of the plans, as per the officials. Surovikin condemned the plot and ordered airstrikes on the Wagner column, the only attack by regular troops against the rebels. However, reports about Surovikin's involvement were dismissed as speculation by Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov. WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here. ×

Wagner aimed to capture Russia's military leadership, sped up efforts after plans leaked: Report

<p>A Wall Street Journal report quoting Western officials has revealed that Wagner Chief Prigozhin's plan to stage a coup in Russia failed because his original plan about the rebellion got leaked and he had to improvise and launch the revolt prematurely, resulting in the epic failure. Meanwhile, France has braced itself for more violent protests on Wednesday following the killing of a 17-year-old teen by a police official. The teen was shot in the chest during a traffic stop. In another development following failed armed mutiny in Russia, Belarusian leader Alexander Lukashenko recently claimed that he had requested Russian leader Putin to not "wipe out" Wagner chief Prigozhin, which led to the agreement between Kremlin and Wagner chief that ended what looked like a civil war-like situation in the country.</p>

<p><strong>Click on the headlines to read more.</strong></p>

<p><a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/leaked-intel-foils-wagners-attempt-to-capture-russias-military-leadership-report-609743"><strong>Wagner aimed to capture Russia's military leadership, sped up efforts after plans leaked: Report</strong></a></p>
<img alt="Wagner" data-align="center" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="aa49f283-856b-4278-a92b-2820d2b11f6c" src="//cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/inline-images/362963-wagner-group-chief-yevgeny-prigozhin.jpg" />
<p>Wagner group chief Yevgeny Prigozhin's plan to capture Russia's military leadership failed due to leaked intel about the rebellion plot which ultimately forced the warlord to improvise and launch the revolt pre-maturely, Wall Street Journal reported quoting Western officials.&nbsp;</p>

<p><a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/france-braces-for-more-protests-as-macron-calls-shooting-of-teen-by-police-as-unforgivable-609682"><strong>France braces for more protests as Macron calls shooting of teen by police as 'unforgivable'</strong></a></p>
<img alt="Macron" data-align="center" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="728aa3c2-cf53-4f7b-9a04-2fff196386d2" src="//cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/inline-images/362923-untitled-design-2023-06-28t171113820.jpg" />
<p>France braced itself for more violent protests on Wednesday as French President Emmanuel Macron on Wednesday said that the deadly shooting of a teen by the police during a traffic stop this week was "inexplicable" and "unforgivable".</p>

<p><a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/putin-wished-to-wipe-out-wagner-chief-prigozhin-during-mutiny-claims-lukashenko-609677"><strong>Putin wished to ‘wipe out’ Wagner chief Prigozhin after mutiny, claims Lukashenko</strong></a></p>
<img alt="Belarus" data-align="center" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="c53a5b65-000b-4cf9-b808-52e4a6ff7686" src="//cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/inline-images/362921-untitled-design-2023-06-28t165844718.jpg" />
<p>Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko claimed that he had requested Russian President Vladimir Putin not to "wipe out" mercenary chief Yevgeny Prigozhin amid the armed mutiny of Wagner group that pushed Russia to the brink of civil war.&nbsp;</p>

<p><a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/stalkers-protected-us-supreme-court-makes-it-more-difficult-to-prosecute-someone-making-threats-609745"><strong>‘Stalkers protected,’ US Supreme Court makes it more difficult to prosecute someone making threats</strong></a></p>
<img alt="US Court" data-align="center" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="78a1e40e-775a-4c9d-b374-1d130163a5d1" src="//cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/inline-images/a5a552443478689ccc27bb63ced37419.jpg" />
<p>Justice Elena Kagan wrote for a majority of the court that the prosecutors must prove that the defendant was aware of the threatening nature of his statement.&nbsp;</p>

<p><a href="https://www.wionews.com/trending/elon-musk-takes-ketamine-for-depression-and-parties-this-report-makes-a-shocking-claim-609669"><strong>Elon Musk takes ketamine for depression and parties? This report makes shocking claim</strong></a></p>
<img alt="Musk" data-align="center" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="db9a6735-9558-4ad6-bbb0-34cdbf97c191" src="//cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/inline-images/362689-wion-images-42.jpg" />
<p>Twitter boss Elon Musk takes small doses of the psychedelic drug ketamine to treat depression and full doses while attending parties, a report in The Wall Street Journal has claimed.</p>

<p><a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/poland-says-wagner-troops-in-belarus-threat-to-countries-of-the-region-609785"><strong>Poland says Wagner troops in Belarus 'threat' to countries of the region</strong></a></p>
<img alt="Poland" data-align="center" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="fc1de60b-12b1-408f-9ef3-ba4825423761" src="//cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/inline-images/301462-copy-of-untitled-3.jpg" />
<p>Polish President Andrzej Duda said on Wednesday (June 28) during a visit to Ukraine that the presence of Wagner troops in Belarus could be a potential "threat" to the countries of the region.&nbsp;</p>

<p><a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/wion-exclusive-chandrayaan-3-launch-on-july-13-lunar-landing-by-august-end-609776"><strong>WION Exclusive: Chandrayaan-3 launch on July 13, Lunar landing by August-end</strong></a></p>
<img alt="ISRO" data-align="center" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="fe4a0cd9-c3e9-40ff-b6ec-02d4b5b4ce34" src="//cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/inline-images/323382-untitled-design-27.jpg" />
<p>If all goes as per plan, India's heaviest rocket LVM3 (Launch Vehicle Mark 3) will lift off at 14:30hrs (Indian Standard Time) on July 13, from the second launchpad at the Satish Dhawan Space Centre (SDSC) in Sriharikota, carrying India's third Lunar mission- Chandrayaan-3, WION has learnt.</p>

<p><a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/indias-relations-with-russia-steady-despite-all-turbulence-jaishankar-609786"><strong>India's relations with Russia 'steady despite all turbulence': Jaishankar</strong></a></p>
<img alt="India" data-align="center" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="5a2c1673-1343-42f3-8452-a7564c7f2260" src="//cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/inline-images/362987-external-affairs-minister-s-jaishankar.jpg" />
<p>Underscoring the stability of India's relations with Russia despite the challenges in the world today, India's External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar cautioned against reducing the ties solely to New Delhi's defense dependencies.</p>

<p><a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/indias-top-dalit-leader-chandrashekhar-ravan-shot-at-by-car-borne-attackers-rushed-to-hospital-609784"><strong>India: Bhim Army chief Chandrashekhar Ravan shot at by car-borne attackers, rushed to hospital</strong></a></p>
<img alt="Bhim Army" data-align="center" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="0b278222-1715-4846-80ed-e5f57f60d15b" src="//cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/inline-images/362988-capture.jpg" />
<p>The chief, Chandrashekhar Azad Ravan, sustained minor injuries and was rushed immediately to a hospital,</p>

<p><a href="https://www.wionews.com/entertainment/hollywood/news-allahabad-high-court-reprimands-adipurush-makers-over-dialogues-manoj-muntashir-served-notice-609572"><strong>Allahabad High Court reprimands Adipurush makers over dialogues, Manoj Muntashir served notice</strong></a></p>
<img alt="Court" data-align="center" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="69de6779-02b1-471e-9914-39c19fd116c3" src="//cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/inline-images/362856-adipurush.jpg" />
<p>The troubles for the film Adipurush and its makers continue to mount, as not only the audience but now a court of law has stepped in to address the ongoing controversy.</p>


A Wall Street Journal report quoting Western officials has revealed that Wagner Chief Prigozhin's plan to stage a coup in Russia failed because his original plan about the rebellion got leaked and he had to improvise and launch the revolt prematurely, resulting in the epic failure.

A Wall Street Journal report quoting Western officials has revealed that Wagner Chief Prigozhin's plan to stage a coup in Russia failed because his original plan about the rebellion got leaked and he had to improvise and launch the revolt prematurely, resulting in the epic failure. Meanwhile, France has braced itself for more violent protests on Wednesday following the killing of a 17-year-old teen by a police official. The teen was shot in the chest during a traffic stop. In another development following failed armed mutiny in Russia, Belarusian leader Alexander Lukashenko recently claimed that he had requested Russian leader Putin to not "wipe out" Wagner chief Prigozhin, which led to the agreement between Kremlin and Wagner chief that ended what looked like a civil war-like situation in the country. Click on the headlines to read more. Wagner aimed to capture Russia's military leadership, sped up efforts after plans leaked: Report Wagner group chief Yevgeny Prigozhin's plan to capture Russia's military leadership failed due to leaked intel about the rebellion plot which ultimately forced the warlord to improvise and launch the revolt pre-maturely, Wall Street Journal reported quoting Western officials. France braces for more protests as Macron calls shooting of teen by police as 'unforgivable' France braced itself for more violent protests on Wednesday as French President Emmanuel Macron on Wednesday said that the deadly shooting of a teen by the police during a traffic stop this week was "inexplicable" and "unforgivable". Putin wished to ‘wipe out’ Wagner chief Prigozhin after mutiny, claims Lukashenko Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko claimed that he had requested Russian President Vladimir Putin not to "wipe out" mercenary chief Yevgeny Prigozhin amid the armed mutiny of Wagner group that pushed Russia to the brink of civil war. ‘Stalkers protected,’ US Supreme Court makes it more difficult to prosecute someone making threats Justice Elena Kagan wrote for a majority of the court that the prosecutors must prove that the defendant was aware of the threatening nature of his statement. Elon Musk takes ketamine for depression and parties? This report makes shocking claim Twitter boss Elon Musk takes small doses of the psychedelic drug ketamine to treat depression and full doses while attending parties, a report in The Wall Street Journal has claimed. Poland says Wagner troops in Belarus 'threat' to countries of the region Polish President Andrzej Duda said on Wednesday (June 28) during a visit to Ukraine that the presence of Wagner troops in Belarus could be a potential "threat" to the countries of the region. WION Exclusive: Chandrayaan-3 launch on July 13, Lunar landing by August-end If all goes as per plan, India's heaviest rocket LVM3 (Launch Vehicle Mark 3) will lift off at 14:30hrs (Indian Standard Time) on July 13, from the second launchpad at the Satish Dhawan Space Centre (SDSC) in Sriharikota, carrying India's third Lunar mission- Chandrayaan-3, WION has learnt. India's relations with Russia 'steady despite all turbulence': Jaishankar Underscoring the stability of India's relations with Russia despite the challenges in the world today, India's External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar cautioned against reducing the ties solely to New Delhi's defense dependencies. India: Bhim Army chief Chandrashekhar Ravan shot at by car-borne attackers, rushed to hospital The chief, Chandrashekhar Azad Ravan, sustained minor injuries and was rushed immediately to a hospital, Allahabad High Court reprimands Adipurush makers over dialogues, Manoj Muntashir served notice The troubles for the film Adipurush and its makers continue to mount, as not only the audience but now a court of law has stepped in to address the ongoing controversy.

Top 10 world news: Wagner chief planned to 'capture' military leadership, violent protests in France, and more

<p>Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko on Tuesday spilled the beans on the hectic parleys that took place to defuse tensions between Russian President Vladimir Putin and the rebelling Wagner Group mercenary leader Yevgeny Prigozhin.</p>

<p>Lukashenko&nbsp;played a key role in halting the short-lived coup attempt in exchange for a deal that included providing asylum to Prigozhin.</p>

<p>On Tuesday, Russia's FSB security service dropped charges against the participants in the insurrection as part of a deal negotiated by Lukashenko and his long-term ally Putin.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Lukashenko said Prigozhin had arrived in Belarus and was welcome to stay "for some time".&nbsp;</p>

<p>“At 10.10, he (Putin) called and informed me in detail about the situation that is happening in Russia. He asked several questions, including how to counteract this, and I realised that the situation is complicated,” Lukashenko said at a military awards ceremony in Minsk.</p>

<p>He then said that Putin wanted to eliminate Prigozhin, but decided not to “rush” after Lukashenko intervened.</p>

<p>Lukashenko said he told the Wagner chief that he would be “squashed like a bug” if he proceeds to march towards Moscow and warned that the Kremlin would never fulfil his demand of ousting Russian defence minister Sergei Shoigu and the Chief of The General Staff, General Valery Gerasimov.</p>

<p>The president further revealed that Putin was furious that the Wagner chief wouldn't take his calls during the brief uprising.</p>

<h2><strong>Behind the scenes </strong></h2>

<p>Detailing his back-to-back calls with Putin and Prigozhin on Saturday, Lukashenko told Prigozhin that it would be against his own interests if he thinks that he would get justice for the alleged wrongdoings against Wagner.</p>

<p>“Our first round of talks lasted about 30 minutes and we talked mostly in swear words. Almost only swear words," Lukashenko said.</p>

<p>"Later, it occurred to me that there were 10&nbsp;times more swear words than normal words."</p>

<p><strong>Also read |&nbsp;</strong><a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/russian-strikes-on-ukraine-restaurant-kills-at-least-injures-22-people-609413">Russian strikes at eatery in Ukraine kill 9, including three kids, injure 56</a></p>

<p>Lukashenko told Prigozhin that "no one will ever hand over Shoigu, Gerasimov, or anyone else, for that matter. Especially in this situation. You know Putin as well as I do."</p>

<p><strong>Also read |&nbsp;</strong><a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/firing-season-continues-google-lays-off-employees-at-its-mapping-app-waze-609587">Firing season continues: Google lays off employees at its mapping app Waze</a></p>

<p>“For a long time, I was trying to convince him. And in the end, I said, ‘You know, you can do whatever you want. But don't be offended by me. Our brigade is ready for transfer to Moscow'," Lukashenko told state media.</p>

<p>Lukashenko said that he had detailed negotiations with Putin, who was reluctant to let go Prigozhin unpunished.</p>

<p>“The most dangerous thing, as I understand it, is not what the situation was, but how it could develop and its consequences,” Lukashenko said, according to Belarussian state media.</p>

<p>“I also realised there was a harsh decision taken — to destroy (Prigozhin). I suggested Putin not to hurry. Let’s talk with <a name="_Hlk138863381">Prigozhin</a>, with his commanders.”</p>

<p>Lukashenko said Putin told him: “Listen, Alex, it’s useless. (Prigozhin) doesn’t even pick up the phone, he doesn’t want to talk to anyone.”</p>

<p>But despite that Lukashenko said he was able to get hold of the Wagner boss and bring him to senses.</p>

<h2><strong>Kremlin’s response</strong></h2>

<p>Putin has so far been silent on the backchannel talks between his long-time ally Lukashenko and Prigozhin.</p>

<p>But in a statement, the Kremlin credited Lukashenko for helping to de-escalate the tense situation, though they did not corroborate the Belarus leader’s account of events.</p>

<p>Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov said Lukashenko was able to draw on a personal relationship&nbsp;with Prigozhin to reach the deal, which would also see Wagner troops and equipment absorbed by the Russian military.</p>

<p>The Defence Ministry didn't release any information about casualties, but media reports said at least a dozen airmen were killed.</p>

<p>When asked why the rebels were allowed to advance to roughly 200 kilometres away from Moscow without facing any resistance, National Guard chief Viktor Zolotov said authorities tried to assemble a strong force capable of stopping the onslaught.</p>

<p>"We concentrated our forces in one fist closer to Moscow," he told reporters. "If we spread them thin, they would have come like a knife through butter."</p>

<p>General Zolotov also said the National Guard had lacked battle tanks and other heavy weapons, but&nbsp;would now get them.</p>

<h2><strong>Belarus wouldn’t mind a Wagner-like unit</strong></h2>

<p>Lukashenko further said that his defence minister Viktor Khrennikov was very much interested in having a Wagner-like unit in the Belarusian army. He said that he has instructed Khrennikov to negotiate with Prigozhin on the matter.</p>

<p>When asked where is Prigozhin and his troops are staying, the Belrusian leader said that the mercenary leader and some of his troops are staying at one of the abandoned military bases.</p>

<p>They will be staying at their own expense, Lukashenko said.</p>

<h2>What will happen of Wagner troops?</h2>

<p>The Russian Defence Ministry said that preparations are underway for Wagner's troops, who numbered 25,000, to hand over their heavy weapons to the Russian military.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Prigozhin had said those moves were being taken ahead of a July 1 deadline for his fighters to sign contracts to serve under the Russian military's command.</p>

<p>Prigozhin issued no public statements on Tuesday.</p>

<p><em>(With inputs from agencies)</em><br />
<br />
&nbsp;</p>

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<p><iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/live-tv/embed?autoplay=1&amp;mute=1" width="100%"></iframe></p>


Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko on Tuesday spilled the beans on the hectic parleys that took place to defuse tensions between Russian President Vladimir Putin and the rebelling Wagner Group mercenary leader Yevgeny Prigozhin.

Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko on Tuesday spilled the beans on the hectic parleys that took place to defuse tensions between Russian President Vladimir Putin and the rebelling Wagner Group mercenary leader Yevgeny Prigozhin. Lukashenko played a key role in halting the short-lived coup attempt in exchange for a deal that included providing asylum to Prigozhin. On Tuesday, Russia's FSB security service dropped charges against the participants in the insurrection as part of a deal negotiated by Lukashenko and his long-term ally Putin. Lukashenko said Prigozhin had arrived in Belarus and was welcome to stay "for some time". “At 10.10, he (Putin) called and informed me in detail about the situation that is happening in Russia. He asked several questions, including how to counteract this, and I realised that the situation is complicated,” Lukashenko said at a military awards ceremony in Minsk. He then said that Putin wanted to eliminate Prigozhin, but decided not to “rush” after Lukashenko intervened. Lukashenko said he told the Wagner chief that he would be “squashed like a bug” if he proceeds to march towards Moscow and warned that the Kremlin would never fulfil his demand of ousting Russian defence minister Sergei Shoigu and the Chief of The General Staff, General Valery Gerasimov. The president further revealed that Putin was furious that the Wagner chief wouldn't take his calls during the brief uprising. Behind the scenes Detailing his back-to-back calls with Putin and Prigozhin on Saturday, Lukashenko told Prigozhin that it would be against his own interests if he thinks that he would get justice for the alleged wrongdoings against Wagner. “Our first round of talks lasted about 30 minutes and we talked mostly in swear words. Almost only swear words," Lukashenko said. "Later, it occurred to me that there were 10 times more swear words than normal words." Also read | Russian strikes at eatery in Ukraine kill 9, including three kids, injure 56 Lukashenko told Prigozhin that "no one will ever hand over Shoigu, Gerasimov, or anyone else, for that matter. Especially in this situation. You know Putin as well as I do." Also read | Firing season continues: Google lays off employees at its mapping app Waze “For a long time, I was trying to convince him. And in the end, I said, ‘You know, you can do whatever you want. But don't be offended by me. Our brigade is ready for transfer to Moscow'," Lukashenko told state media. Lukashenko said that he had detailed negotiations with Putin, who was reluctant to let go Prigozhin unpunished. “The most dangerous thing, as I understand it, is not what the situation was, but how it could develop and its consequences,” Lukashenko said, according to Belarussian state media. “I also realised there was a harsh decision taken — to destroy (Prigozhin). I suggested Putin not to hurry. Let’s talk with Prigozhin, with his commanders.” Lukashenko said Putin told him: “Listen, Alex, it’s useless. (Prigozhin) doesn’t even pick up the phone, he doesn’t want to talk to anyone.” But despite that Lukashenko said he was able to get hold of the Wagner boss and bring him to senses. Kremlin’s response Putin has so far been silent on the backchannel talks between his long-time ally Lukashenko and Prigozhin. But in a statement, the Kremlin credited Lukashenko for helping to de-escalate the tense situation, though they did not corroborate the Belarus leader’s account of events. Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov said Lukashenko was able to draw on a personal relationship with Prigozhin to reach the deal, which would also see Wagner troops and equipment absorbed by the Russian military. The Defence Ministry didn't release any information about casualties, but media reports said at least a dozen airmen were killed. When asked why the rebels were allowed to advance to roughly 200 kilometres away from Moscow without facing any resistance, National Guard chief Viktor Zolotov said authorities tried to assemble a strong force capable of stopping the onslaught. "We concentrated our forces in one fist closer to Moscow," he told reporters. "If we spread them thin, they would have come like a knife through butter." General Zolotov also said the National Guard had lacked battle tanks and other heavy weapons, but would now get them. Belarus wouldn’t mind a Wagner-like unit Lukashenko further said that his defence minister Viktor Khrennikov was very much interested in having a Wagner-like unit in the Belarusian army. He said that he has instructed Khrennikov to negotiate with Prigozhin on the matter. When asked where is Prigozhin and his troops are staying, the Belrusian leader said that the mercenary leader and some of his troops are staying at one of the abandoned military bases. They will be staying at their own expense, Lukashenko said. What will happen of Wagner troops? The Russian Defence Ministry said that preparations are underway for Wagner's troops, who numbered 25,000, to hand over their heavy weapons to the Russian military. Prigozhin had said those moves were being taken ahead of a July 1 deadline for his fighters to sign contracts to serve under the Russian military's command. Prigozhin issued no public statements on Tuesday. (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE

Explained | Putin wanted to kill Wagner chief Yevgeny Prigozhin, but stopped. Here's what happened

<p>Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko claimed that he had requested Russian President Vladimir Putin not to "wipe out" mercenary chief Yevgeny Prigozhin amid the armed mutiny of Wagner group that pushed Russia to the brink of civil war.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Initially, Putin had promised to crush the mutiny which it compared to the wartime turmoil that had led to the revolution of 1917 followed by civil war, however, hours later the Wagner chief finalised a deal which allowed him along with some of his fighters to go to Belarus.</p>

<p>On Tuesday, Wagner&nbsp;chief flew to Belarus from Russia. Lukashenko, while talking about the conversation he had with Putin on Saturday, made use of the Russian criminal slang phrase used for killing someone which is similar to the English phrase to "wipe out".</p>

<p><strong>ALSO READ |</strong>&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/explained-how-lukashenko-emerged-as-a-key-player-to-resolve-wagner-situation-608913">Explained | How Lukashenko emerged as key player to resolve Wagner situation</a></p>

<p>"I also understood: a brutal decision had been made (and it was the undertone of Putin's address) to wipe out&nbsp;the mutineers," said Lukashenko in a meeting of his army officials as well as journalists on Tuesday, as reported by the Belarusian state media.</p>

<p>"I suggested to Putin not to rush. 'Come on,' I said, 'Let's talk with Prigozhin, with his commanders.' To which he told me: 'Listen, Sasha, it's useless. He doesn't even pick up the phone, he doesn’t want to talk to anyone'," he stated.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The same Russian verb was used by Putin in 1999 about Chechen militants, as he vowed to "wipe out them out in the shithouse". The remarks made by Putin became a widely quoted emblem of the Russian leader's severe persona.</p>

<h2><strong>'Experience of Wagner troops beneficial'</strong></h2>

<p>No immediate comment was made by Kremlin on the remarks of Lukashenko. The statements gave a rare insight into the conversations that took place inside the Kremlin as Russia, as per its own account of Putin, teetered towards a kind of turmoil which the country had not seen for decades.</p>

<p>Lukashenko, a close ally of Putin and an old acquaintance of Prigozhin, said that he had asked the Russian president to think "beyond our own noses" and that the elimination of Prigozhin can trigger a widespread revolt by his fighters.</p>

<p>The Belarusian leader also stated that the experience of Wagner troops can benefit his own army as the troop, according to the deal finalised with the Kremlin, are now free to go towards Belarus.</p>

<p><strong>WATCH |&nbsp;Wagner Revolt: Lukashenko positions himself as voice of reason</strong></p>

<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/wagner-revolt-lukashenko-positions-himself-as-voice-of-reason-609460/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>

<p>"This is the most trained unit in the army," Lukashenko was quoted by the BelTA state agency as saying. "Who will argue with this? My military also understands this, and we don't have such people in Belarus," he added.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Lukashenko, later, said to his military that "people fail to understand that we are approaching this in a pragmatic way ... They've (Wagner) been through it, they'll tell us about the weaponry - what worked well, which worked badly."</p>

<p>Prigozhin's "march of justice" towards Moscow from Rostov-on-Don, the southern city located within 200 kilometres of the capital, was halted after the intervention of Lukashenko.&nbsp;</p>

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<section>
<p><em>(With inputs from agencies)</em></p>

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<p>&nbsp;</p>

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<p><iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/live-tv/embed?autoplay=1&amp;mute=1" width="100%"></iframe></p>
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Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko claimed that he had requested Russian President Vladimir Putin not to "wipe out" mercenary chief Yevgeny Prigozhin amid the armed mutiny of Wagner group that pushed Russia to the brink of civil war.

Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko claimed that he had requested Russian President Vladimir Putin not to "wipe out" mercenary chief Yevgeny Prigozhin amid the armed mutiny of Wagner group that pushed Russia to the brink of civil war. Initially, Putin had promised to crush the mutiny which it compared to the wartime turmoil that had led to the revolution of 1917 followed by civil war, however, hours later the Wagner chief finalised a deal which allowed him along with some of his fighters to go to Belarus. On Tuesday, Wagner chief flew to Belarus from Russia. Lukashenko, while talking about the conversation he had with Putin on Saturday, made use of the Russian criminal slang phrase used for killing someone which is similar to the English phrase to "wipe out". ALSO READ | Explained | How Lukashenko emerged as key player to resolve Wagner situation "I also understood: a brutal decision had been made (and it was the undertone of Putin's address) to wipe out the mutineers," said Lukashenko in a meeting of his army officials as well as journalists on Tuesday, as reported by the Belarusian state media. "I suggested to Putin not to rush. 'Come on,' I said, 'Let's talk with Prigozhin, with his commanders.' To which he told me: 'Listen, Sasha, it's useless. He doesn't even pick up the phone, he doesn’t want to talk to anyone'," he stated. The same Russian verb was used by Putin in 1999 about Chechen militants, as he vowed to "wipe out them out in the shithouse". The remarks made by Putin became a widely quoted emblem of the Russian leader's severe persona. 'Experience of Wagner troops beneficial' No immediate comment was made by Kremlin on the remarks of Lukashenko. The statements gave a rare insight into the conversations that took place inside the Kremlin as Russia, as per its own account of Putin, teetered towards a kind of turmoil which the country had not seen for decades. Lukashenko, a close ally of Putin and an old acquaintance of Prigozhin, said that he had asked the Russian president to think "beyond our own noses" and that the elimination of Prigozhin can trigger a widespread revolt by his fighters. The Belarusian leader also stated that the experience of Wagner troops can benefit his own army as the troop, according to the deal finalised with the Kremlin, are now free to go towards Belarus. WATCH | Wagner Revolt: Lukashenko positions himself as voice of reason "This is the most trained unit in the army," Lukashenko was quoted by the BelTA state agency as saying. "Who will argue with this? My military also understands this, and we don't have such people in Belarus," he added. Lukashenko, later, said to his military that "people fail to understand that we are approaching this in a pragmatic way ... They've (Wagner) been through it, they'll tell us about the weaponry - what worked well, which worked badly." Prigozhin's "march of justice" towards Moscow from Rostov-on-Don, the southern city located within 200 kilometres of the capital, was halted after the intervention of Lukashenko. (With inputs from agencies) You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here. WATCH WION LIVE HERE

Putin wished to ‘wipe out’ Wagner chief Prigozhin after mutiny, claims Lukashenko

<p>The government authorities in Russia on Tuesday said that they have dropped the criminal charges against Wagner chief Yevgeny Prigozhin as well as other participants after the failed armed rebellion.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The Federal Security Service (FSB) said that the investigation discovered that those involved in the mutiny “ceased activities directed at committing the crime,” hence, the case would not be pursued.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The announcement made was the latest twist in a series of shocking events that took place in the last few days and seemed to threaten the leadership of President Vladimir Putin’s grip amid the 16-month-old war in Ukraine.</p>

<p>The Kremlin, over the weekend, vowed not to prosecute Prigozhin and his fighters after the revolt was stopped by the Wagner chief on Sunday, even though they were branded as 'traitors' by Putin.&nbsp;</p>

<p><strong>ALSO READ |&nbsp;</strong><a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/criminal-charges-against-prigozhin-not-dropped-even-after-exile-to-belarus-608906">Criminal charges against Prigozhin 'not dropped' even after exile to Belarus</a></p>

<p>A person charged with leading an armed mutiny can face imprisonment for up to 20 years in Russia. However, the way Prigozhin escaped prosecution shows a stark contrast to how those leading anti-government protests have been treated in Russia.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Russian news agencies&nbsp;earlier reported on Monday that Prigozhin is still under investigation and the charges against him for organising armed rebellion have not been dropped.</p>

<p>"The criminal case against (Yevgeny) Prigozhin has not been dropped," a source in the prosecutor's office was quoted as saying by the three main Russian news agencies on Monday.&nbsp;</p>

<p>At the time when the deal was finalised, the Kremlin had stated that all charges against Prigozhin will be dropped after the latter agreed to leave for Belarus.</p>

<h2><strong>Jet linked to Prigozhin flies to Belarus&nbsp;</strong></h2>

<p>A business jet, which is linked to Prigozhin flew to Belarus on Tuesday.&nbsp;</p>

<p>According to Flightradar24, the Embraer Legacy 600 business jet was seen in the Rostov region at 0232 GMT and started the descent at 0420 GMT near Minsk.</p>

<p>The aircraft's identification codes match those of a jet linked by the United States to Autolex Transport, which according to the US&nbsp;Office of Foreign Assets Control is linked to Prigozhin.&nbsp;</p>

<p><strong>WATCH |&nbsp;Wagner Crisis: Putin allows Prigozhin to avoid treason charges and accept exile</strong></p>

<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/wagner-crisis-putin-allows-prigozhin-to-avoid-treason-charges-and-accept-axile-608665/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>

<p>As per the deal mediated by Belarusian leader Alexander Lukashenko which led to the end of the mutiny by mercenary fighters of Prigozhin, the Wagner chief was meant to move to Belarus.</p>

<p>In a video message, the Kremlin chief said he had asked Russian forces to avoid any bloodshed and appreciated the Wagner mercenaries who agreed to step back when they stood at the brink of "armed rebellion" and bloodshed.</p>

<p><em>(With inputs from agencies)</em></p>

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The government authorities in Russia on Tuesday said that they have dropped the criminal charges against Wagner chief Yevgeny Prigozhin as well as other participants after the failed armed rebellion.

The government authorities in Russia on Tuesday said that they have dropped the criminal charges against Wagner chief Yevgeny Prigozhin as well as other participants after the failed armed rebellion. The Federal Security Service (FSB) said that the investigation discovered that those involved in the mutiny “ceased activities directed at committing the crime,” hence, the case would not be pursued. The announcement made was the latest twist in a series of shocking events that took place in the last few days and seemed to threaten the leadership of President Vladimir Putin’s grip amid the 16-month-old war in Ukraine. The Kremlin, over the weekend, vowed not to prosecute Prigozhin and his fighters after the revolt was stopped by the Wagner chief on Sunday, even though they were branded as 'traitors' by Putin. ALSO READ | Criminal charges against Prigozhin 'not dropped' even after exile to Belarus A person charged with leading an armed mutiny can face imprisonment for up to 20 years in Russia. However, the way Prigozhin escaped prosecution shows a stark contrast to how those leading anti-government protests have been treated in Russia. Russian news agencies earlier reported on Monday that Prigozhin is still under investigation and the charges against him for organising armed rebellion have not been dropped. "The criminal case against (Yevgeny) Prigozhin has not been dropped," a source in the prosecutor's office was quoted as saying by the three main Russian news agencies on Monday. At the time when the deal was finalised, the Kremlin had stated that all charges against Prigozhin will be dropped after the latter agreed to leave for Belarus. Jet linked to Prigozhin flies to Belarus A business jet, which is linked to Prigozhin flew to Belarus on Tuesday. According to Flightradar24, the Embraer Legacy 600 business jet was seen in the Rostov region at 0232 GMT and started the descent at 0420 GMT near Minsk. The aircraft's identification codes match those of a jet linked by the United States to Autolex Transport, which according to the US Office of Foreign Assets Control is linked to Prigozhin. WATCH | Wagner Crisis: Putin allows Prigozhin to avoid treason charges and accept exile As per the deal mediated by Belarusian leader Alexander Lukashenko which led to the end of the mutiny by mercenary fighters of Prigozhin, the Wagner chief was meant to move to Belarus. In a video message, the Kremlin chief said he had asked Russian forces to avoid any bloodshed and appreciated the Wagner mercenaries who agreed to step back when they stood at the brink of "armed rebellion" and bloodshed. (With inputs from agencies) You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here. WATCH WION LIVE HERE

Russia drops criminal charges against Wagner chief Yevgeny Prigozhin after failed mutiny

<p>Russia mercenary group leader Yevgeny Prigozhin, who turned his force against the military leadership in Moscow, will quit Russia and move to Belarus under an agreement brokered by Belarusian leader Alexander Lukashenko, the Kremlin said on Saturday.&nbsp;<br />
<br />
All criminal charges against Prigozhin will also be dropped under the deal that ends the&nbsp;armed insurrection&nbsp;that appeared as the gravest threat to the authority of Russian President Vladimir Putin.</p>

<p>"Avoiding bloodshed, internal confrontation, and clashes with unpredictable results was the highest goal," Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters.</p>

<p>Peskov further added that under the deal, Wagner fighters will also not be prosecuted. "We have always respected their heroic deeds at the front," he said.</p>

<p>"An agreement has been reached that Wagner would return to its bases," Peskov said, adding that those fighters who had not participated in the rebellion would be allowed to formally join the Russian army.</p>

<h2><strong>Wagner chief Prigozhin orders his fighters to retreat</strong></h2>

<p>Yevgeny Prigozhin, the leader of the Wagner mercenary group, ordered his fighters to retreat from their advance towards Moscow to prevent any violent confrontation or avert the potential bloodshed. Prigozhin revealed on Saturday that his forces had made significant progress, covering a distance of 200 km (124 miles) within the past 24 hours, but he has now issued orders for them to promptly return to their respective bases.</p>

<p>This comes as Belarus claimed that President Alexander Lukashenko was able to persuade the Russian warlord Yevgeny Prigozhin to cease his march toward Moscow. If the claims are to be believed, it can lead to a potential end to the coup attempt in Russia, the first in the last 30 years.</p>

<p>Media reports citing Lukashenko's press service said the president engaged in extensive negotiations with Prigozhin throughout the "entire day" after establishing a mutual understanding with Putin.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Before his negotiations with Wagner's chief, he held talks with Putin and they agreed on joint actions and “additionally clarifying the situation through his own channels.”</p>

<p>The press service stated that Prigozhin has accepted Lukashenko's appeal to halt the movement. It said Prigozhin had “accepted [Lukashenko’s] request to “stop the movement of armed men from the Wagner company on Russian territory and [take] further steps to de-escalate the situation.”</p>

<p>“At the moment, there is an absolutely advantageous and acceptable way to defuse the situation on the table, with security guarantees for Wagner’s fighters,” Lukashenko’s press service said, as per media reports.&nbsp;</p>

<h2><strong>Russian President Vladimir Putin thanks Lukashenko</strong></h2>

<p>Russian President Vladimir Putin, on Saturday, thanked Belarus leader, Alexander Lukashenko, after the chief of mercenary group&nbsp;Wagner&nbsp;Yegevy Prigozhin announced he was turning around his forces.&nbsp;</p>

<p>"The President of Belarus informed the President of Russia in detail about the results of negotiations with the leadership of PMC Wagner," Lukashenko's press service released a statement saying as quoted by news agency AFP, adding Putin "thanked his Belarusian colleague."</p>

<p><em>(With inputs from agencies)</em></p>

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Russia mercenary group leader Yevgeny Prigozhin, who turned his force against the military leadership in Moscow, will quit Russia and move to Belarus under an agreement brokered by Belarusian leader Alexander Lukashenko, the Kremlin said on Saturday.

Russia mercenary group leader Yevgeny Prigozhin, who turned his force against the military leadership in Moscow, will quit Russia and move to Belarus under an agreement brokered by Belarusian leader Alexander Lukashenko, the Kremlin said on Saturday. All criminal charges against Prigozhin will also be dropped under the deal that ends the armed insurrection that appeared as the gravest threat to the authority of Russian President Vladimir Putin. "Avoiding bloodshed, internal confrontation, and clashes with unpredictable results was the highest goal," Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters. Peskov further added that under the deal, Wagner fighters will also not be prosecuted. "We have always respected their heroic deeds at the front," he said. "An agreement has been reached that Wagner would return to its bases," Peskov said, adding that those fighters who had not participated in the rebellion would be allowed to formally join the Russian army. Wagner chief Prigozhin orders his fighters to retreat Yevgeny Prigozhin, the leader of the Wagner mercenary group, ordered his fighters to retreat from their advance towards Moscow to prevent any violent confrontation or avert the potential bloodshed. Prigozhin revealed on Saturday that his forces had made significant progress, covering a distance of 200 km (124 miles) within the past 24 hours, but he has now issued orders for them to promptly return to their respective bases. This comes as Belarus claimed that President Alexander Lukashenko was able to persuade the Russian warlord Yevgeny Prigozhin to cease his march toward Moscow. If the claims are to be believed, it can lead to a potential end to the coup attempt in Russia, the first in the last 30 years. Media reports citing Lukashenko's press service said the president engaged in extensive negotiations with Prigozhin throughout the "entire day" after establishing a mutual understanding with Putin. Before his negotiations with Wagner's chief, he held talks with Putin and they agreed on joint actions and “additionally clarifying the situation through his own channels.” The press service stated that Prigozhin has accepted Lukashenko's appeal to halt the movement. It said Prigozhin had “accepted [Lukashenko’s] request to “stop the movement of armed men from the Wagner company on Russian territory and [take] further steps to de-escalate the situation.” “At the moment, there is an absolutely advantageous and acceptable way to defuse the situation on the table, with security guarantees for Wagner’s fighters,” Lukashenko’s press service said, as per media reports. Russian President Vladimir Putin thanks Lukashenko Russian President Vladimir Putin, on Saturday, thanked Belarus leader, Alexander Lukashenko, after the chief of mercenary group Wagner Yegevy Prigozhin announced he was turning around his forces. "The President of Belarus informed the President of Russia in detail about the results of negotiations with the leadership of PMC Wagner," Lukashenko's press service released a statement saying as quoted by news agency AFP, adding Putin "thanked his Belarusian colleague." (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE

Wagner chief Yevgeny Prigozhin to quit Russia and move to Belarus under deal to end mutiny

<p>In a dramatic turn of events, Yevgeny Prigozhin, the rebel leader of the Wagner Group of mercenaries, ordered his fighters to retreat from their advance toward Moscow to prevent any violent confrontation and avert potential bloodshed following a deal with Belarus President Alexander Lukashenko under which Russia would drop all charges against him and he will be granted safe passage to Belarus.&nbsp;Prigozhin revealed on Saturday that his forces had made significant progress, covering a distance of 200 km (124 miles) within the past 24 hours, but he has now issued orders for them to promptly return to their respective bases.</p>

<p>The Wagner mutiny drama ended after Belarus claimed that President Alexander Lukashenko was able to persuade the Russian warlord Yevgeny Prigozhin to cease his march towards Moscow. If the claims are to be believed, it can lead to a potential end to the coup attempt in Russia, the first in last 30 years.</p>

<p><strong>Also Read |</strong> <a href="https://www.wionews.com/trending/archaeologists-unearth-4000-year-old-stonehenge-burial-ground-in-the-netherlands-608203">Archaeologists unearth 4,000-year-old ‘Stonehenge’ burial ground in the Netherlands</a></p>

<p>Media reports citing Lukashenko's press service said the president engaged in extensive negotiations with Prigozhin throughout the "entire day" after establishing a mutual understanding with Putin.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Before his negotiations with Wagner&nbsp;chief, Lukashenko held talks with Putin and they agreed on joint actions and “additionally clarifying the situation through his own channels.”</p>

<p>The press service stated that Prigozhin has accepted Lukashenko's appeal to halt the movement. It said Prigozhin had “accepted [Lukashenko’s] request to “stop the movement of armed men from the Wagner company on Russian territory and [take] further steps to de-escalate the situation.”</p>

<p><strong>Also Read |</strong> <a href="https://www.wionews.com/technology/google-rolls-out-perspectives-tab-in-major-search-engine-revamp-608201">Google rolls out 'Perspectives' tab in major search-engine revamp</a></p>

<p>“At the moment, there is an absolutely advantageous and acceptable way to defuse the situation on the table, with security guarantees for Wagner’s fighters,” Lukashenko’s press service said, as per media reports.&nbsp;</p>

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<p dir="ltr" lang="en">⚡️⚡️⚡️ President of <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Belarus?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Belarus</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Lukashenko?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Lukashenko</a> held talks w/ head of PMC Wagner <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Prigozhin?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Prigozhin</a>. Negotiations continued throughout the day.<br />
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‼️Y.Prigozhin accepted the proposal of President of 🇧🇾 to stop the movement of armed people of the Wagner company on the territory of <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Russia?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Russia</a> <a href="https://t.co/Kpf2SW7RNu">pic.twitter.com/Kpf2SW7RNu</a></p>
— Belarus MFA 🇧🇾 (@BelarusMFA) <a href="https://twitter.com/BelarusMFA/status/1672660872668368898?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">June 24, 2023</a></blockquote>
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<p>Before Wagner chief's decision to turn back his forces, Ukraine's defence ministry mocked the presence of Russian troops on the country's land on Saturday, urging them to return home and participate in the ongoing clashes between rebel mercenaries and Russia's military. The ministry's statement questioned the reason behind Russian soldiers still being stationed in challenging conditions instead of supporting their comrades involved in the conflict.&nbsp;</p>

<p>In a statement, the Ukrainian ministry asked, "Why Russian soldiers are still sitting in muddy trenches rather than running to the aid of their comrades on both sides of the conflict. That would be far safer than confronting the Ukrainian army."</p>

<p><strong>Watch | 'Putin's chef' vs Defence Minister: Where has Wagner operated?</strong></p>

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<p>Many world leaders were also keeping a close eye on the events in Russia as Putin faced a tough battle to push back Wagner chief from making gains in several Russian regions.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Earlier in the day, Wagner chief pledged to overthrow Russia's military leadership and his forces were moving through the Lipetsk region, situated around 400 kilometres (250 miles) south of Moscow, however, it seems like a deal was brokered between the warring factions which ultimately lead to the turning back of mercenary forces.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Russia's parliamentary leaders had expressed support for President Putin against Wagner mercenaries. On Saturday, the speakers of both houses of the Russian parliament declared their backing for President Vladimir Putin amidst the Wagner mercenary group's attempted ousting of the country's military leadership.</p>

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In a dramatic turn of events, Yevgeny Prigozhin, the rebel leader of the Wagner Group of mercenaries, ordered his fighters to retreat from their advance toward Moscow to prevent any violent confrontation and avert potential bloodshed following a deal with Belarus President Alexander Lukashenko under which Russia would drop all charges against him and he will be granted safe passage to Belarus.

In a dramatic turn of events, Yevgeny Prigozhin, the rebel leader of the Wagner Group of mercenaries, ordered his fighters to retreat from their advance toward Moscow to prevent any violent confrontation and avert potential bloodshed following a deal with Belarus President Alexander Lukashenko under which Russia would drop all charges against him and he will be granted safe passage to Belarus. Prigozhin revealed on Saturday that his forces had made significant progress, covering a distance of 200 km (124 miles) within the past 24 hours, but he has now issued orders for them to promptly return to their respective bases. The Wagner mutiny drama ended after Belarus claimed that President Alexander Lukashenko was able to persuade the Russian warlord Yevgeny Prigozhin to cease his march towards Moscow. If the claims are to be believed, it can lead to a potential end to the coup attempt in Russia, the first in last 30 years. Also Read | Archaeologists unearth 4,000-year-old ‘Stonehenge’ burial ground in the Netherlands Media reports citing Lukashenko's press service said the president engaged in extensive negotiations with Prigozhin throughout the "entire day" after establishing a mutual understanding with Putin. Before his negotiations with Wagner chief, Lukashenko held talks with Putin and they agreed on joint actions and “additionally clarifying the situation through his own channels.” The press service stated that Prigozhin has accepted Lukashenko's appeal to halt the movement. It said Prigozhin had “accepted [Lukashenko’s] request to “stop the movement of armed men from the Wagner company on Russian territory and [take] further steps to de-escalate the situation.” Also Read | Google rolls out 'Perspectives' tab in major search-engine revamp “At the moment, there is an absolutely advantageous and acceptable way to defuse the situation on the table, with security guarantees for Wagner’s fighters,” Lukashenko’s press service said, as per media reports. ⚡️⚡️⚡️ President of #Belarus #Lukashenko held talks w/ head of PMC Wagner #Prigozhin. Negotiations continued throughout the day. ‼️Y.Prigozhin accepted the proposal of President of 🇧🇾 to stop the movement of armed people of the Wagner company on the territory of #Russia pic.twitter.com/Kpf2SW7RNu — Belarus MFA 🇧🇾 (@BelarusMFA) June 24, 2023 × Before Wagner chief's decision to turn back his forces, Ukraine's defence ministry mocked the presence of Russian troops on the country's land on Saturday, urging them to return home and participate in the ongoing clashes between rebel mercenaries and Russia's military. The ministry's statement questioned the reason behind Russian soldiers still being stationed in challenging conditions instead of supporting their comrades involved in the conflict. In a statement, the Ukrainian ministry asked, "Why Russian soldiers are still sitting in muddy trenches rather than running to the aid of their comrades on both sides of the conflict. That would be far safer than confronting the Ukrainian army." Watch | 'Putin's chef' vs Defence Minister: Where has Wagner operated? × Many world leaders were also keeping a close eye on the events in Russia as Putin faced a tough battle to push back Wagner chief from making gains in several Russian regions. Earlier in the day, Wagner chief pledged to overthrow Russia's military leadership and his forces were moving through the Lipetsk region, situated around 400 kilometres (250 miles) south of Moscow, however, it seems like a deal was brokered between the warring factions which ultimately lead to the turning back of mercenary forces. Russia's parliamentary leaders had expressed support for President Putin against Wagner mercenaries. On Saturday, the speakers of both houses of the Russian parliament declared their backing for President Vladimir Putin amidst the Wagner mercenary group's attempted ousting of the country's military leadership. WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here. ×

Wagner chief Prigozhin orders fighters to retreat, halt advance on Moscow to prevent bloodshed

<p>Amid an armed rebellion declared by mercenary group Wagner's chief Yevgeny Prigozhin in Russia, world leaders are reacting to the development.&nbsp;President Vladimir Putin declared on Saturday his determination to quash the rebellion, which&nbsp;claimed to have seized control of the southern Russian city of Rostov-on-Don.&nbsp;“All those who prepared the rebellion will suffer inevitable punishment. The armed forces and other government agencies have received the necessary orders,” Putin said, as per media reports.&nbsp;</p>

<h2><strong>UK&nbsp;PM calls for protecting civilians</strong></h2>

<p>The British Prime Minister, Rishi Sunak, expressed his concern over the situation in Russia, where an armed insurrection led by Prigozhin took control of Rostov-on-Don. He emphasised the importance of protecting civilians and called on all parties involved to act responsibly.</p>

<p>Also Read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/trending/archaeologists-unearth-4000-year-old-stonehenge-burial-ground-in-the-netherlands-608203">Archaeologists unearth 4,000-year-old ‘Stonehenge’ burial ground in the Netherlands</a></p>

<p>The British government stated that the Wagner Group forces had crossed from Russian-occupied parts of Ukraine to Russia and had likely occupied key security sites in Rostov-on-Don. They also noted the movement of additional Wagner units toward Moscow.</p>

<h2><strong>White House is monitoring situation</strong></h2>

<p>President Joe Biden has been briefed on the situation in Russia, which US officials describe as serious. The White House National Security Council is monitoring the situation and consulting with allies and partners.</p>

<h2><strong>Zelensky says insurrection reveals Russia's weakness</strong></h2>

<p>President Zelensky highlighted the political instability within Russia, indicating that the armed insurrection by the Wagner mercenary group reveals Russia's weakness. He underscored Ukraine's ability to protect Europe from the spread of Russian chaos.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Also Read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/technology/google-rolls-out-perspectives-tab-in-major-search-engine-revamp-608201">Google rolls out 'Perspectives' tab in major search-engine revamp</a></p>

<p>"Russia's weakness is obvious. Full-scale weakness. And the longer Russia keeps its troops and mercenaries on our land, the more chaos, pain, and problems it will have for itself later," he said and added, "Ukraine is able to protect Europe from the spread of Russian evil and chaos."</p>

<h2><strong>Poland leaders hold consultations</strong></h2>

<p>Poland President Andrzej Duda&nbsp;held consultations with the prime minister and the Ministry of Defense in response to the situation in Russia. He mentioned that they are closely monitoring the events unfolding beyond their eastern border.</p>

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<p dir="ltr" lang="pl">W związku z sytuacją w Rosji odbyliśmy dziś rano konsultacje z Premierem i MON, a także z Sojusznikami. Przebieg wydarzeń za naszą wschodnią granicą jest na bieżąco monitorowany.</p>
— Andrzej Duda (@AndrzejDuda) <a href="https://twitter.com/AndrzejDuda/status/1672504750464540672?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">June 24, 2023</a></blockquote>
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<h2><strong>Estonia and Latvia</strong></h2>

<p>Prime Minister Kaja Kallas of Estonia assured that there is no direct threat to their country but emphasised that border security has been strengthened.</p>

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<p dir="ltr" lang="en">Estonia is closely following the development of the situation in Russia and exchanging information with allies.<br />
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I can assure that there is no direct threat to our country.<br />
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Border security has been strengthened. I also urge our people not to travel to any part of Russia.</p>
— Kaja Kallas (@kajakallas) <a href="https://twitter.com/kajakallas/status/1672528415134556161?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">June 24, 2023</a></blockquote>
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<p><strong>Watch | 'Putin's chef' vs Defence Minister: Where has Wagner operated?</strong></p>

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<p>She advised people not to travel to any part of Russia. President Egils Levits of Latvia stated that their state leadership and relevant services are closely monitoring the events in Russia, and border control has been strengthened.</p>

<h2>Macron reaffirms&nbsp;focus on supporting Ukraine</h2>

<p>The French President, Emmanuel Macron, is closely following the situation in Russia and reaffirmed their focus on supporting Ukraine.</p>

<h2><strong>Germany&nbsp;</strong>closely monitoring events</h2>

<p>The German government spokesperson said the country is closely monitoring the events in Russia.</p>

<h2><strong>Italy PM:&nbsp;</strong>Ukraine assault causing instability in Russia<strong>&nbsp;</strong></h2>

<p>Prime Minister Meloni is closely following the events in Russia while at the same time rebuked Russia for its 'assaalt' on Ukraine.&nbsp;"Prime Minister Meloni is closely following events in Russia, which show that its assault on Ukraine is causing instability within Russia," her office said.&nbsp;</p>

<h2><strong>Romania govt in touch with allies</strong></h2>

<p>President Klaus Iohannis of Romania stated that Romanian authorities are closely monitoring the events in Russia. They are in constant contact with their allies and remain informed about the developments.&nbsp;</p>

<h2><strong>Czech FM:&nbsp;</strong>My summer vacation in Crimea approaching<strong>&nbsp;</strong></h2>

<p>Czech Republic Foreign Minister Jan Lipavsky humorously commented on the situation, mentioning his upcoming summer vacation in Crimea.&nbsp;Lipavsky wrote, "I see that my summer vacation in Crimea is approaching."&nbsp;</p>

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<p dir="ltr" lang="cs">Koukám, že se moje letní dovolená na Krymu přibližuje. ⛱️🇺🇦</p>
— Jan Lipavský (@JanLipavsky) <a href="https://twitter.com/JanLipavsky/status/1672501993762435072?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">June 24, 2023</a></blockquote>
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<h2><strong>EU chief&nbsp;</strong> affirms&nbsp;unwavering support for Ukraine</h2>

<p>The EU is carefully observing the developments in Russia following the rebellion led by the Wagner mercenary group. EU Chief Charles Michel stated that they are in touch with their G7 partners and affirmed their unwavering support for Ukraine.</p>

<h2><strong>Iran: Wagner Group mutiny&nbsp;Russia's internal issue</strong></h2>

<p>Terming it an internal issue, Tehran said that it upholds the rule of law. This comes as&nbsp;Nasser Kanani, spokesperson for the Iranian foreign ministry was speaking over the recent developments in Russia.</p>

<p>"The Islamic Republic of Iran supports the rule of law in the Russian Federation," Nasser Kan'ani said in a statement.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Canada will convene an emergency meeting to take stock of the situation. Meanwhile, North Korea expressed support for Moscow over mutiny.&nbsp;</p>

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Amid an armed rebellion declared by mercenary group Wagner's chief Yevgeny Prigozhin in Russia, world leaders are reacting to the development. President Vladimir Putin declared on Saturday his determination to quash the rebellion, which claimed to have seized control of the southern Russian city of Rostov-on-Don.

Amid an armed rebellion declared by mercenary group Wagner's chief Yevgeny Prigozhin in Russia, world leaders are reacting to the development. President Vladimir Putin declared on Saturday his determination to quash the rebellion, which claimed to have seized control of the southern Russian city of Rostov-on-Don. “All those who prepared the rebellion will suffer inevitable punishment. The armed forces and other government agencies have received the necessary orders,” Putin said, as per media reports. UK PM calls for protecting civilians The British Prime Minister, Rishi Sunak, expressed his concern over the situation in Russia, where an armed insurrection led by Prigozhin took control of Rostov-on-Don. He emphasised the importance of protecting civilians and called on all parties involved to act responsibly. Also Read | Archaeologists unearth 4,000-year-old ‘Stonehenge’ burial ground in the Netherlands The British government stated that the Wagner Group forces had crossed from Russian-occupied parts of Ukraine to Russia and had likely occupied key security sites in Rostov-on-Don. They also noted the movement of additional Wagner units toward Moscow. White House is monitoring situation President Joe Biden has been briefed on the situation in Russia, which US officials describe as serious. The White House National Security Council is monitoring the situation and consulting with allies and partners. Zelensky says insurrection reveals Russia's weakness President Zelensky highlighted the political instability within Russia, indicating that the armed insurrection by the Wagner mercenary group reveals Russia's weakness. He underscored Ukraine's ability to protect Europe from the spread of Russian chaos. Also Read | Google rolls out 'Perspectives' tab in major search-engine revamp "Russia's weakness is obvious. Full-scale weakness. And the longer Russia keeps its troops and mercenaries on our land, the more chaos, pain, and problems it will have for itself later," he said and added, "Ukraine is able to protect Europe from the spread of Russian evil and chaos." Poland leaders hold consultations Poland President Andrzej Duda held consultations with the prime minister and the Ministry of Defense in response to the situation in Russia. He mentioned that they are closely monitoring the events unfolding beyond their eastern border. W związku z sytuacją w Rosji odbyliśmy dziś rano konsultacje z Premierem i MON, a także z Sojusznikami. Przebieg wydarzeń za naszą wschodnią granicą jest na bieżąco monitorowany. — Andrzej Duda (@AndrzejDuda) June 24, 2023 × Estonia and Latvia Prime Minister Kaja Kallas of Estonia assured that there is no direct threat to their country but emphasised that border security has been strengthened. Estonia is closely following the development of the situation in Russia and exchanging information with allies. I can assure that there is no direct threat to our country. Border security has been strengthened. I also urge our people not to travel to any part of Russia. — Kaja Kallas (@kajakallas) June 24, 2023 × Watch | 'Putin's chef' vs Defence Minister: Where has Wagner operated? × She advised people not to travel to any part of Russia. President Egils Levits of Latvia stated that their state leadership and relevant services are closely monitoring the events in Russia, and border control has been strengthened. Macron reaffirms focus on supporting Ukraine The French President, Emmanuel Macron, is closely following the situation in Russia and reaffirmed their focus on supporting Ukraine. Germany closely monitoring events The German government spokesperson said the country is closely monitoring the events in Russia. Italy PM: Ukraine assault causing instability in Russia Prime Minister Meloni is closely following the events in Russia while at the same time rebuked Russia for its 'assaalt' on Ukraine. "Prime Minister Meloni is closely following events in Russia, which show that its assault on Ukraine is causing instability within Russia," her office said. Romania govt in touch with allies President Klaus Iohannis of Romania stated that Romanian authorities are closely monitoring the events in Russia. They are in constant contact with their allies and remain informed about the developments. Czech FM: My summer vacation in Crimea approaching Czech Republic Foreign Minister Jan Lipavsky humorously commented on the situation, mentioning his upcoming summer vacation in Crimea. Lipavsky wrote, "I see that my summer vacation in Crimea is approaching." Koukám, že se moje letní dovolená na Krymu přibližuje. ⛱️🇺🇦 — Jan Lipavský (@JanLipavsky) June 24, 2023 × EU chief affirms unwavering support for Ukraine The EU is carefully observing the developments in Russia following the rebellion led by the Wagner mercenary group. EU Chief Charles Michel stated that they are in touch with their G7 partners and affirmed their unwavering support for Ukraine. Iran: Wagner Group mutiny Russia's internal issue Terming it an internal issue, Tehran said that it upholds the rule of law. This comes as Nasser Kanani, spokesperson for the Iranian foreign ministry was speaking over the recent developments in Russia. "The Islamic Republic of Iran supports the rule of law in the Russian Federation," Nasser Kan'ani said in a statement. Canada will convene an emergency meeting to take stock of the situation. Meanwhile, North Korea expressed support for Moscow over mutiny. WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here. ×

How global leaders reacted to rebellion in Russia, Wagner's control of Rostov-on-Don

<p>The armed uprising by Russia's Wagner mercenary group ended as dramatically as it began after a Belarus-brokered deal re-established the status quo amid ongoing war in Ukraine.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Here is a blow-by-blow account of what happened in Russia this weekend that shook corridors of power in Moscow and capitals across the world.</p>

<h2><strong>1. Prigozhin declares rebellion against Russian military leadership</strong></h2>

<p>In a series of posts on social media starting Friday, Wagner Group chief Yevgeny Prigozhin accused the Russian defence minister Sergei Shoigu of ordering deadly airstrikes on Wagner fighters and death of his 2500 men.&nbsp;</p>

<p>"The evil born by the country's military leadership must be stopped," he said.&nbsp;</p>

<h2><strong>2. Moscow orders Prigozhin's arrest</strong></h2>

<p>Russia's Federal Security Service opened a probe against Prigozhin for armed rebellion. Shortly, armoured vehicles were seen being deployed in Moscow and Rostov-on-Don where Prigozhin warned his fighters were moving towards. Moscow ordered the arrest of Prigozhin.</p>

<h2><strong>3. Wagner forces take Rostov-on-Don</strong></h2>

<p>Wagner forces took Rostov-on-Don with little resistance on Saturday morning. Prigozhin&nbsp; posted a video from the regional military headquarters and claimed that the "Wagnerites" control the city's key military installations.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Wagner fighters were seen walking around the city with takeout coffee and fast food.</p>

<h2><strong>4. Wagner forces move towards&nbsp;Moscow</strong></h2>

<p>Videos which went viral on social media, showed a column of armoured and personnel vehicles appearing to depart from Rostov in the direction of Moscow. The visuals shook global capitals and amounted to the most testing times for Putin's hold of power in and beyond The Kremlin.</p>

<h2><strong>5. Putin addresses the&nbsp;nation to clam nerves</strong></h2>

<p>President Vladimir Putin, in an address delivered at 9:30 AM (Moscow Time) accused forces loyal to the Wagner group of "treason".</p>

<p>"This is a blow to Russia. To our people and our actions to protect the Fatherland from such a threat will be harsh," Putin said.&nbsp;</p>

<p>"Actions that split our unity," he said, adding that they "are a stab in the back of our country and our people."</p>

<h2><strong>6. Wagner convoy accelerates its move towards Moscow</strong></h2>

<p>Wagner's forces accelerated their movement towards Moscow after Prigozhin was accused of treason and charges filed against him. Wagner convoy entered the Lipetsk region about 250 miles south of Moscow, after pushing through the Vorenzh region.</p>

<h2><strong>7. Lukashenko emerges as surprise peacemaker</strong></h2>

<p>Belarus state media announced that President Alexsandr Lukashenko negotiated an agreement with Wagner's Prigozhin to halt his forces’ advances.&nbsp;</p>

<p><strong>Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/wagner-chief-prigozhin-commands-fighters-to-retreat-from-advance-on-moscow-to-prevent-bloodshed-608369">Wagner chief Prigozhin commands fighters to retreat, halt advance on Moscow to prevent bloodshed</a></strong></p>

<p>Prigozhin then said in an audio message that his forces had come within 125 miles of Moscow and were "turning around" to head back to their training camps.</p>

<h2><strong>8. Prigozhin leaves Rostov for Belarus</strong></h2>

<p>Wagner forces left Rostov-on-Don with visuals on social media showing some residents coming out to show their support.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Prigozhin was among those leaving, driving out of the city in a heavily guarded black SUV.</p>

<h2><strong>9. Criminal case against Prigozhin dropped</strong></h2>

<p>The Kremlin announced that the criminal case against the Wagner leader, Yevgeny Prigozhin, would be dropped.</p>

<p><strong>Also watch |&nbsp;World reacts to Wagner's Call to Mutiny</strong></p>

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<p>Prigozhin will go to Belarus, the Kremlin spokesperson Peskov said, and the fighters who rebelled with him would not be prosecuted by law given their "service at the front."&nbsp;</p>

<h2><strong>10. Wagner fighters to sign contracts of allegiance</strong></h2>

<p>Wagner fighters who did not participate in the mutiny will now sign contracts of allegiance with the Russian Ministry of Defense.</p>

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The armed uprising by Russia's Wagner mercenary group ended as dramatically as it began after a Belarus-brokered deal re-established the status quo amid ongoing war in Ukraine.

The armed uprising by Russia's Wagner mercenary group ended as dramatically as it began after a Belarus-brokered deal re-established the status quo amid ongoing war in Ukraine. Here is a blow-by-blow account of what happened in Russia this weekend that shook corridors of power in Moscow and capitals across the world. 1. Prigozhin declares rebellion against Russian military leadership In a series of posts on social media starting Friday, Wagner Group chief Yevgeny Prigozhin accused the Russian defence minister Sergei Shoigu of ordering deadly airstrikes on Wagner fighters and death of his 2500 men. "The evil born by the country's military leadership must be stopped," he said. 2. Moscow orders Prigozhin's arrest Russia's Federal Security Service opened a probe against Prigozhin for armed rebellion. Shortly, armoured vehicles were seen being deployed in Moscow and Rostov-on-Don where Prigozhin warned his fighters were moving towards. Moscow ordered the arrest of Prigozhin. 3. Wagner forces take Rostov-on-Don Wagner forces took Rostov-on-Don with little resistance on Saturday morning. Prigozhin posted a video from the regional military headquarters and claimed that the "Wagnerites" control the city's key military installations. Wagner fighters were seen walking around the city with takeout coffee and fast food. 4. Wagner forces move towards Moscow Videos which went viral on social media, showed a column of armoured and personnel vehicles appearing to depart from Rostov in the direction of Moscow. The visuals shook global capitals and amounted to the most testing times for Putin's hold of power in and beyond The Kremlin. 5. Putin addresses the nation to clam nerves President Vladimir Putin, in an address delivered at 9:30 AM (Moscow Time) accused forces loyal to the Wagner group of "treason". "This is a blow to Russia. To our people and our actions to protect the Fatherland from such a threat will be harsh," Putin said. "Actions that split our unity," he said, adding that they "are a stab in the back of our country and our people." 6. Wagner convoy accelerates its move towards Moscow Wagner's forces accelerated their movement towards Moscow after Prigozhin was accused of treason and charges filed against him. Wagner convoy entered the Lipetsk region about 250 miles south of Moscow, after pushing through the Vorenzh region. 7. Lukashenko emerges as surprise peacemaker Belarus state media announced that President Alexsandr Lukashenko negotiated an agreement with Wagner's Prigozhin to halt his forces’ advances. Also read | Wagner chief Prigozhin commands fighters to retreat, halt advance on Moscow to prevent bloodshed Prigozhin then said in an audio message that his forces had come within 125 miles of Moscow and were "turning around" to head back to their training camps. 8. Prigozhin leaves Rostov for Belarus Wagner forces left Rostov-on-Don with visuals on social media showing some residents coming out to show their support. Prigozhin was among those leaving, driving out of the city in a heavily guarded black SUV. 9. Criminal case against Prigozhin dropped The Kremlin announced that the criminal case against the Wagner leader, Yevgeny Prigozhin, would be dropped. Also watch | World reacts to Wagner's Call to Mutiny × Prigozhin will go to Belarus, the Kremlin spokesperson Peskov said, and the fighters who rebelled with him would not be prosecuted by law given their "service at the front." 10. Wagner fighters to sign contracts of allegiance Wagner fighters who did not participate in the mutiny will now sign contracts of allegiance with the Russian Ministry of Defense. WATCH WION LIVE HERE

Wagner rebellion: When Putin’s former favourite chef served a dish of ‘treason’ | 10 points

<p>Russian President Vladimir Putin, on Saturday, thanked Belarus leader, Alexander Lukashenko, after the chief of mercenary group, Wagner, Yevgeny Prigozhin announced he was turning around his forces.&nbsp;</p>

<p>"The President of Belarus informed the President of Russia in detail about the results of negotiations with the leadership of PMC Wagner," Lukashenko's press service released a statement saying as quoted by news agency AFP, adding Putin "thanked his Belarusian colleague."</p>

<h2><strong>Wagner chief commands fighters to retreat</strong></h2>

<p>In a dramatic turn of events, Yevgeny Prigozhin, the leader of the Wagner mercenary, commanded his fighters to retreat from their advance toward Moscow to prevent any violent confrontation or avert the potential bloodshed.</p>

<p>His move came after Belarus asserted that President Alexander Lukashenko was able to persuade the Russian warlord Yevgeny Prigozhin to cease his march toward Moscow. If the claims are to be believed, it can lead to a potential end to the coup attempt in Russia, the first in the last 30 years.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Media reports citing Lukashenko's press service said the president engaged in extensive negotiations with Prigozhin throughout the "entire day" after establishing a mutual understanding with Putin.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Before his negotiations with Wagner's chief, he held talks with Putin and they agreed on joint actions and “additionally clarifying the situation through his own channels.”</p>

<p>The press service stated that Prigozhin has accepted Lukashenko's appeal to halt the movement.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Earlier, Russian President Vladimir Putin&nbsp;had made an emergency television broadcast railing against the “deadly threat to our state”.</p>

<p>Progozhin said that he wanted to avoid shedding Russian blood and would order his troops back to their bases instead.</p>

<p>“Now the moment has come when blood can be shed,” he said. “Therefore, realising all the responsibility for the fact that Russian blood will be shed from one side, we will turn our convoys around and go in the opposite direction to our field camps.”<br />
<br />
The Kremlin announced later on Saturday night that Prigozhin would move to Belarus under a deal to end what was in effect the country’s first armed coup in decades.</p>

<p>Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov said the criminal case that had been opened against Prigozhin for armed mutiny would be dropped, and the Wagner fighters who had taken part in his “march for justice” would not face any action in recognition of their previous service to Russia.</p>

<p>The Kremlin had earlier been forced to mobilise its forces and prepare defences as Prigozhin sent a convoy of armed troops towards Moscow.</p>

<p>Before Wagner chief's decision to turn back his forces, Ukraine's defence ministry mocked the presence of Russian troops within the country on Saturday, urging them to return home and participate in the ongoing clashes between rebel mercenaries and Russia's military. The ministry's statement questioned the reason behind Russian soldiers still being stationed in challenging conditions instead of supporting their comrades involved in the conflict.&nbsp;</p>

<p>In a statement, the Ukrainian ministry asked, "why Russian soldiers are still sitting in muddy trenches rather than running to the aid of their comrades on both sides of the conflict. That would be far safer than confronting the Ukrainian army."</p>

<p><em>(With inputs from agencies)</em></p>

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Russian President Vladimir Putin, on Saturday, thanked Belarus leader, Alexander Lukashenko, after the chief of mercenary group, Wagner, Yevgeny Prigozhin announced he was turning around his forces.

Russian President Vladimir Putin, on Saturday, thanked Belarus leader, Alexander Lukashenko, after the chief of mercenary group, Wagner, Yevgeny Prigozhin announced he was turning around his forces. "The President of Belarus informed the President of Russia in detail about the results of negotiations with the leadership of PMC Wagner," Lukashenko's press service released a statement saying as quoted by news agency AFP, adding Putin "thanked his Belarusian colleague." Wagner chief commands fighters to retreat In a dramatic turn of events, Yevgeny Prigozhin, the leader of the Wagner mercenary, commanded his fighters to retreat from their advance toward Moscow to prevent any violent confrontation or avert the potential bloodshed. His move came after Belarus asserted that President Alexander Lukashenko was able to persuade the Russian warlord Yevgeny Prigozhin to cease his march toward Moscow. If the claims are to be believed, it can lead to a potential end to the coup attempt in Russia, the first in the last 30 years. Media reports citing Lukashenko's press service said the president engaged in extensive negotiations with Prigozhin throughout the "entire day" after establishing a mutual understanding with Putin. Before his negotiations with Wagner's chief, he held talks with Putin and they agreed on joint actions and “additionally clarifying the situation through his own channels.” The press service stated that Prigozhin has accepted Lukashenko's appeal to halt the movement. Earlier, Russian President Vladimir Putin had made an emergency television broadcast railing against the “deadly threat to our state”. Progozhin said that he wanted to avoid shedding Russian blood and would order his troops back to their bases instead. “Now the moment has come when blood can be shed,” he said. “Therefore, realising all the responsibility for the fact that Russian blood will be shed from one side, we will turn our convoys around and go in the opposite direction to our field camps.” The Kremlin announced later on Saturday night that Prigozhin would move to Belarus under a deal to end what was in effect the country’s first armed coup in decades. Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov said the criminal case that had been opened against Prigozhin for armed mutiny would be dropped, and the Wagner fighters who had taken part in his “march for justice” would not face any action in recognition of their previous service to Russia. The Kremlin had earlier been forced to mobilise its forces and prepare defences as Prigozhin sent a convoy of armed troops towards Moscow. Before Wagner chief's decision to turn back his forces, Ukraine's defence ministry mocked the presence of Russian troops within the country on Saturday, urging them to return home and participate in the ongoing clashes between rebel mercenaries and Russia's military. The ministry's statement questioned the reason behind Russian soldiers still being stationed in challenging conditions instead of supporting their comrades involved in the conflict. In a statement, the Ukrainian ministry asked, "why Russian soldiers are still sitting in muddy trenches rather than running to the aid of their comrades on both sides of the conflict. That would be far safer than confronting the Ukrainian army." (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE

Russian President Vladimir Putin thanks Belarus leader after Wagner chief announces turnaround

<p>Yevgeny Prigozhin, the mercenary group Wagner's chief,&nbsp;on Friday, accused Moscow's military leadership of ordering strikes on his camps and killing a "huge" number of forces.&nbsp;</p>

<p>"We were ready to make concessions to the defence ministry, surrender our weapons," Prigozhin said in an audio message released by his spokespeople.&nbsp;</p>

<p>"Today, seeing that we have not been broken, they conducted missile strikes at our rear camps," he added.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The Russian defence ministry has denied Prigozhin's claims of strikes on camps of Wagner&nbsp;forces. As per a report by CNN,&nbsp;Russia’s domestic intelligence service has now&nbsp;opened a criminal case against him.</p>

<h2><strong>There was no need for Russia to invade Ukraine&nbsp;</strong></h2>

<p>Wagner chief also blamed defence minister Sergei Shoigu for starting the war in Ukraine in February last year.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Prigozhin has often accused Shoigu and some other officials during the course of the war, but the latest allegation is significant, as it questions Russia's justifications for invading Ukraine.&nbsp;</p>

<p>In a video posted on social media on&nbsp;Friday (June 23), the Wagner chief can be heard saying that Russia did not face any imminent security threat to justify the full-scale invasion of Ukraine.&nbsp;</p>

<p>In a half-hour video released by his press service, Prigozhin&nbsp;said, "The Armed Forces of Ukraine were not going to attack Russia with the NATO bloc. The Russian Defence Ministry is deceiving the public and the president."&nbsp;</p>

<p><strong>Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/ukraine-claims-to-have-rippled-13-cruise-missiles-fired-by-russia-607781">Ukraine claims to have struck down 13 cruise missiles fired by Russia</a>&nbsp;</strong></p>

<p>"On 24 February [2022] there was nothing extraordinary happening there. Now the Ministry of Defence is trying to deceive the public, deceive the president and tell a story that there was some crazy aggression by Ukraine, that - together with the whole NATO&nbsp;bloc - Ukraine was planning to attack us," he said.&nbsp;</p>

<p>"The war was needed... so that Shoigu could become a Marshal, so that he could get a second Hero Star… the war wasn't for demilitarising or de-nazifying Ukraine. It was needed for an extra star," he further added.&nbsp;</p>

<p>"Why did the special military operation begin? ... the war was needed for the self-promotion of a bunch of ba***rds," he added, further blaming Russian military leadership for "poorly planning" the invasion and "embarrassing" because of the setbacks on the battlefield.&nbsp;</p>

<p><strong>Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/russia-mounts-legal-challenge-to-keep-embassy-site-near-australian-parliament-607792">Russia mounts legal challenge to keep embassy site near Australian parliament</a>&nbsp;</strong></p>

<p>He said, "Shoigu killed thousands of the most combat-ready Russian soldiers in the first days of the war. The mentally ill sc**bags decided 'It's okay, we'll throw in a few thousand more Russian men as cannon fodder.&nbsp;They'll die under artillery fire, but we'll get what we want'."&nbsp;</p>

<p>"That's why it has become a protracted war," he said.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Prigozhin said that the war was also needed to enrich the ruling elite who were not satisfied with the commercial potential of part of Ukraine's Donbas region that Moscow seized control of in 2014 via a proxy separatist force.&nbsp;</p>

<p>He said, "The task was to divide material assets (in Ukraine). There was massive theft in the Donbas, but they wanted more."&nbsp;</p>

<p><strong>Watch:&nbsp;Russian diplomat stages protest as Australia dismisses lease for Moscow embassy&nbsp;</strong></p>

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<h2><strong>Russia 'retreating' from Ukraine attacks&nbsp;</strong></h2>

<p>Wagner's chief also said that Moscow's forces are retreating in Ukraine's east and south following Kyiv's counteroffensive - remarks that are basically contradicting recent assessments by Russian President Vladimir Putin that Ukraine was suffering "catastrophic" losses.&nbsp;</p>

<p>"On the ground now ... the Russian army is retreating on the Zaporizhzhia and Kherson fronts. The Armed Forces of Ukraine are pushing back the Russian army," Prigozhin said on social media.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Last year, just a few days after launching the invasion, Russia claimed that it annexed the southern Zaporizhzhia and Kherson regions. &nbsp;</p>

<p>"We are washing ourselves in blood. No one is bringing reserves. What they tell us is the deepest deception," Prigozhin added, referring to the Russian military and political leadership.</p>

<p><em><strong>Disclaimer: A number of claims and counterclaims are being made on the Ukraine-Russia conflict on the ground and online. While WION takes utmost care to accurately report this developing news story, we cannot independently verify the authenticity of all statements, photos and videos.</strong></em></p>

<p><em>(With inputs from agencies)</em><br />
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Yevgeny Prigozhin, the mercenary group Wagner's chief, on Friday, accused Moscow's military leadership of ordering strikes on his camps and killing a "huge" number of forces.

Yevgeny Prigozhin, the mercenary group Wagner's chief, on Friday, accused Moscow's military leadership of ordering strikes on his camps and killing a "huge" number of forces. "We were ready to make concessions to the defence ministry, surrender our weapons," Prigozhin said in an audio message released by his spokespeople. "Today, seeing that we have not been broken, they conducted missile strikes at our rear camps," he added. The Russian defence ministry has denied Prigozhin's claims of strikes on camps of Wagner forces. As per a report by CNN, Russia’s domestic intelligence service has now opened a criminal case against him. There was no need for Russia to invade Ukraine Wagner chief also blamed defence minister Sergei Shoigu for starting the war in Ukraine in February last year. Prigozhin has often accused Shoigu and some other officials during the course of the war, but the latest allegation is significant, as it questions Russia's justifications for invading Ukraine. In a video posted on social media on Friday (June 23), the Wagner chief can be heard saying that Russia did not face any imminent security threat to justify the full-scale invasion of Ukraine. In a half-hour video released by his press service, Prigozhin said, "The Armed Forces of Ukraine were not going to attack Russia with the NATO bloc. The Russian Defence Ministry is deceiving the public and the president." Also read: Ukraine claims to have struck down 13 cruise missiles fired by Russia "On 24 February [2022] there was nothing extraordinary happening there. Now the Ministry of Defence is trying to deceive the public, deceive the president and tell a story that there was some crazy aggression by Ukraine, that - together with the whole NATO bloc - Ukraine was planning to attack us," he said. "The war was needed... so that Shoigu could become a Marshal, so that he could get a second Hero Star… the war wasn't for demilitarising or de-nazifying Ukraine. It was needed for an extra star," he further added. "Why did the special military operation begin? ... the war was needed for the self-promotion of a bunch of ba***rds," he added, further blaming Russian military leadership for "poorly planning" the invasion and "embarrassing" because of the setbacks on the battlefield. Also read: Russia mounts legal challenge to keep embassy site near Australian parliament He said, "Shoigu killed thousands of the most combat-ready Russian soldiers in the first days of the war. The mentally ill sc**bags decided 'It's okay, we'll throw in a few thousand more Russian men as cannon fodder. They'll die under artillery fire, but we'll get what we want'." "That's why it has become a protracted war," he said. Prigozhin said that the war was also needed to enrich the ruling elite who were not satisfied with the commercial potential of part of Ukraine's Donbas region that Moscow seized control of in 2014 via a proxy separatist force. He said, "The task was to divide material assets (in Ukraine). There was massive theft in the Donbas, but they wanted more." Watch: Russian diplomat stages protest as Australia dismisses lease for Moscow embassy × Russia 'retreating' from Ukraine attacks Wagner's chief also said that Moscow's forces are retreating in Ukraine's east and south following Kyiv's counteroffensive - remarks that are basically contradicting recent assessments by Russian President Vladimir Putin that Ukraine was suffering "catastrophic" losses. "On the ground now ... the Russian army is retreating on the Zaporizhzhia and Kherson fronts. The Armed Forces of Ukraine are pushing back the Russian army," Prigozhin said on social media. Last year, just a few days after launching the invasion, Russia claimed that it annexed the southern Zaporizhzhia and Kherson regions. "We are washing ourselves in blood. No one is bringing reserves. What they tell us is the deepest deception," Prigozhin added, referring to the Russian military and political leadership. Disclaimer: A number of claims and counterclaims are being made on the Ukraine-Russia conflict on the ground and online. While WION takes utmost care to accurately report this developing news story, we cannot independently verify the authenticity of all statements, photos and videos. (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

Wagner chief accuses Russian military of bombing his forces, vows revenge

<p>The Russian authorities charged Wagner mercenary chief Yevgeny Prigozhin with mutiny after he called on his troops to oust the country’s military leadership.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The Wagner chief has been accused of "incitement to armed rebellion" after he asked Russians to join his 25,000 Wagner fighters against defence minister Sergei Shoigu and other top military commanders.&nbsp;</p>

<p>A threat to Russian President Vladimir Putin's primacy in the Kremlin is yet to be completely ruled out.</p>

<p>Prigozhin, whose Wagner mercenary group&nbsp;helped Russia seize the city of Bakhmut, accused the Russian military of carrying out a strike on its camp, as he threatened Shoigu, declaring:&nbsp;"This scum will be stopped!"</p>

<p>Prigozhin also claimed that his forces had shot down a Russian military aircraft, a claim which is yet to be verified.&nbsp;</p>

<h2><strong>All 'necessary measures' have been taken: Kremlin</strong></h2>

<p>Meanwhile, the Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said that President Vladimir Putin was informed about the developing situation and that "all necessary measures" were being taken.</p>

<p>According to the Russian state-owned news agency TASS, security was tightened in Moscow at government facilities and key infrastructure with the Russian National Guard and security forces being put on alert.</p>

<p>"Special services and law enforcement agencies, namely the Defense Ministry, Federal Security Service, Interior Ministry and the Russian Guard, constantly report to the president in a round-the-clock mode on the measures taken in the context of the implementation of his earlier instructions," Peskov said in a statement in the early hours of Saturday.</p>

<p><strong><em>Disclaimer: A number of claims and counterclaims are being made on the Ukraine-Russia conflict on the ground and online. While WION takes utmost care to accurately report this developing news story, we cannot independently verify the authenticity of all statements, photos and videos.</em></strong></p>

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The Russian authorities charged Wagner mercenary chief Yevgeny Prigozhin with mutiny after he called on his troops to oust the country’s military leadership. The Wagner chief has been accused of "incitement to armed rebellion" after he asked Russians to join his 25,000 Wagner fighters against defence minister Sergei Shoigu and other top military commanders.

The Russian authorities charged Wagner mercenary chief Yevgeny Prigozhin with mutiny after he called on his troops to oust the country’s military leadership. The Wagner chief has been accused of "incitement to armed rebellion" after he asked Russians to join his 25,000 Wagner fighters against defence minister Sergei Shoigu and other top military commanders. A threat to Russian President Vladimir Putin's primacy in the Kremlin is yet to be completely ruled out. Prigozhin, whose Wagner mercenary group helped Russia seize the city of Bakhmut, accused the Russian military of carrying out a strike on its camp, as he threatened Shoigu, declaring: "This scum will be stopped!" Prigozhin also claimed that his forces had shot down a Russian military aircraft, a claim which is yet to be verified. All 'necessary measures' have been taken: Kremlin Meanwhile, the Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said that President Vladimir Putin was informed about the developing situation and that "all necessary measures" were being taken. According to the Russian state-owned news agency TASS, security was tightened in Moscow at government facilities and key infrastructure with the Russian National Guard and security forces being put on alert. "Special services and law enforcement agencies, namely the Defense Ministry, Federal Security Service, Interior Ministry and the Russian Guard, constantly report to the president in a round-the-clock mode on the measures taken in the context of the implementation of his earlier instructions," Peskov said in a statement in the early hours of Saturday. Disclaimer: A number of claims and counterclaims are being made on the Ukraine-Russia conflict on the ground and online. While WION takes utmost care to accurately report this developing news story, we cannot independently verify the authenticity of all statements, photos and videos. WATCH WION LIVE HERE

Russia orders Wagner chief Yevgeny Prigozhin’s arrest after his call for mutiny

<p>Warning bells are ringing in Moscow over fears that Wagner chief Yevgeny Prigozhin might attempt at orchestrating a military coup in Russia. The enraged Wagner boss declared Saturday that his men had crossed the border from Ukraine into Russia and he was ready to go “all the way” against the Russian military.&nbsp;</p>

<p>"We are going onwards and we will go to the end," Yevgeny Prigozhin, 62, said in an audio message.</p>

<p>"We will destroy everything that stands in our way," he added in the most audacious challenge to President Vladimir Putin since the start of the offensive in Ukraine last year.</p>

<h2><strong>Why Kremlin and Wagner chief are at loggerheads?</strong></h2>

<p>A long-running standoff between Kremlin and Russia’s top military brass seems to have come to a head. Earlier, the Wagner boss accused Russia of staging an attack on his men and killing 2,000 of them. "Today, seeing that we have not been broken, they conducted missile strikes at our rear camps," Prigozhin alleged.<br />
<br />
Earlier, he also blamed the Russian defence ministry and Defence Minister Sergei Shoigu for starting the war in Ukraine. He said, "The Armed Forces of Ukraine were not going to attack Russia with the NATO bloc. The Russian Defence Ministry is deceiving the public and the president."</p>

<h2><strong>Kremlin orders Prigozhin’s immediate arrest, prosecution </strong></h2>

<p>As the Wagner boss vows to take revenge on the Russian authorities, the Kremlin has ordered his immediate arrest and prosecution. Russia also accused mercenary chief Yevgeny Prigozhin of calling for an armed mutiny after he alleged, without providing evidence, that the military leadership had claimed the lives of 2,000 of his fighters and vowed to stop what he called its "evil".</p>

<p>Russia’s top commander in Ukraine, Sergey Surovikin, on Friday evening, urged the Wagner fighters to "stop" and to "obey the will" of President Vladimir Putin.&nbsp;</p>

<p>"I’m addressing the leadership, commanders and fighters of Wagner. Together with you, we have traveled a difficult and hard path. We fought together, took risks, suffered losses and we won together. We are of the same blood. We are warriors. I urge you to stop, the enemy is only waiting for the internal political situation to worsen in our country," Surovikin was quoted as saying in Russian state media reports.</p>

<h2><strong>Security measures being taken in Moscow</strong></h2>

<p>Meanwhile, security around Moscow and the Kremlin has been beefed up. The military build-up in the area has been increasing for some hours now. Russian President Vladimir Putin is aware of the situation that is unfolding around Yevgeny Prigozhin, the founder of the private military company Wagner, and the necessary measures are being taken, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said, as per news agency TASS.</p>

<h2><strong>Reaction from the US</strong></h2>

<p>US National Security Council spokesperson Adam Hodge on Friday said that the US was monitoring the developing situation involving the Wagner fighters and Russia.&nbsp;</p>

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Warning bells are ringing in Moscow over fears that Wagner chief Yevgeny Prigozhin might attempt at orchestrating a military coup in Russia. The enraged Wagner boss declared Saturday that his men had crossed the border from Ukraine into Russia and he was ready to go “all the way” against the Russian military.

Warning bells are ringing in Moscow over fears that Wagner chief Yevgeny Prigozhin might attempt at orchestrating a military coup in Russia. The enraged Wagner boss declared Saturday that his men had crossed the border from Ukraine into Russia and he was ready to go “all the way” against the Russian military. "We are going onwards and we will go to the end," Yevgeny Prigozhin, 62, said in an audio message. "We will destroy everything that stands in our way," he added in the most audacious challenge to President Vladimir Putin since the start of the offensive in Ukraine last year. Why Kremlin and Wagner chief are at loggerheads? A long-running standoff between Kremlin and Russia’s top military brass seems to have come to a head. Earlier, the Wagner boss accused Russia of staging an attack on his men and killing 2,000 of them. "Today, seeing that we have not been broken, they conducted missile strikes at our rear camps," Prigozhin alleged. Earlier, he also blamed the Russian defence ministry and Defence Minister Sergei Shoigu for starting the war in Ukraine. He said, "The Armed Forces of Ukraine were not going to attack Russia with the NATO bloc. The Russian Defence Ministry is deceiving the public and the president." Kremlin orders Prigozhin’s immediate arrest, prosecution As the Wagner boss vows to take revenge on the Russian authorities, the Kremlin has ordered his immediate arrest and prosecution. Russia also accused mercenary chief Yevgeny Prigozhin of calling for an armed mutiny after he alleged, without providing evidence, that the military leadership had claimed the lives of 2,000 of his fighters and vowed to stop what he called its "evil". Russia’s top commander in Ukraine, Sergey Surovikin, on Friday evening, urged the Wagner fighters to "stop" and to "obey the will" of President Vladimir Putin. "I’m addressing the leadership, commanders and fighters of Wagner. Together with you, we have traveled a difficult and hard path. We fought together, took risks, suffered losses and we won together. We are of the same blood. We are warriors. I urge you to stop, the enemy is only waiting for the internal political situation to worsen in our country," Surovikin was quoted as saying in Russian state media reports. Security measures being taken in Moscow Meanwhile, security around Moscow and the Kremlin has been beefed up. The military build-up in the area has been increasing for some hours now. Russian President Vladimir Putin is aware of the situation that is unfolding around Yevgeny Prigozhin, the founder of the private military company Wagner, and the necessary measures are being taken, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said, as per news agency TASS. Reaction from the US US National Security Council spokesperson Adam Hodge on Friday said that the US was monitoring the developing situation involving the Wagner fighters and Russia. WATCH WION LIVE HERE ×

Warning bells sounded in Moscow as Wagner’s men go all out against Russian military

<p>A fuel depot in Voronezh, a city in southern Russia, caught fire on Saturday, as the region is witnessing a mutiny by Wagner mercenaries. The local governor, Alexander Gusev, reported the incident on Telegram, stating that efforts were underway to extinguish the blaze. He mentioned the presence of approximately 100 firefighters and more than 30 vehicles at the scene. According to initial reports, there have been no reported casualties.</p>

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<p dir="ltr" lang="en">Better view of the RusAF Ka-52 just after striking the fuel depot in <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Voronezh?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Voronezh</a>, Russia.<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/OSINT?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#OSINT</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/UkraineRussiaWar%EF%B8%8F?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#UkraineRussiaWar️</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/UkraineWar?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#UkraineWar</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Ukraine?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Ukraine</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Counteroffensive?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Counteroffensive</a> <a href="https://t.co/DmohiWy9q2">pic.twitter.com/DmohiWy9q2</a></p>
— OSINT (Uri) 🇺🇦 (@UKikaski) <a href="https://twitter.com/UKikaski/status/1672562124634177536?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">June 24, 2023</a></blockquote>
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<p>The cause of the fire has not been specified by Gusev. However, some media outlets have shared a video showing a military helicopter in the vicinity just before an explosion occurred.</p>

<h2><strong>Russia targets rebel convoy&nbsp;</strong></h2>

<p>According to reports, Russian military helicopters engaged in an attack on Saturday afternoon, targeting a convoy of rebel mercenaries who had made significant progress towards Moscow after seizing a southern city overnight.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Also Read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/trending/archaeologists-unearth-4000-year-old-stonehenge-burial-ground-in-the-netherlands-608203">Archaeologists unearth 4,000-year-old ‘Stonehenge’ burial ground in the Netherlands</a></p>

<p>In response, President Vladimir Putin pledged to suppress the armed mutiny, likening it to Russia's civil war from a century ago.&nbsp;Wagner leader Yevgeny Prigozhin said his fighters captured the army HQ in Russia's Rostov-on-Don "without firing a single shot".</p>

<p><strong>Watch | 'Putin's chef' vs Defence Minister: Where has Wagner operated?</strong></p>

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<p>He also claimed that the forces have the backing of local Russians.&nbsp;"Why does the country support us? Because we went on a march of justice," Prigozhin said in an audio message on Telegram and added, "We got to Rostov. Without a single shot we captured the building of the (army) HQ."</p>

<p>According to Putin's spokesperson Dmitry Peskov, the Russian President continues to fulfill his regular responsibilities within the Kremlin. This statement comes in response to the Wagner mercenary group's declaration of overthrowing the country's senior military leadership.&nbsp;</p>

<p>"The president is working in the Kremlin," Peskov told the state-run RIA Novosti news agency, after Wagner units claimed to have captured military installations in southern Russia.</p>

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A fuel depot in Voronezh, a city in southern Russia, caught fire on Saturday, as the region is witnessing a mutiny by Wagner mercenaries. The local governor, Alexander Gusev, reported the incident on Telegram, stating that efforts were underway to extinguish the blaze.

A fuel depot in Voronezh, a city in southern Russia, caught fire on Saturday, as the region is witnessing a mutiny by Wagner mercenaries. The local governor, Alexander Gusev, reported the incident on Telegram, stating that efforts were underway to extinguish the blaze. He mentioned the presence of approximately 100 firefighters and more than 30 vehicles at the scene. According to initial reports, there have been no reported casualties. Better view of the RusAF Ka-52 just after striking the fuel depot in #Voronezh, Russia.#OSINT #UkraineRussiaWar️ #UkraineWar #Ukraine #Counteroffensive pic.twitter.com/DmohiWy9q2 — OSINT (Uri) 🇺🇦 (@UKikaski) June 24, 2023 × The cause of the fire has not been specified by Gusev. However, some media outlets have shared a video showing a military helicopter in the vicinity just before an explosion occurred. Russia targets rebel convoy According to reports, Russian military helicopters engaged in an attack on Saturday afternoon, targeting a convoy of rebel mercenaries who had made significant progress towards Moscow after seizing a southern city overnight. Also Read | Archaeologists unearth 4,000-year-old ‘Stonehenge’ burial ground in the Netherlands In response, President Vladimir Putin pledged to suppress the armed mutiny, likening it to Russia's civil war from a century ago. Wagner leader Yevgeny Prigozhin said his fighters captured the army HQ in Russia's Rostov-on-Don "without firing a single shot". Watch | 'Putin's chef' vs Defence Minister: Where has Wagner operated? × He also claimed that the forces have the backing of local Russians. "Why does the country support us? Because we went on a march of justice," Prigozhin said in an audio message on Telegram and added, "We got to Rostov. Without a single shot we captured the building of the (army) HQ." According to Putin's spokesperson Dmitry Peskov, the Russian President continues to fulfill his regular responsibilities within the Kremlin. This statement comes in response to the Wagner mercenary group's declaration of overthrowing the country's senior military leadership. "The president is working in the Kremlin," Peskov told the state-run RIA Novosti news agency, after Wagner units claimed to have captured military installations in southern Russia. WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here. ×

Fuel depot catches fire in Russia’s Voronezh as Wagner mutiny continues

<p lang="en-US">Russian President Vladimir Putin, in a televised address to the Russians on Saturday, said that necessary orders have been given to the troops to neutralise those who have orchestrated the armed rebellion.<br />
<br />
The president addressed the nation as Wagner mercenary chief Yevgeny Prigozhin's armed forces declared to have gained control over the Russian city of RostoV and his army continued to 'march' towards the capital to oust the military leadership of the country.</p>

<h2 lang="en-US"><strong>Putin appeals for 'unity', says won't allow civil war</strong></h2>

<p lang="en-US">"I appeal to the citizens of Russia, to the personnel of the Armed Forces, law enforcement agencies and special services, to the soldiers and commanders who are now fighting in their combat positions, repelling enemy attacks – they are doing it heroically. I know. Today, I once again spoke with the commanders of all directions. I also appeal to those who, by deceit or threats, were dragged into a criminal adventure, pushed onto the path of a grave crime – an armed rebellion,” Putin said, in his address.</p>

<p lang="en-US"><strong>ALSO READ |</strong>&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/russia-issues-arrest-warrant-against-wagner-chief-after-his-call-for-mutiny-608089">Russia orders Wagner chief Yevgeny Prigozhin’s arrest after his call for mutiny</a></p>

<p lang="en-US">"This is a battle when the fate of our people is being decided, it requires the unity of all forces, unity, consolidation and responsibility, when everything that weakens us, any strife that our external enemies can use and use to undermine us from the inside must be thrown aside".</p>

<h2 lang="en-US"><strong>Putin calls Wagner chief's actions 'stab in the back', 'betrayal'</strong></h2>

<p lang="en-US">"The actions that split our unity are, in fact, apostasy from our people, from our comrades-in-arms who are now fighting at the front. This is a stab in the back to our country and our people. We will protect both our people and our statehood from any threats, including from internal betrayal, and what we are faced with is precisely betrayal&nbsp;to the cause for which, side by side with our other units and subunits, the fighters and commanders of the Wagner group fought and died,” the Russian president said.<br />
<br />
"I believe that we will save and defend what is dear and sacred to us. Together with our homeland, we will overcome any trials, we will become even stronger. Everyone who deliberately took the path of betrayal, who prepared an armed rebellion, took the path of rebellion and terrorist methods will suffer inevitable punishment, will answer before the law and before our people,” he added.<br />
<br />
The Wagner chief is facing accusations of "incitement to armed rebellion" as he asked Russians to support his 25,000 Wagner fighters against Defence Minister Sergei Shoigu. Prigozhin has been charged with armed mutiny and can face up to 20 years of imprisonment, as per TASS.</p>

<p lang="en-US"><strong>WATCH |&nbsp;Russia-Ukraine War: Wagner chief accuses Russia military of bombing its forces</strong></p>

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<p lang="en-US">"Amid the seriousness of the situation and the threat of escalation of confrontation in the Russian Federation the FSB has opened a criminal case into the fact of a call for an armed rebellion on the part of Yevgeny Prigozhin," the Federal Security Service’s Public Relations Centre said.<br />
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Russia, which has been engaging with Ukraine in one of the longest wars, is on the brink of civil war and feared a coup as it faced a rebellion from the Wagner group. Amid the escalating situation, an "anti-terrorist operation regime" has been declared in Moscow and all public events have been cancelled.&nbsp;</p>

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Russian President Vladimir Putin, in a televised address to the Russians on Saturday, said that necessary orders have been given to the troops to neutralise those who have orchestrated the armed rebellion.

Russian President Vladimir Putin, in a televised address to the Russians on Saturday, said that necessary orders have been given to the troops to neutralise those who have orchestrated the armed rebellion. The president addressed the nation as Wagner mercenary chief Yevgeny Prigozhin's armed forces declared to have gained control over the Russian city of RostoV and his army continued to 'march' towards the capital to oust the military leadership of the country. Putin appeals for 'unity', says won't allow civil war "I appeal to the citizens of Russia, to the personnel of the Armed Forces, law enforcement agencies and special services, to the soldiers and commanders who are now fighting in their combat positions, repelling enemy attacks – they are doing it heroically. I know. Today, I once again spoke with the commanders of all directions. I also appeal to those who, by deceit or threats, were dragged into a criminal adventure, pushed onto the path of a grave crime – an armed rebellion,” Putin said, in his address. ALSO READ | Russia orders Wagner chief Yevgeny Prigozhin’s arrest after his call for mutiny "This is a battle when the fate of our people is being decided, it requires the unity of all forces, unity, consolidation and responsibility, when everything that weakens us, any strife that our external enemies can use and use to undermine us from the inside must be thrown aside". Putin calls Wagner chief's actions 'stab in the back', 'betrayal' "The actions that split our unity are, in fact, apostasy from our people, from our comrades-in-arms who are now fighting at the front. This is a stab in the back to our country and our people. We will protect both our people and our statehood from any threats, including from internal betrayal, and what we are faced with is precisely betrayal to the cause for which, side by side with our other units and subunits, the fighters and commanders of the Wagner group fought and died,” the Russian president said. "I believe that we will save and defend what is dear and sacred to us. Together with our homeland, we will overcome any trials, we will become even stronger. Everyone who deliberately took the path of betrayal, who prepared an armed rebellion, took the path of rebellion and terrorist methods will suffer inevitable punishment, will answer before the law and before our people,” he added. The Wagner chief is facing accusations of "incitement to armed rebellion" as he asked Russians to support his 25,000 Wagner fighters against Defence Minister Sergei Shoigu. Prigozhin has been charged with armed mutiny and can face up to 20 years of imprisonment, as per TASS. WATCH | Russia-Ukraine War: Wagner chief accuses Russia military of bombing its forces "Amid the seriousness of the situation and the threat of escalation of confrontation in the Russian Federation the FSB has opened a criminal case into the fact of a call for an armed rebellion on the part of Yevgeny Prigozhin," the Federal Security Service’s Public Relations Centre said. Russia, which has been engaging with Ukraine in one of the longest wars, is on the brink of civil war and feared a coup as it faced a rebellion from the Wagner group. Amid the escalating situation, an "anti-terrorist operation regime" has been declared in Moscow and all public events have been cancelled. (With inputs from agencies) You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here. WATCH WION LIVE HERE

'This is treason': Putin appeals for 'unity', calls Wagner mutiny 'deadly threat' to Russia

<p>The head of the Wagner mercenary group, on Saturday (June 3), said that his fighters would be ready to defend the Russian border region of Belgorod which has recently witnessed a number of attacks. This comes as the group’s founder and chief Yevgeny Prigozhin has criticised the Russian military brass for not being able to defend Belgorod.</p>

<h2><strong>What did Prigozhin say about Belgorod?</strong></h2>

<p>The Wagner chief said that he would not wait for an “invitation” to deploy his fighters in the Russian border region. “If the defence ministry, in the near future, does not stop what is happening in the Belgorod region…then of course we will come to defend Russian land,” said&nbsp;Prigozhin.&nbsp;</p>

<p>He added, “The civilian population is dying in Belgorod.”&nbsp;So far, thousands have been evacuated from southwestern Belgorod days after an incursion from Ukraine.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Prigozhin, who founded the Wagner mercenary group and&nbsp;whose fighters&nbsp;have spearheaded battles in Ukraine, particularly in Bakhmut has&nbsp;gained widespread notoriety since the war in Ukraine began over a year ago.&nbsp;</p>

<h2><strong>What is happening in Belgorod?</strong></h2>

<p>On Saturday,&nbsp;Belgorod governor Vyacheslav Gladkov claimed that an unprecedented Ukrainian shelling killed two people in the border region. “Since this morning, the district of Shebekino has been under shelling of the Ukrainian armed forces,” said the Russian official.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Among those killed were two women, one “elderly woman” was killed in the village of Novaya Tavolzhanka while the other succumbed to her wounds in the village of Bezlyudovka. Last week, Russia claimed that it repelled an attempted incursion along its border with Ukraine from what it calls pro-Ukrainian militants.</p>

<p>According to Gladkov, the region has been hit by 500 attacks on Friday which included artillery and rocket fire and five people lost their lives during these attacks.</p>

<p>The reported incursion with a suspected drone attack and heavy shelling also prompted a partial evacuation of civilians from the area. The Russian defence ministry said that it repelled three cross-border attacks on Thursday.&nbsp;</p>

<p>It was said to be a joint effort by the Russian army units, border guards and units of the Federal Security Service which repelled the attack which involved five tanks and four armoured vehicles and some 70 fighters who&nbsp;tried to enter the entire border near Novaya Tavolzhanka and Shebekino.</p>

<p>The defence ministry claimed over 50 Ukrainian fighters were killed and four armoured vehicles were destroyed.&nbsp;</p>

<p><em><strong>Disclaimer: A number of claims and counterclaims are being made on the Ukraine-Russia conflict on the ground and online. While WION takes utmost care to accurately report this developing news story, we cannot independently verify the authenticity of all statements, photos and videos.</strong></em></p>

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The head of the Wagner mercenary group, on Saturday (June 3), said that his fighters would be ready to defend the Russian border region of Belgorod which has recently witnessed a number of attacks.

The head of the Wagner mercenary group, on Saturday (June 3), said that his fighters would be ready to defend the Russian border region of Belgorod which has recently witnessed a number of attacks. This comes as the group’s founder and chief Yevgeny Prigozhin has criticised the Russian military brass for not being able to defend Belgorod. What did Prigozhin say about Belgorod? The Wagner chief said that he would not wait for an “invitation” to deploy his fighters in the Russian border region. “If the defence ministry, in the near future, does not stop what is happening in the Belgorod region…then of course we will come to defend Russian land,” said Prigozhin. He added, “The civilian population is dying in Belgorod.” So far, thousands have been evacuated from southwestern Belgorod days after an incursion from Ukraine. Prigozhin, who founded the Wagner mercenary group and whose fighters have spearheaded battles in Ukraine, particularly in Bakhmut has gained widespread notoriety since the war in Ukraine began over a year ago. What is happening in Belgorod? On Saturday, Belgorod governor Vyacheslav Gladkov claimed that an unprecedented Ukrainian shelling killed two people in the border region. “Since this morning, the district of Shebekino has been under shelling of the Ukrainian armed forces,” said the Russian official. Among those killed were two women, one “elderly woman” was killed in the village of Novaya Tavolzhanka while the other succumbed to her wounds in the village of Bezlyudovka. Last week, Russia claimed that it repelled an attempted incursion along its border with Ukraine from what it calls pro-Ukrainian militants. According to Gladkov, the region has been hit by 500 attacks on Friday which included artillery and rocket fire and five people lost their lives during these attacks. The reported incursion with a suspected drone attack and heavy shelling also prompted a partial evacuation of civilians from the area. The Russian defence ministry said that it repelled three cross-border attacks on Thursday. It was said to be a joint effort by the Russian army units, border guards and units of the Federal Security Service which repelled the attack which involved five tanks and four armoured vehicles and some 70 fighters who tried to enter the entire border near Novaya Tavolzhanka and Shebekino. The defence ministry claimed over 50 Ukrainian fighters were killed and four armoured vehicles were destroyed. Disclaimer: A number of claims and counterclaims are being made on the Ukraine-Russia conflict on the ground and online. While WION takes utmost care to accurately report this developing news story, we cannot independently verify the authenticity of all statements, photos and videos. (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

Wagner mercenary group ready to defend Russian border region of Belgorod: Yevgeny Prigozhin

<p>Boss of Russian mercenary group Wagner Yevgeny Prigozhin said on Saturday that factions within the Kremlin were causing harm to the state by attempting to create divisions between him and Chechen fighters.&nbsp;Prigozhin stated that the disagreement between him and the Chechen forces, who are also involved in the conflict alongside the Russian army in Ukraine, had been resolved.</p>

<h2><strong>'Kremlin towers'</strong></h2>

<p>However, on Saturday, Prigozhin attributed the discord to unidentified Kremlin factions, which he referred to as "Kremlin towers."&nbsp;He claimed that their manipulative actions had escalated to the point where even President Putin had to reprimand them during a security council meeting.</p>

<p>In a message released by his press service, Prigozhin remarked that Pandora's Box had already been opened and that they were not the ones responsible for it.&nbsp;He accused a Kremlin faction of engaging in dangerous games, which had now become commonplace in the "Kremlin towers," ultimately leading to the destruction of the Russian state.</p>

<p>Also Read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/breast-cancer-drug-slashes-risk-of-recurrence-by-25-a-game-changer-in-fight-against-the-disease-600156">Breast cancer drug slashes risk of recurrence by 25 pc, a game-changer in fight against the disease</a></p>

<p>Although Prigozhin did not specifically identify the Kremlin faction, he warned that if their attempts to sow discord persisted, they would face severe consequences there will be “hell to pay”.&nbsp;</p>

<h2><strong>Chechen and Wagner boss' spat&nbsp;</strong></h2>

<p>A close associate of Chechen leader Ramzan Kadyrov publicly criticized the Wagner chief Prigozhin on Thursday. Adam Delimkhanov, a trusted ally of Kadyrov, addressed Prigozhin in a video message, referring to him using the diminutive form of his name, "Zhenya," and the familiar Russian form of "you" ("ty"). Delimkhanov characterized Prigozhin as a blogger who incessantly shouts about problems. It sparked a strong response from a high-ranking Wagner fighter.</p>

<p>Also Read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/business-economy/amazon-in-talks-to-introduce-prime-wireless-slashing-cell-phone-bills-to-10-or-even-free-600134">Amazon in talks to introduce 'Prime wireless', slashing cell phone bills to $10 or even free</a></p>

<p>"If you don't understand, then you can contact us and tell us the place and the time, I we will explain to you what you don't understand," Delimkhanov said of Prigozhin adding, "you have become a blogger who screams and shouts off to the whole world about all the problems," Delimkhanov said. "Stop shouting, yelling and screaming."</p>

<p>Dmitry Utkin, a former special forces officer with a significant role in Wagner, swiftly responded to the message, expressing strong disapproval.&nbsp;</p>

<p><strong>Watch | Pakistan to begin barter trade with Afghanistan, Iran and Russia</strong></p>

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<p>"Where did such familiarity come from: who gave you the right to use the address 'ty' and 'Zhenya'?" Utkin said in a message. It was reposted by Prigozhin on Telegram.</p>

<p>"Certain citizens should be put against a wall for the SHAME that we have," Utkin had written adding, "We are always ready to talk man to man."&nbsp;</p>

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Boss of Russian mercenary group Wagner Yevgeny Prigozhin said on Saturday that factions within the Kremlin were causing harm to the state by attempting to create divisions between him and Chechen fighters.

Boss of Russian mercenary group Wagner Yevgeny Prigozhin said on Saturday that factions within the Kremlin were causing harm to the state by attempting to create divisions between him and Chechen fighters. Prigozhin stated that the disagreement between him and the Chechen forces, who are also involved in the conflict alongside the Russian army in Ukraine, had been resolved. 'Kremlin towers' However, on Saturday, Prigozhin attributed the discord to unidentified Kremlin factions, which he referred to as "Kremlin towers." He claimed that their manipulative actions had escalated to the point where even President Putin had to reprimand them during a security council meeting. In a message released by his press service, Prigozhin remarked that Pandora's Box had already been opened and that they were not the ones responsible for it. He accused a Kremlin faction of engaging in dangerous games, which had now become commonplace in the "Kremlin towers," ultimately leading to the destruction of the Russian state. Also Read | Breast cancer drug slashes risk of recurrence by 25 pc, a game-changer in fight against the disease Although Prigozhin did not specifically identify the Kremlin faction, he warned that if their attempts to sow discord persisted, they would face severe consequences there will be “hell to pay”. Chechen and Wagner boss' spat A close associate of Chechen leader Ramzan Kadyrov publicly criticized the Wagner chief Prigozhin on Thursday. Adam Delimkhanov, a trusted ally of Kadyrov, addressed Prigozhin in a video message, referring to him using the diminutive form of his name, "Zhenya," and the familiar Russian form of "you" ("ty"). Delimkhanov characterized Prigozhin as a blogger who incessantly shouts about problems. It sparked a strong response from a high-ranking Wagner fighter. Also Read | Amazon in talks to introduce 'Prime wireless', slashing cell phone bills to $10 or even free "If you don't understand, then you can contact us and tell us the place and the time, I we will explain to you what you don't understand," Delimkhanov said of Prigozhin adding, "you have become a blogger who screams and shouts off to the whole world about all the problems," Delimkhanov said. "Stop shouting, yelling and screaming." Dmitry Utkin, a former special forces officer with a significant role in Wagner, swiftly responded to the message, expressing strong disapproval. Watch | Pakistan to begin barter trade with Afghanistan, Iran and Russia × "Where did such familiarity come from: who gave you the right to use the address 'ty' and 'Zhenya'?" Utkin said in a message. It was reposted by Prigozhin on Telegram. "Certain citizens should be put against a wall for the SHAME that we have," Utkin had written adding, "We are always ready to talk man to man." WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here. ×

Wagner boss says Kremlin faction destroying Russian state, sowing discord between him and Chechen fighters

<p>One of Chechen leader Ramzan Kadyrov's close allies on Thursday publicly criticised Russia's most prominent mercenary, casting Yevgeny Prigozhin as a blogger who yells all the time about problems, drawing a stern rebuke from a top Wagner fighter.</p>

<p>Addressing Prigozhin in a video message using the diminutive of "Zhenya" and the familiar Russian form of you ("ty"), Adam Delimkhanov, a close ally of Kadyrov, told Prigozhin:</p>

<p>"If you don't understand, then you can contact us and tell us the place and the time, I we will explain to you what you don't understand," Delimkhanov said of Prigozhin.</p>

<p><strong>ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/wagner-chief-warns-kremlin-blanking-him-on-state-media-will-provoke-backlash-597492">Wagner chief warns Kremlin, says blanking him out on state media will provoke backlash</a></strong></p>

<p>"You have become a blogger who screams and shouts off to the whole world about all the problems," Delimkhanov said. "Stop shouting, yelling and screaming."</p>

<p>The message drew a swift rebuke from one of Wagner's most senior fighters, Dmitry Utkin, a former special forces officer who served in Russian military intelligence.</p>

<p>"Where did such familiarity come from: who gave you the right to use the address 'ty' and 'Zhenya'?" Utkin said in a message which Prigozhin reposted on Telegram. "Certain citizens should be put against a wall for the SHAME that we have."</p>

<p>"We are always ready to talk man to man," Utkin said.</p>

<p><strong>WATCH |&nbsp;Wagner Group: Russia did not supply with adequate ammunition | Russia-Ukraine War</strong></p>

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<p>Kadyrov, the son of former Chechen President Akhmad Kadyrov who was assassinated in a 2004 bombing in Grozny, had last year supported some of Prigozhin's criticism of Russia's top military brass but their relations have distanced in recent months.</p>

<p>Kadyrov is a close ally of President Vladimir Putin.</p>

<p>Prigozhin, a restaurateur-turned-mercenary who quipped last week that his nickname should be "Putin's butcher" rather than "Putin's chef", said on Wednesday he had asked prosecutors to investigate whether senior Russian defence officials committed any "crime" before or during the war in Ukraine.</p>

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One of Chechen leader Ramzan Kadyrov's close allies on Thursday publicly criticised Russia's most prominent mercenary, casting Yevgeny Prigozhin as a blogger who yells all the time about problems, drawing a stern rebuke from a top Wagner fighter.

One of Chechen leader Ramzan Kadyrov's close allies on Thursday publicly criticised Russia's most prominent mercenary, casting Yevgeny Prigozhin as a blogger who yells all the time about problems, drawing a stern rebuke from a top Wagner fighter. Addressing Prigozhin in a video message using the diminutive of "Zhenya" and the familiar Russian form of you ("ty"), Adam Delimkhanov, a close ally of Kadyrov, told Prigozhin: "If you don't understand, then you can contact us and tell us the place and the time, I we will explain to you what you don't understand," Delimkhanov said of Prigozhin. ALSO READ | Wagner chief warns Kremlin, says blanking him out on state media will provoke backlash "You have become a blogger who screams and shouts off to the whole world about all the problems," Delimkhanov said. "Stop shouting, yelling and screaming." The message drew a swift rebuke from one of Wagner's most senior fighters, Dmitry Utkin, a former special forces officer who served in Russian military intelligence. "Where did such familiarity come from: who gave you the right to use the address 'ty' and 'Zhenya'?" Utkin said in a message which Prigozhin reposted on Telegram. "Certain citizens should be put against a wall for the SHAME that we have." "We are always ready to talk man to man," Utkin said. WATCH | Wagner Group: Russia did not supply with adequate ammunition | Russia-Ukraine War × Kadyrov, the son of former Chechen President Akhmad Kadyrov who was assassinated in a 2004 bombing in Grozny, had last year supported some of Prigozhin's criticism of Russia's top military brass but their relations have distanced in recent months. Kadyrov is a close ally of President Vladimir Putin. Prigozhin, a restaurateur-turned-mercenary who quipped last week that his nickname should be "Putin's butcher" rather than "Putin's chef", said on Wednesday he had asked prosecutors to investigate whether senior Russian defence officials committed any "crime" before or during the war in Ukraine. WATCH WION LIVE HERE ×

'Stop yelling': Top Chechen fighter scolds Russia's Wagner mercenary chief

<p>The head of Russia’s Wagner mercenary group, which has been spearheading Moscow’s fight in the Ukrainian city of Bakhmut, on Thursday (May 25) said his fighters have begun transferring their positions to the Russian army.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The change was seemingly confirmed by Deputy Defence Minister Hanna Maliar who said that Wagner fighters have been replaced by regular soldiers in the outskirts of Bakhmut.&nbsp;</p>

<h2><strong>Wagner’s withdrawal from Bakhmut</strong></h2>

<p>The announcement was made by the Wagner group’s founder Yevgeny Prigozhin in a video published on Thursday. “We are withdrawing the units from Bakhmut. From today at five in the morning, May 25 until June 1, most of the units will rebase to camps in the rear,” said the Wagner chief.&nbsp;<br />
<br />
He added, “We are handing over positions to the military, ammunition and everything. We pull back, we rest, we prepare and then we will get new tasks.” The video was published on messaging app Telegram where Prigozhin was seen dressed in tactical body armour and a military helmet standing beside a war-damaged residential block.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The Wagner chief, who has repeatedly criticised Russian defence officials, as per media reports, also said that his fighters would return to Bakhmut if the military is unable to manage the situation in the Ukrainian city which has witnessed some of the bloodiest battles amid the ongoing conflict.&nbsp;</p>

<h2><strong>Ukraine partially confirms the switch</strong></h2>

<p>The Ukrainian deputy defence minister also took to Telegram and has at least partially confirmed the announcement by the Wagner chief. “In Bakhmut’s outskirts, the enemy has replaced Wagner units with regular army forces. Inside the city itself, Wagner fighters remain,” said Maliar.&nbsp;</p>

<p>She also said that Russia is also reinforcing its positions on the flanks of Bakhmut and continued shelling to stop Ukrainian forces from advancing to the north and south of the city. Meanwhile, a spokesperson for Ukraine’s eastern military command, Serhiy Cherevatyi, said that Kyiv has noted a drop in the number of Russian attacks in the past three days or so.</p>

<p>There have been two military engagements in the last 24 hours, said the military spokesperson, adding that the shelling has continued. “We can definitely note a reduction in attacks and possibly this is linked to their regrouping. It is clear that we have inflicted heavy losses and they need this (to regroup),” said Cherevatyi, as quoted by Reuters.&nbsp;</p>

<p><em>(With inputs from agencies)&nbsp;</em><br />
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<em><strong>Disclaimer: A number of claims and counterclaims are being made on the Ukraine-Russia conflict on the ground and online. While WION takes utmost care to accurately report this developing news story, we cannot independently verify the authenticity of all statements, photos and videos.</strong></em></p>

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The head of Russia’s Wagner mercenary group, which has been spearheading Moscow’s fight in the Ukrainian city of Bakhmut, on Thursday (May 25) said his fighters have begun transferring their positions to the Russian army.

The head of Russia’s Wagner mercenary group, which has been spearheading Moscow’s fight in the Ukrainian city of Bakhmut, on Thursday (May 25) said his fighters have begun transferring their positions to the Russian army. The change was seemingly confirmed by Deputy Defence Minister Hanna Maliar who said that Wagner fighters have been replaced by regular soldiers in the outskirts of Bakhmut. Wagner’s withdrawal from Bakhmut The announcement was made by the Wagner group’s founder Yevgeny Prigozhin in a video published on Thursday. “We are withdrawing the units from Bakhmut. From today at five in the morning, May 25 until June 1, most of the units will rebase to camps in the rear,” said the Wagner chief. He added, “We are handing over positions to the military, ammunition and everything. We pull back, we rest, we prepare and then we will get new tasks.” The video was published on messaging app Telegram where Prigozhin was seen dressed in tactical body armour and a military helmet standing beside a war-damaged residential block. The Wagner chief, who has repeatedly criticised Russian defence officials, as per media reports, also said that his fighters would return to Bakhmut if the military is unable to manage the situation in the Ukrainian city which has witnessed some of the bloodiest battles amid the ongoing conflict. Ukraine partially confirms the switch The Ukrainian deputy defence minister also took to Telegram and has at least partially confirmed the announcement by the Wagner chief. “In Bakhmut’s outskirts, the enemy has replaced Wagner units with regular army forces. Inside the city itself, Wagner fighters remain,” said Maliar. She also said that Russia is also reinforcing its positions on the flanks of Bakhmut and continued shelling to stop Ukrainian forces from advancing to the north and south of the city. Meanwhile, a spokesperson for Ukraine’s eastern military command, Serhiy Cherevatyi, said that Kyiv has noted a drop in the number of Russian attacks in the past three days or so. There have been two military engagements in the last 24 hours, said the military spokesperson, adding that the shelling has continued. “We can definitely note a reduction in attacks and possibly this is linked to their regrouping. It is clear that we have inflicted heavy losses and they need this (to regroup),” said Cherevatyi, as quoted by Reuters. (With inputs from agencies) Disclaimer: A number of claims and counterclaims are being made on the Ukraine-Russia conflict on the ground and online. While WION takes utmost care to accurately report this developing news story, we cannot independently verify the authenticity of all statements, photos and videos. WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

Russia’s Wagner withdraws fighters from Bakhmut, military to take over; Ukraine partially confirms

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<p>Russian mercenary group Wagner's chief Yevgeny Prigozhin warned on Wednesday (May 24) that Russia could face a revolution similar to that of 1917 and lose the war in Ukraine unless the elite got serious about fighting the war. In an interview posted on his Telegram channel, Prigozhin said that his political outlook was dominated "by the love of the motherland" and serving Russian President Vladimir Putin, but cautioned that Moscow was in danger of turmoil, the news agency Reuters reported.</p>

<p>"Now for political credo - I love my motherland, I serve Putin, Shoigu is useless and we will fight on. That's it," he said.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Prigozhin added that there was a so-called optimistic view that the West would get tired of war and China would broker a peace deal, but he did not believe this. Instead, Ukraine was preparing a counteroffensive aimed at pushing Russian troops back to its borders before 2014, he said.&nbsp;</p>

<p>If ordinary Russians continued getting their children back in zinc coffins while the children of the elite "shook their arses" in the sun, he said, Russia would face turmoil along the lines of the 1917 revolutions that ushered in a civil war.</p>

<p>"This divide can end as in 1917 with a revolution," the Wagner chief said, adding "First the soldiers will stand up, and after that - their loved ones will rise up."&nbsp;</p>

<h2><strong>20,000 Wagner fighters killed in Bakhmut: Prigozhin</strong></h2>

<p>Prigozhin also said that 20,000 fighters of the Wagner group were killed in the battle for Bakhmut in Ukraine. "During the operation, I recruited 50,000 prisoners, of whom about 20 per cent died. This is exactly the same number as those who came to us under contract, meaning not from prison. Another 20 per cent were wounded and their wounds stop them from performing combat activities for three months or more," he added.&nbsp;</p>

<p>In Bakhmut, Prigozhin said, Ukraine suffered casualties of 50,000-70,000 wounded and 50,000 dead. He also cautioned that Ukrainian forces would try to encircle Bakhmut and attack Crimea.&nbsp;</p>

<p>He further went on to criticise the Russian military leadership and Moscow's post-Soviet policy towards Ukraine.&nbsp;<br />
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Russian mercenary group Wagner's chief Yevgeny Prigozhin warned on Wednesday (May 24) that Russia could face a revolution similar to that of 1917 and lose the war in Ukraine unless the elite got serious about fighting the war.

Russian mercenary group Wagner's chief Yevgeny Prigozhin warned on Wednesday (May 24) that Russia could face a revolution similar to that of 1917 and lose the war in Ukraine unless the elite got serious about fighting the war. In an interview posted on his Telegram channel, Prigozhin said that his political outlook was dominated "by the love of the motherland" and serving Russian President Vladimir Putin, but cautioned that Moscow was in danger of turmoil, the news agency Reuters reported. "Now for political credo - I love my motherland, I serve Putin, Shoigu is useless and we will fight on. That's it," he said. Prigozhin added that there was a so-called optimistic view that the West would get tired of war and China would broker a peace deal, but he did not believe this. Instead, Ukraine was preparing a counteroffensive aimed at pushing Russian troops back to its borders before 2014, he said. If ordinary Russians continued getting their children back in zinc coffins while the children of the elite "shook their arses" in the sun, he said, Russia would face turmoil along the lines of the 1917 revolutions that ushered in a civil war. "This divide can end as in 1917 with a revolution," the Wagner chief said, adding "First the soldiers will stand up, and after that - their loved ones will rise up." 20,000 Wagner fighters killed in Bakhmut: Prigozhin Prigozhin also said that 20,000 fighters of the Wagner group were killed in the battle for Bakhmut in Ukraine. "During the operation, I recruited 50,000 prisoners, of whom about 20 per cent died. This is exactly the same number as those who came to us under contract, meaning not from prison. Another 20 per cent were wounded and their wounds stop them from performing combat activities for three months or more," he added. In Bakhmut, Prigozhin said, Ukraine suffered casualties of 50,000-70,000 wounded and 50,000 dead. He also cautioned that Ukrainian forces would try to encircle Bakhmut and attack Crimea. He further went on to criticise the Russian military leadership and Moscow's post-Soviet policy towards Ukraine. WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

Ukraine war: Wagner Group chief warns Russia could face another revolution unless...

<p>Russia's Wagner group chief Yevgeny Prigozhin said that Russian fighters had completed the capture of Bakhmut, a claim which was promptly rejected by Kyiv.</p>

<p>Appearing in front of a line of fighters holding Russian flags and Wagner banners, Prigozhin made the claim in a video posted on Telegram.</p>

<p>"Today, at 12 noon, Bakhmut was completely taken," Prigozhin said. "We completely took the whole city, from house to house."</p>

<p>Ukrainian military spokesperson Serhiy Cherevatyi told Reuters: "This is not true. Our units are fighting in Bakhmut."</p>

<p>Currently at the end of its 15th month, the battle for control over Bakhmut has been the longest and bloodiest battle of the ongoing war in Ukraine.</p>

<p><a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/data-lab-in-maps-strategic-significance-of-bakhmut-in-russia-ukraine-war-571884">Here</a>, WION's Sneha Swaminathan explains Bakhmut's strategic significance in the ongoing war between Russia and Ukraine,&nbsp;in WION Datalabs.</p>

<p>The Wagner group's chief said that his forces would withdraw from Bakhmut from May 25 for recoupment and rest&nbsp;and hand over the control to regular Russian army.</p>

<h2><strong>Kiss Biden on top of his head: Wagner chief to Zelensky</strong></h2>

<p>Wagner chief's video announcing Russian capture of Bakhmut coincided with the meeting of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and US President Joe Biden in Japan's Hiroshima on the sidelines of Group of Seven (G-7) summit.</p>

<p>Prigozhin taunted Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky&nbsp;on his meeting with Biden.</p>

<p><strong>ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/wagner-group-will-soon-cease-to-exist-founder-tells-war-blogger-587166">Wagner group will soon cease to exist: Founder tells war blogger</a></strong></p>

<p>Addressing Zelenskyy, Prigozhin said: "Today when you see Biden, kiss him on the top of his head, say hi to him from me."</p>

<p>Meanwhile, Prigozhin also repeated his grievances towards regular Russian army and defence ministry in Moscow. He said that his forces suffered far heavier losses because of the inadequate support and ammunition supplies from the army.</p>

<p>Because of Russian bureaucracy and the "whims" of Shoigu and Chief of Staff Valery Gerasimov, "five times more guys died than they should have", he said in Saturday's video.</p>

<h2><strong>Capture of Bakhmut Russia's key immediate war aim: British intelligence</strong></h2>

<p>British defence intelligence said on Saturday it was "highly likely" that Russia had deployed up to several battalions to reinforce the Bakhmut sector, following Ukrainian tactical gains on the flanks of the town. It said this represented a "notable commitment by the Russian command".</p>

<p>"Russia's leadership likely continue to see capturing Bakhmut as the key immediate war aim which would allow them to claim some degree of success in the conflict," it said on Twitter.</p>

<p><strong>ALSO WATCH |&nbsp;Wagner Chief Prigozhin offered to share positions of Russian troops: Report</strong></p>

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<p>Prigozhin has himself acknowledged that Bakhmut, a city of 70,000 people before the war, had no strategic significance, but it took on huge symbolic importance for both sides because of the sheer intensity of the fighting and the scale of losses.</p>

<p><em>(With inputs from agencies)</em></p>

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Russia's Wagner group chief Yevgeny Prigozhin said that Russian fighters had completed the capture of Bakhmut, a claim which was promptly rejected by Kyiv. Appearing in front of a line of fighters holding Russian flags and Wagner banners, Prigozhin made the claim in a video posted on Telegram.

Russia's Wagner group chief Yevgeny Prigozhin said that Russian fighters had completed the capture of Bakhmut, a claim which was promptly rejected by Kyiv. Appearing in front of a line of fighters holding Russian flags and Wagner banners, Prigozhin made the claim in a video posted on Telegram. "Today, at 12 noon, Bakhmut was completely taken," Prigozhin said. "We completely took the whole city, from house to house." Ukrainian military spokesperson Serhiy Cherevatyi told Reuters: "This is not true. Our units are fighting in Bakhmut." Currently at the end of its 15th month, the battle for control over Bakhmut has been the longest and bloodiest battle of the ongoing war in Ukraine. Here, WION's Sneha Swaminathan explains Bakhmut's strategic significance in the ongoing war between Russia and Ukraine, in WION Datalabs. The Wagner group's chief said that his forces would withdraw from Bakhmut from May 25 for recoupment and rest and hand over the control to regular Russian army. Kiss Biden on top of his head: Wagner chief to Zelensky Wagner chief's video announcing Russian capture of Bakhmut coincided with the meeting of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and US President Joe Biden in Japan's Hiroshima on the sidelines of Group of Seven (G-7) summit. Prigozhin taunted Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky on his meeting with Biden. ALSO READ | Wagner group will soon cease to exist: Founder tells war blogger Addressing Zelenskyy, Prigozhin said: "Today when you see Biden, kiss him on the top of his head, say hi to him from me." Meanwhile, Prigozhin also repeated his grievances towards regular Russian army and defence ministry in Moscow. He said that his forces suffered far heavier losses because of the inadequate support and ammunition supplies from the army. Because of Russian bureaucracy and the "whims" of Shoigu and Chief of Staff Valery Gerasimov, "five times more guys died than they should have", he said in Saturday's video. Capture of Bakhmut Russia's key immediate war aim: British intelligence British defence intelligence said on Saturday it was "highly likely" that Russia had deployed up to several battalions to reinforce the Bakhmut sector, following Ukrainian tactical gains on the flanks of the town. It said this represented a "notable commitment by the Russian command". "Russia's leadership likely continue to see capturing Bakhmut as the key immediate war aim which would allow them to claim some degree of success in the conflict," it said on Twitter. ALSO WATCH | Wagner Chief Prigozhin offered to share positions of Russian troops: Report × Prigozhin has himself acknowledged that Bakhmut, a city of 70,000 people before the war, had no strategic significance, but it took on huge symbolic importance for both sides because of the sheer intensity of the fighting and the scale of losses. (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

'Kiss Biden on top of his head', Wagner chief announces Russian capture of Bakhmut; Kyiv denies

<p>The chief of Russia's Wagner private army declared on Thursday that Ukraine's long-awaited counteroffensive had already begun and made advances on the outskirts of Bakhmut, while Kyiv insisted its major push was yet to begin.</p>

<p>Ukrainian actions were "unfortunately, partially successful," Yevgeny Prigozhin, the commander of Russia's primary military campaign in Bakhmut, stated on social media, as reported by Reuters.</p>

<p>Kyiv claims to have forced Russian soldiers back in small-scale local attacks over the last two days near Bakhmut, but a counteroffensive involving tens of thousands of troops and hundreds of extra Western tanks is yet to start.&nbsp;</p>

<p>“We still need a bit more time,” President Volodymyr Zelensky said in an interview with European broadcasters released earlier on Thursday.</p>

<p>Ukrainian forces had previously received adequate equipment from Western partners for their combat, but they were waiting for the full complement to come to minimise losses, according to Zelensky.</p>

<p>“With [what we have] we can go forward and be successful.&nbsp;But we’d lose a lot of people. I think that’s unacceptable,” he said.</p>

<p><strong>ALSO READ |</strong>&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/uk-delivers-long-range-storm-shadow-cruise-missiles-to-ukraine-591384">UK delivers long-range ‘Storm Shadow’ cruise missiles to Ukraine</a></p>

<p>Prigozhin, a once-secretive figure who has since issued daily remarks criticising the Russian leadership for failing to sufficiently supply his forces, said Zelensky was "deceptive" and that the Ukrainian offensive had already begun.</p>

<p>While Prigozhin's troops have been battling in the city's centre, he has stated that Ukraine is gaining ground on its flanks in places guarded by regular Russian troops, some of whom have left.</p>

<p>Ukraine's conflict has reached a tipping point, with Kyiv preparing to launch a major counter-offensive after six months of putting its forces on the defensive, while Russia launched an enormous winter offensive but failed to seize substantial territory.</p>

<p>Russia has resumed air assaults on Ukraine after a nearly two-month hiatus in preparation for the Ukrainian counteroffensive. According to Moscow, Ukraine utilised drones to attack seized territories and Russian territory along the border.</p>

<p>According to the most recent report, a drone struck a petroleum storage tank in Russia's Bryansk area, which borders Ukraine. No one was injured. Such incidents are not discussed in Kyiv.</p>

<p><strong>ALSO WATCH |&nbsp;Russia Ukraine War: Remains of CH-55 missile found in Polish forest near Ukraine border</strong></p>

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<p>Russia is&nbsp;determined&nbsp;to safeguard the sixth of Ukraine's territory that it claims to have annexed in perpetuity. It has built extensive defences along the front in the six months since the last big Ukrainian advance. An armoured attack would be significantly more difficult than anything Ukraine's military has attempted thus far.</p>

<p>NATO's senior military official said in Brussels that the fight would increasingly be fought between large numbers of poorly trained Russian forces using outdated equipment and a smaller Ukrainian force equipped with better Western weaponry and training.&nbsp;</p>

<p><em>(With inputs from agencies)</em></p>

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The chief of Russia's Wagner private army declared on Thursday that Ukraine's long-awaited counteroffensive had already begun and made advances on the outskirts of Bakhmut, while Kyiv insisted its major push was yet to begin.

The chief of Russia's Wagner private army declared on Thursday that Ukraine's long-awaited counteroffensive had already begun and made advances on the outskirts of Bakhmut, while Kyiv insisted its major push was yet to begin. Ukrainian actions were "unfortunately, partially successful," Yevgeny Prigozhin, the commander of Russia's primary military campaign in Bakhmut, stated on social media, as reported by Reuters. Kyiv claims to have forced Russian soldiers back in small-scale local attacks over the last two days near Bakhmut, but a counteroffensive involving tens of thousands of troops and hundreds of extra Western tanks is yet to start. “We still need a bit more time,” President Volodymyr Zelensky said in an interview with European broadcasters released earlier on Thursday. Ukrainian forces had previously received adequate equipment from Western partners for their combat, but they were waiting for the full complement to come to minimise losses, according to Zelensky. “With [what we have] we can go forward and be successful. But we’d lose a lot of people. I think that’s unacceptable,” he said. ALSO READ | UK delivers long-range ‘Storm Shadow’ cruise missiles to Ukraine Prigozhin, a once-secretive figure who has since issued daily remarks criticising the Russian leadership for failing to sufficiently supply his forces, said Zelensky was "deceptive" and that the Ukrainian offensive had already begun. While Prigozhin's troops have been battling in the city's centre, he has stated that Ukraine is gaining ground on its flanks in places guarded by regular Russian troops, some of whom have left. Ukraine's conflict has reached a tipping point, with Kyiv preparing to launch a major counter-offensive after six months of putting its forces on the defensive, while Russia launched an enormous winter offensive but failed to seize substantial territory. Russia has resumed air assaults on Ukraine after a nearly two-month hiatus in preparation for the Ukrainian counteroffensive. According to Moscow, Ukraine utilised drones to attack seized territories and Russian territory along the border. According to the most recent report, a drone struck a petroleum storage tank in Russia's Bryansk area, which borders Ukraine. No one was injured. Such incidents are not discussed in Kyiv. ALSO WATCH | Russia Ukraine War: Remains of CH-55 missile found in Polish forest near Ukraine border Russia is determined to safeguard the sixth of Ukraine's territory that it claims to have annexed in perpetuity. It has built extensive defences along the front in the six months since the last big Ukrainian advance. An armoured attack would be significantly more difficult than anything Ukraine's military has attempted thus far. NATO's senior military official said in Brussels that the fight would increasingly be fought between large numbers of poorly trained Russian forces using outdated equipment and a smaller Ukrainian force equipped with better Western weaponry and training. (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE:

Zelensky says counteroffensive yet to start despite Kyiv's gains at frontline

<p>Russian mercenary group Wagner's chief Yevgeny Prigozhin on Saturday asked Moscow to let him hand over the Bakhmut positions to Chechen leader Ramzan Kadyrov.&nbsp;</p>

<p>"I ask you to issue a combat order before 00:00 on May 10 concerning the transfer of the positions of the Wagner paramilitary units in Bakhmut and its periphery, to the units of the Akhmat battalion," Yevgeny Prigozhin said in a letter to Russia's Defence Minister Sergei Shoigu.</p>

<p>The Akhmat battalion refers to the Chechen combat units under the command of Kadyrov, who has ruled Russia's Muslim-majority republic Chechnya for the last decade and a half.</p>

<p>Prigozhin said that his fighters would be compelled to withdraw because of a long "ammunition famine".</p>

<p>He condemned the Russian defence ministry for delivering only 32 per cent of the required ammunition since October 2022.&nbsp;</p>

<h2><strong>Chechen leader Ramzan Kadyrov to send forces replacing Wagner in Bakhmut</strong></h2>

<p>Chechen leader and a staunch ally of Russian President Vladimir Putin, Ramzan Kadyrov, said his forces are ready to replace Wagner Group mercenaries in Bakhmut.&nbsp;</p>

<p>This comes after Wagner Group announced the withdrawal of forces from the Bakhmut region with its leader Prigozhin citing lack of ammunition as the reason.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Kadyrov, reacting to Wagner's comments on leaving Bakhmut and giving the command to Russian Defence Ministry’s forces, said, "If the elder brother Prigozhin and Wagner fighters leave, the General Staff will lose an experienced combat unit, but the younger brother Kadyrov and the Akhmat unit will replace them in Artyomovsk."</p>

<p>"If such a scenario is implemented, our fighters are ready to advance and take the city. However, we would like the last remaining two kilometres to be taken not at the expense of the lives of our warriors but as a result of mutual understanding, support and the determination of commanders and soldiers," Kadyrov noted.</p>

<p>"The interests of the state and the country’s security should come first. Once the special military operation is over, I would like all of us to emerge victorious and all the soldiers, commanders and Russian patriots to stand together," Kadyrov added.</p>

<h2><strong>Russia's Wagner threatens to leave Bakhmut</strong></h2>

<p>Wagner Group chief on Friday announced that on May 10 it will pull out from the Bakhmut region where the battle to overrun Ukrainian resistance is continuing with sharp intensity for nearly two months.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Wagner Group boss Yevgeny Prigozhin said that his men were facing a lack of ammunition and that he would expect the army to take their place in Bakhmut next Wednesday.</p>

<p>"My lads will not suffer useless and unjustified losses in Bakhmut without ammunition," Prigozhin said in a video accompanying a written withdrawal announcement addressed to military leaders including President Vladimir Putin.</p>

<p>In the announcement, he condemned 'bureaucrats' for holding back the ammunition supplies despite knowing that Wagner's target date to capture the city was May 9, which is also the day of the World War II commemoration.</p>

<p>"If, because of your petty jealousy, you do not want to give the Russian people the victory of taking Bakhmut, that's your problem," Prigozhin added in the video.</p>

<p>As per RIA news agency reports, Russian Defence Minister Sergei Shoigu had instructed one of his deputy ministers to ensure troops had all the weapons they needed.&nbsp;</p>

<p><em>(With inputs from agencies)</em></p>

<p><strong><em>Disclaimer: A number of claims and counterclaims are being made on the Ukraine-Russia conflict on the ground and online. While WION takes utmost care to accurately report this developing news story, we cannot independently verify the authenticity of all statements, photos and videos.&nbsp;</em></strong></p>

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Russian mercenary group Wagner's chief Yevgeny Prigozhin on Saturday asked Moscow to let him hand over the Bakhmut positions to Chechen leader Ramzan Kadyrov. "I ask you to issue a combat order before 00:00 on May 10 concerning the transfer of the positions of the Wagner paramilitary units in Bakhmut and its periphery, to the units of the Akhmat battalion," Yevgeny Prigozhin said in a letter to Russia's Defence Minister Sergei Shoigu.

Russian mercenary group Wagner's chief Yevgeny Prigozhin on Saturday asked Moscow to let him hand over the Bakhmut positions to Chechen leader Ramzan Kadyrov. "I ask you to issue a combat order before 00:00 on May 10 concerning the transfer of the positions of the Wagner paramilitary units in Bakhmut and its periphery, to the units of the Akhmat battalion," Yevgeny Prigozhin said in a letter to Russia's Defence Minister Sergei Shoigu. The Akhmat battalion refers to the Chechen combat units under the command of Kadyrov, who has ruled Russia's Muslim-majority republic Chechnya for the last decade and a half. Prigozhin said that his fighters would be compelled to withdraw because of a long "ammunition famine". He condemned the Russian defence ministry for delivering only 32 per cent of the required ammunition since October 2022. Chechen leader Ramzan Kadyrov to send forces replacing Wagner in Bakhmut Chechen leader and a staunch ally of Russian President Vladimir Putin, Ramzan Kadyrov, said his forces are ready to replace Wagner Group mercenaries in Bakhmut. This comes after Wagner Group announced the withdrawal of forces from the Bakhmut region with its leader Prigozhin citing lack of ammunition as the reason. Kadyrov, reacting to Wagner's comments on leaving Bakhmut and giving the command to Russian Defence Ministry’s forces, said, "If the elder brother Prigozhin and Wagner fighters leave, the General Staff will lose an experienced combat unit, but the younger brother Kadyrov and the Akhmat unit will replace them in Artyomovsk." "If such a scenario is implemented, our fighters are ready to advance and take the city. However, we would like the last remaining two kilometres to be taken not at the expense of the lives of our warriors but as a result of mutual understanding, support and the determination of commanders and soldiers," Kadyrov noted. "The interests of the state and the country’s security should come first. Once the special military operation is over, I would like all of us to emerge victorious and all the soldiers, commanders and Russian patriots to stand together," Kadyrov added. Russia's Wagner threatens to leave Bakhmut Wagner Group chief on Friday announced that on May 10 it will pull out from the Bakhmut region where the battle to overrun Ukrainian resistance is continuing with sharp intensity for nearly two months. Wagner Group boss Yevgeny Prigozhin said that his men were facing a lack of ammunition and that he would expect the army to take their place in Bakhmut next Wednesday. "My lads will not suffer useless and unjustified losses in Bakhmut without ammunition," Prigozhin said in a video accompanying a written withdrawal announcement addressed to military leaders including President Vladimir Putin. In the announcement, he condemned 'bureaucrats' for holding back the ammunition supplies despite knowing that Wagner's target date to capture the city was May 9, which is also the day of the World War II commemoration. "If, because of your petty jealousy, you do not want to give the Russian people the victory of taking Bakhmut, that's your problem," Prigozhin added in the video. As per RIA news agency reports, Russian Defence Minister Sergei Shoigu had instructed one of his deputy ministers to ensure troops had all the weapons they needed. (With inputs from agencies) Disclaimer: A number of claims and counterclaims are being made on the Ukraine-Russia conflict on the ground and online. While WION takes utmost care to accurately report this developing news story, we cannot independently verify the authenticity of all statements, photos and videos. WATCH WION LIVE HERE

Wagner chief asks Moscow to let him hand over Bakhmut positions to Chechen leader

<p>Russian mercenary Wagner Group's chief Yevgeny Prigozhin on Friday threatened to pull his frontline troops out of Bakhmut. In a series of scathing videos, the Wagner chief blamed Russian Defence Minister Sergei Shoigu and Chief of General Staff Valery Gerasimov for "tens of thousands" of killed and wounded Russian fighters in Ukraine. Ahead of an expected Ukrainian offensive, Prigozhin's extraordinary attack on military chiefs, as per AFP, has exposed a deep rift in Russian ranks.</p>

<p>Vowing to hold the generals to account for their failure to provide his fighters with sufficient ammunition, the paramilitary leader said: "For the tens of thousands killed and wounded, they will bear responsibility in front of their mothers and children, I will achieve that."</p>

<p>"Their unprofessionalism is destroying tens of thousands of Russian guys and that is unforgivable," he added.</p>

<p>Here's all you need to know about Wagner chief Yevgeny Prigozhin and his anger at Russian generals.&nbsp;</p>

<h2><strong>Who is Yevgeny Prigozhin?</strong></h2>

<p>Yevgeny Viktorovich Prigozhin is a Russian oligarch and a confidant of President Vladimir Putin, who is often called "Putin's chef."&nbsp;</p>

<p>His nickname stems from the fact that he owns restaurants and catering companies that provide services for the Kremlin.</p>

<p>The Wagner chief started his career as a petty criminal and even spent a decade behind bars for crime. Released from jail in 1990, he started selling hotdogs and before long owned a chain of supermarkets, before opening a restaurant called the Old Customs House which became&nbsp;one of Putin's favourite haunts.</p>

<h2><strong>Prigozhin and Putin</strong></h2>

<p>As per the Guardian, the Wagner chief and the Russian President met back when Putin was deputy mayor of St Petersburg, serving under the-then mayor, Anatoly Sobchak.</p>

<p>Putin was reportedly a frequent patron of&nbsp;Prigozhin's restaurant, Old Customs House, on St Petersburg's Vasilievsky Island; even after ascending to the post of Russian President, he would often take his guests to the restaurant, which by then had been turned into a floating restaurant.&nbsp;</p>

<p>He would soon go on to win contracts and cater for major government events through Concord, a holding company he had set up back in the 1990s. Next, he would win giant government supply contracts worth billions of roubles to provide food to Moscow’s schools and eventually the army.</p>

<p>In 2014, he founded Wagner to support Russian-backed separatists in eastern Ukraine.</p>

<p>As Prigozhin describes it: "I cleaned the old weapons myself, sorted out the bulletproof vests myself and found specialists who could help me with this. From that moment, on 1 May 2014, a group of patriots was born, which later came to be called the Wagner Battalion."&nbsp;</p>

<p>"I am proud that I was able to defend their right to protect the interests of their country," he added in the September 2022 statement, posted by his catering company, Concord.</p>

<h2><strong>The Wagner Group</strong></h2>

<p>Prigozhin controls a network of influential companies and is the founder of the Russian state-backed mercenary company Wagner Group.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The group, as per the Business Insider report, has played a significant role in the ongoing Russia-Ukraine war and was reportedly deployed to assassinate Ukrainian leaders. As per Russian media outlet Mediazona, the Wagner group has also been recruiting prisoners for frontline combat.</p>

<p>Wagner Group's&nbsp;ranks according to Western intelligence estimates have ballooned to about 50,000. This includes tens of thousands of ex-prisoners recruited from jails around Russia, often personally by Prigozhin.</p>

<p>The group has been accused of committing human rights abuses in Ukraine, Syria, Libya, Central African Republic, Sudan and Mozambique.</p>

<p>As per a report by Polygraph, Prigozhin also controls three companies that have been accused of interference in the 2016 and 2018 US elections. For the alleged influencing of elections, Prigozhin, along with six other individuals was even (re) designated under the Specially Designated Nationals And Blocked Persons List (SDN).</p>

<h2><strong>Prigozhin’s anger at&nbsp;Russian generals</strong></h2>

<p>The Wagner chief in a series of scathing videos has threatened to pull out his&nbsp;troops from Bakhmut.</p>

<p>"I will pull out Wagner units from Bakhmut because, in the absence of ammunition, they are facing a senseless death," said Prigozhin in a recently released video statement. He added that he was now expecting a plan from the military on how to implement the withdrawal.</p>

<p>As per AFP, while Prigozhin has made similar threats to pull out in the past, the emotive language and the scathing personal criticism of the leaders of Russia's campaign in Ukraine were unprecedented.</p>

<p>The Wagner chief claims that Russian generals are "withholding" ammunition urgently needed by his men. In February of this year, he had even termed the withholding of munition supplies as "treason".</p>

<p>Previously, in December 2022, he accused Russian President Vladimir Putin of cutting him off completely and said that he has been unable to get through to anyone at the Kremlin.</p>

<p>On his Telegram channel, he said, "To get me to stop asking for ammunition, all the hotlines to offices, to departments etc., have been cut off from me. But the real humdinger is that they’ve also blocked agencies from making decisions [related to Wagner]."</p>

<p><em>(With inputs from agencies)</em><br />
<br />
&nbsp;</p>

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Russian mercenary Wagner Group's chief Yevgeny Prigozhin on Friday threatened to pull his frontline troops out of Bakhmut. In a series of scathing videos, the Wagner chief blamed Russian Defence Minister Sergei Shoigu and Chief of General Staff Valery Gerasimov for "tens of thousands" of killed and wounded Russian fighters in Ukraine.

Russian mercenary Wagner Group's chief Yevgeny Prigozhin on Friday threatened to pull his frontline troops out of Bakhmut. In a series of scathing videos, the Wagner chief blamed Russian Defence Minister Sergei Shoigu and Chief of General Staff Valery Gerasimov for "tens of thousands" of killed and wounded Russian fighters in Ukraine. Ahead of an expected Ukrainian offensive, Prigozhin's extraordinary attack on military chiefs, as per AFP, has exposed a deep rift in Russian ranks. Vowing to hold the generals to account for their failure to provide his fighters with sufficient ammunition, the paramilitary leader said: "For the tens of thousands killed and wounded, they will bear responsibility in front of their mothers and children, I will achieve that." "Their unprofessionalism is destroying tens of thousands of Russian guys and that is unforgivable," he added. Here's all you need to know about Wagner chief Yevgeny Prigozhin and his anger at Russian generals. Who is Yevgeny Prigozhin? Yevgeny Viktorovich Prigozhin is a Russian oligarch and a confidant of President Vladimir Putin, who is often called "Putin's chef." His nickname stems from the fact that he owns restaurants and catering companies that provide services for the Kremlin. The Wagner chief started his career as a petty criminal and even spent a decade behind bars for crime. Released from jail in 1990, he started selling hotdogs and before long owned a chain of supermarkets, before opening a restaurant called the Old Customs House which became one of Putin's favourite haunts. Prigozhin and Putin As per the Guardian, the Wagner chief and the Russian President met back when Putin was deputy mayor of St Petersburg, serving under the-then mayor, Anatoly Sobchak. Putin was reportedly a frequent patron of Prigozhin's restaurant, Old Customs House, on St Petersburg's Vasilievsky Island; even after ascending to the post of Russian President, he would often take his guests to the restaurant, which by then had been turned into a floating restaurant. He would soon go on to win contracts and cater for major government events through Concord, a holding company he had set up back in the 1990s. Next, he would win giant government supply contracts worth billions of roubles to provide food to Moscow’s schools and eventually the army. In 2014, he founded Wagner to support Russian-backed separatists in eastern Ukraine. As Prigozhin describes it: "I cleaned the old weapons myself, sorted out the bulletproof vests myself and found specialists who could help me with this. From that moment, on 1 May 2014, a group of patriots was born, which later came to be called the Wagner Battalion." "I am proud that I was able to defend their right to protect the interests of their country," he added in the September 2022 statement, posted by his catering company, Concord. The Wagner Group Prigozhin controls a network of influential companies and is the founder of the Russian state-backed mercenary company Wagner Group. The group, as per the Business Insider report, has played a significant role in the ongoing Russia-Ukraine war and was reportedly deployed to assassinate Ukrainian leaders. As per Russian media outlet Mediazona, the Wagner group has also been recruiting prisoners for frontline combat. Wagner Group's ranks according to Western intelligence estimates have ballooned to about 50,000. This includes tens of thousands of ex-prisoners recruited from jails around Russia, often personally by Prigozhin. The group has been accused of committing human rights abuses in Ukraine, Syria, Libya, Central African Republic, Sudan and Mozambique. As per a report by Polygraph, Prigozhin also controls three companies that have been accused of interference in the 2016 and 2018 US elections. For the alleged influencing of elections, Prigozhin, along with six other individuals was even (re) designated under the Specially Designated Nationals And Blocked Persons List (SDN). Prigozhin’s anger at Russian generals The Wagner chief in a series of scathing videos has threatened to pull out his troops from Bakhmut. "I will pull out Wagner units from Bakhmut because, in the absence of ammunition, they are facing a senseless death," said Prigozhin in a recently released video statement. He added that he was now expecting a plan from the military on how to implement the withdrawal. As per AFP, while Prigozhin has made similar threats to pull out in the past, the emotive language and the scathing personal criticism of the leaders of Russia's campaign in Ukraine were unprecedented. The Wagner chief claims that Russian generals are "withholding" ammunition urgently needed by his men. In February of this year, he had even termed the withholding of munition supplies as "treason". Previously, in December 2022, he accused Russian President Vladimir Putin of cutting him off completely and said that he has been unable to get through to anyone at the Kremlin. On his Telegram channel, he said, "To get me to stop asking for ammunition, all the hotlines to offices, to departments etc., have been cut off from me. But the real humdinger is that they’ve also blocked agencies from making decisions [related to Wagner]." (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

Explained | From hotdog seller to Putin's chef, all you need to know about Wagner chief Yevgeny Prigozhin

Russia's Wagner chief Prigozhin says his forces will leave Bakhmut on May 10. Meanwhile Russian and Ukrainian delegates had a fist fight at the Black Sea Summit in Turkiye, as the Russian representative tore off Ukrainian flag from MPs hands. Molly Gambhir reports.

Gravitas: Ukraine-Russia flag drama | Wagner chief pulling troops out of Bakhmut

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