<p>Days after his failed coup attempt, Wagner mercenary boss Yevgeny Prigozhin was seen for the first time in public on Wednesday (July 19).</p>

<p>A video going viral purportedly shows a man bearing resemblance to Prigozhin greeting the Wagner troops in Berlin, according to CNN.</p>

<p>“Welcome guys! I am happy to greet you all. Welcome to the Belarusian land! We fought with dignity! We have done a lot for Russia,” the&nbsp;man seeming like Prigozhin was quoted as saying in the video.</p>

<p>The clip was shared on pro-Wagner Telegram channels on Wednesday and then shared on Prigozhin’s account.</p>

<p>The video further shows a fighter purportedly addressing the man as “Yevgeny Viktorovich,” Prigozhin’s first name and patronymic.</p>

<div class="ui-state-default" contenteditable="false">
<div class="twitter-block" draggable="false">
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
<p dir="ltr" lang="en">Yevgeny Prigozhin sighted! He says Wagner will "be here in Belarus for some time" before "gathering our strength and heading off for Africa."<br />
<br />
"We may return to [fight in Ukraine] when we will be certain that we won't be made to disgrace ourselves and our experience," he added. <a href="https://t.co/G4W2uWSjNC">pic.twitter.com/G4W2uWSjNC</a></p>
— max seddon (@maxseddon) <a href="https://twitter.com/maxseddon/status/1681657661828243457?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 19, 2023</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>
<a class="close-mark close-div" href="#" id="jqclosemark">×</a></div>

<p>According to CNN, the video was unedited, and metadata on the file suggests that it was created on Wednesday at dawn.</p>

<p>But the outlet could not conclusively claim that the man was Prigozhin as the video appeared to be grainy and filmed in low light.</p>

<h2>Gravitas: Where is the Wagner chief? Yevgeny Prigozhin disappears from the public eye</h2>

<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/gravitas-where-is-the-wagner-chief-yevgeny-prigozhin-disappears-from-the-public-eye-615806/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>

<h2>&nbsp;</h2>

<h2><strong>'Wagner won’t participate in the Russia-Ukraine war'</strong></h2>

<p>While criticising the Russian Ministry of Defence, Prigozhin in the video said that his group would no longer participate in the Ukraine war and would instead “set off on a new journey to Africa.”</p>

<p>He further said that the group could return to Ukraine “when we will be confident that we will not be asked to make an embarrassment of ourselves and our experience.”</p>

<p>“What is happening now at the front is a disgrace in which we do not need to participate. We need to wait for the moment when we can prove ourselves fully,” Prigozhin said.</p>

<p>“Therefore, a decision was taken for us to station here in Belarus for some time. I am sure that during this time we will make the Belarusian army second greatest in the world. And if needed, we will defend them if it comes to it.”</p>

<p>“I want to ask everyone to really pay attention to the fact that Belarusians welcomed us not only as heroes, but also as brothers,” he added.</p>

<h2><strong>The failed coup attempt</strong></h2>

<p>On June 24, Prigozhin announced a coup against the Kremlin after growing discontent with the top Russian defence officials.</p>

<p>The mercenary groups took control of Rostov-on-Don—one of Russia’s largest cities—but did not proceed further saying that they want to avoid “shedding Russian blood” and agreed to live in exile in Belarus.</p>

<p>Initially, Putin accused the group of treason and sought to eliminate Prigozhin, once Putin’s ally, but Lukashenko claimed to have intervened in the matter, and negotiated a peace deal between the two.</p>

<p><em>(With inputs from agencies)</em><br />
<br />
<br />
&nbsp;</p>

<p><strong>WATCH WION LIVE HERE</strong></p>

<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>


Days after his failed coup attempt, Wagner mercenary boss Yevgeny Prigozhin was seen for the first time in public on Wednesday (July 19). A video going viral purportedly shows a man bearing resemblance to Prigozhin greeting the Wagner troops in Berlin, according to CNN.

Days after his failed coup attempt, Wagner mercenary boss Yevgeny Prigozhin was seen for the first time in public on Wednesday (July 19). A video going viral purportedly shows a man bearing resemblance to Prigozhin greeting the Wagner troops in Berlin, according to CNN. “Welcome guys! I am happy to greet you all. Welcome to the Belarusian land! We fought with dignity! We have done a lot for Russia,” the man seeming like Prigozhin was quoted as saying in the video. The clip was shared on pro-Wagner Telegram channels on Wednesday and then shared on Prigozhin’s account. The video further shows a fighter purportedly addressing the man as “Yevgeny Viktorovich,” Prigozhin’s first name and patronymic. Yevgeny Prigozhin sighted! He says Wagner will "be here in Belarus for some time" before "gathering our strength and heading off for Africa." "We may return to [fight in Ukraine] when we will be certain that we won't be made to disgrace ourselves and our experience," he added. pic.twitter.com/G4W2uWSjNC — max seddon (@maxseddon) July 19, 2023 × According to CNN, the video was unedited, and metadata on the file suggests that it was created on Wednesday at dawn. But the outlet could not conclusively claim that the man was Prigozhin as the video appeared to be grainy and filmed in low light. Gravitas: Where is the Wagner chief? Yevgeny Prigozhin disappears from the public eye 'Wagner won’t participate in the Russia-Ukraine war' While criticising the Russian Ministry of Defence, Prigozhin in the video said that his group would no longer participate in the Ukraine war and would instead “set off on a new journey to Africa.” He further said that the group could return to Ukraine “when we will be confident that we will not be asked to make an embarrassment of ourselves and our experience.” “What is happening now at the front is a disgrace in which we do not need to participate. We need to wait for the moment when we can prove ourselves fully,” Prigozhin said. “Therefore, a decision was taken for us to station here in Belarus for some time. I am sure that during this time we will make the Belarusian army second greatest in the world. And if needed, we will defend them if it comes to it.” “I want to ask everyone to really pay attention to the fact that Belarusians welcomed us not only as heroes, but also as brothers,” he added. The failed coup attempt On June 24, Prigozhin announced a coup against the Kremlin after growing discontent with the top Russian defence officials. The mercenary groups took control of Rostov-on-Don—one of Russia’s largest cities—but did not proceed further saying that they want to avoid “shedding Russian blood” and agreed to live in exile in Belarus. Initially, Putin accused the group of treason and sought to eliminate Prigozhin, once Putin’s ally, but Lukashenko claimed to have intervened in the matter, and negotiated a peace deal between the two. (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE

Wagner Group boss Yevgeny Prigozhin seen for first time in public since failed mutiny

<p><meta name="uuid" content="uuid7nEJFKOT1rb1" /><meta charset="utf-8" /><meta name="uuid" content="uuid7nEJFKOT1rb1" /><meta charset="utf-8" /></p>

<p>US President Joe Biden on Thursday (July 13) suggested Wagner Group chief Yevgeny Prigozhin could be in danger after he attempted a coup against Russian President Vladimir Putin last month. Speaking to reporters in Helsinki, Biden even gave cautionary advice, disguised as a joke to Prigozhin: Beware of poisoning.</p>

<p>“If I were he, I’d be careful what I ate. I would keep an eye on my menu," said Biden. He was possibly referring to countless instances of Russian security services using nerve agents and polonium to poison and kill enemies of Putin.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Biden added that during the NATO Summit in Vilnius, Lithuania, the world leaders discussed uncertainty around the impact on Russian operations in Ukraine, following the mutiny.&nbsp;</p>

<h2><strong>Putin on Wagner Group's future</strong></h2>

<p>Earlier, Russian President Vladimir Putin said that Wagner PMC was formally non-existent now, following the coup attempt.</p>

<p>When questioned about the organisation's future, from the point of view of the Russian legislation, Putin said, "Wagner PMC does not exist".&nbsp;</p>

<p>The president explained that Moscow had&nbsp;no law on private military companies and, therefore, "there is no such legal entity".&nbsp;</p>

<p>"The [Wagner] Group exists, but it is judicially non-existent," Kommersant’s special correspondent Andrey Kolesnikov quoted Putin as saying.&nbsp;</p>

<p>"The formal legalisation is a separate issue that should be addressed by the State Duma [the lower chamber of the Russian parliament] and the government. It’s a complicated issue."</p>

<p><a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/putins-claims-of-funding-wagner-group-likely-to-make-it-easier-to-try-him-for-war-crimes-experts-611014" target="_blank"><strong>Also read | Putin's claims of funding Wagner group likely makes it easier to try him for war crimes: Experts</strong></a></p>

<p>He added that the controversy surrounding the mercenary group was "very simple and clear" for members of Russian society.&nbsp;</p>

<p>"Wagner’s ordinary members were fighting with dignity… so it is very regrettable that they became embroiled into these events," said the president.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Notably, after the mutiny, Prigozhin initially moved to Belarus to avoid the wrath of Putin. But Moscow this week informed that the president held a three-hour meeting with the Wagner Group head and other commanders.&nbsp;</p>

<p><a href="https://www.wionews.com/videos/gravitas-is-russias-wagner-group-setting-up-a-secret-training-base-in-belarus-610683"><strong>WATCH |&nbsp;Gravitas: Is Russia's Wagner group setting up a secret training base in Belarus?</strong></a></p>

<div class="ui-state-default" contenteditable="false">
<div class="twitter-block" draggable="false">
<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/gravitas-is-russias-wagner-group-setting-up-a-secret-training-base-in-belarus-610683/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>
</div>
<a class="close-mark close-div" href="#" id="jqclosemark">×</a></div>

<p>&nbsp;</p>

<h2><strong>Why the coup?</strong></h2>

<p>The mercenary group had remained on the fringes since its inception in 2014. However, after the war with Ukraine&nbsp;dragged on, Putin turned towards Prigozhin for support. Initially, Wagner Group made concise inroads, hurting the Ukrainian side heavily.</p>

<p>But soon, Prigozhin started to lambast the Russian military and higher authorities for failing to provide his forces with enough resources.&nbsp;</p>

<p>While&nbsp;Prigozhin refrained from directly criticising Putin for the major part, he went for the jugular last month when his troops nearly marched upon Moscow within hours. Before the coup could grow,&nbsp;Prigozhin realised his mistake and chickened out.&nbsp;</p>

<p><em>(With inputs from agencies)</em></p>

<p><strong>WATCH WION LIVE HERE:&nbsp;</strong></p>

<p><iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="350" loading="”lazy”" src="https://www.wionews.com/live-tv/embed?autoplay=1&amp;mute=1" width="100%"></iframe></p>


US President Joe Biden on Thursday (July 13) suggested Wagner Group chief Yevgeny Prigozhin could be in danger after he attempted a coup against Russian President Vladimir Putin last month.

US President Joe Biden on Thursday (July 13) suggested Wagner Group chief Yevgeny Prigozhin could be in danger after he attempted a coup against Russian President Vladimir Putin last month. Speaking to reporters in Helsinki, Biden even gave cautionary advice, disguised as a joke to Prigozhin: Beware of poisoning. “If I were he, I’d be careful what I ate. I would keep an eye on my menu," said Biden. He was possibly referring to countless instances of Russian security services using nerve agents and polonium to poison and kill enemies of Putin. Biden added that during the NATO Summit in Vilnius, Lithuania, the world leaders discussed uncertainty around the impact on Russian operations in Ukraine, following the mutiny. Putin on Wagner Group's future Earlier, Russian President Vladimir Putin said that Wagner PMC was formally non-existent now, following the coup attempt. When questioned about the organisation's future, from the point of view of the Russian legislation, Putin said, "Wagner PMC does not exist". The president explained that Moscow had no law on private military companies and, therefore, "there is no such legal entity". "The [Wagner] Group exists, but it is judicially non-existent," Kommersant’s special correspondent Andrey Kolesnikov quoted Putin as saying. "The formal legalisation is a separate issue that should be addressed by the State Duma [the lower chamber of the Russian parliament] and the government. It’s a complicated issue." Also read | Putin's claims of funding Wagner group likely makes it easier to try him for war crimes: Experts He added that the controversy surrounding the mercenary group was "very simple and clear" for members of Russian society. "Wagner’s ordinary members were fighting with dignity… so it is very regrettable that they became embroiled into these events," said the president. Notably, after the mutiny, Prigozhin initially moved to Belarus to avoid the wrath of Putin. But Moscow this week informed that the president held a three-hour meeting with the Wagner Group head and other commanders. WATCH | Gravitas: Is Russia's Wagner group setting up a secret training base in Belarus? × Why the coup? The mercenary group had remained on the fringes since its inception in 2014. However, after the war with Ukraine dragged on, Putin turned towards Prigozhin for support. Initially, Wagner Group made concise inroads, hurting the Ukrainian side heavily. But soon, Prigozhin started to lambast the Russian military and higher authorities for failing to provide his forces with enough resources. While Prigozhin refrained from directly criticising Putin for the major part, he went for the jugular last month when his troops nearly marched upon Moscow within hours. Before the coup could grow, Prigozhin realised his mistake and chickened out. (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE:

Biden suggests Wagner chief be 'careful' of poisoning as Putin formally disbands mercenary outfit

<p>Russians scrambled to banks after Wagner mercenary group's chief Yevgeny Prigozhin launched an offensive against Moscow's military leadership last month. A total of 100 billion rubles (approximately $1.1 billion) were withdrawn from the banks during the three-day period between June 23-June 25 when Wagner forces were moving towards Moscow.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Russia's Central Bank's monthly monetary policy report released earlier this week said that 100 billion rubles were taken out in the June 23-25 period, The Moscow Times reported.</p>

<p><strong>Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/wagner-rebellion-when-putins-former-chef-served-a-dish-of-treason-ten-points-608452">Wagner rebellion: When Putin’s former favourite chef served a dish of ‘treason’ | 10 points</a></strong></p>

<p>On June 25, 2023, the armed uprising by Russia's Wagner mercenary group ended as dramatically as it began after a Belarus-brokered peace deal simmered down the clash between the mercenary group and the Russian state.&nbsp;</p>

<p>According to the Russian business news outlet RBC, the cash withdrawal during the Wagner's mutiny hours "was the most noticeable surge in demand for cash" since September 2021, when Moscow began mobilising its forces around Ukraine before its imminent offensive in February 2023.&nbsp;</p>

<h2><strong>Wagner mutiny and war in Ukraine: How much money was withdrawn in June?</strong></h2>

<p>Russia's Central Bank's figures cited by the Newsweek reported that 500 billion rubles (about $5.5 billion) were withdrawn from the Russian banks during the entire month of June. A fifth of these withdrawals reportedly took place during the June 23-25 weekend.&nbsp;</p>

<h2><strong>Wagner's support with Putin: Kremlin</strong></h2>

<p>Last month, shortly after the Wagner chief Yevgeny Prigozhin was seen leaving the city of Rostov-on-Don, he reportedly met Vladimir Putin.</p>

<p>Prigozhin was among 35 Wagner commanders invited to the meeting in Moscow, the Kremlin said. According to the spokesman, Prigozhin told Putin that Wagner unconditionally supported him.</p>

<p><strong>Also watch |&nbsp;Top Russian general knew about Wagner rebellion plan: Report</strong></p>

<div class="ui-state-default" contenteditable="false">
<div class="twitter-block" draggable="false">
<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/top-russian-general-knew-about-wagner-rebellion-plan-report-609585/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>
</div>
<a class="close-mark close-div" href="#" id="jqclosemark">×</a></div>

<p>Despite a dramatic resolution to the Wagner-Russian state clash, the events of June 24-June 26 weekend have been described as the most serious challenge yet to Russian President Vladimir Putin's authority in and beyond Moscow's corridors of power.</p>

<p>It remains unclear if Prigozhin is still in Russia or not.&nbsp;</p>

<p>As part of the peace deal announced on June 26, Prigozhin was supposed to go to Belarus, and the fighters who rebelled with him were granted amnesty for their "service at the front."&nbsp;</p>

<p><strong>WATCH WION LIVE HERE</strong></p>

<p><iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="350" loading="”lazy”" src="https://www.wionews.com/live-tv/embed?autoplay=1&amp;mute=1" width="100%"></iframe></p>

<p>You can <strong>now write for wionews.com</strong> and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us <strong><a href="https://www.wionews.com/content-contribution-registration-form">here</a>.</strong></p>


Russians scrambled to banks after Wagner mercenary group's chief Yevgeny Prigozhin launched an offensive against Moscow's military leadership last month. A total of 100 billion rubles (approximately $1.

Russians scrambled to banks after Wagner mercenary group's chief Yevgeny Prigozhin launched an offensive against Moscow's military leadership last month. A total of 100 billion rubles (approximately $1.1 billion) were withdrawn from the banks during the three-day period between June 23-June 25 when Wagner forces were moving towards Moscow. Russia's Central Bank's monthly monetary policy report released earlier this week said that 100 billion rubles were taken out in the June 23-25 period, The Moscow Times reported. Also read | Wagner rebellion: When Putin’s former favourite chef served a dish of ‘treason’ | 10 points On June 25, 2023, the armed uprising by Russia's Wagner mercenary group ended as dramatically as it began after a Belarus-brokered peace deal simmered down the clash between the mercenary group and the Russian state. According to the Russian business news outlet RBC, the cash withdrawal during the Wagner's mutiny hours "was the most noticeable surge in demand for cash" since September 2021, when Moscow began mobilising its forces around Ukraine before its imminent offensive in February 2023. Wagner mutiny and war in Ukraine: How much money was withdrawn in June? Russia's Central Bank's figures cited by the Newsweek reported that 500 billion rubles (about $5.5 billion) were withdrawn from the Russian banks during the entire month of June. A fifth of these withdrawals reportedly took place during the June 23-25 weekend. Wagner's support with Putin: Kremlin Last month, shortly after the Wagner chief Yevgeny Prigozhin was seen leaving the city of Rostov-on-Don, he reportedly met Vladimir Putin. Prigozhin was among 35 Wagner commanders invited to the meeting in Moscow, the Kremlin said. According to the spokesman, Prigozhin told Putin that Wagner unconditionally supported him. Also watch | Top Russian general knew about Wagner rebellion plan: Report × Despite a dramatic resolution to the Wagner-Russian state clash, the events of June 24-June 26 weekend have been described as the most serious challenge yet to Russian President Vladimir Putin's authority in and beyond Moscow's corridors of power. It remains unclear if Prigozhin is still in Russia or not. As part of the peace deal announced on June 26, Prigozhin was supposed to go to Belarus, and the fighters who rebelled with him were granted amnesty for their "service at the front." 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.

Russians scrambled to withdraw hundred billion rubles during Wagner's mutiny

<p>Russian President Vladimir Putin met the Wagner mercenary group’s chief Yevgeny Prigozhin five days after the failed coup attempt, the Kremlin said on Monday.</p>

<p>Briefing the reporters, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said that the meeting took place on June 29, in which 35 people were invited, including unit commanders. He further said that the meeting&nbsp;lasted three hours.</p>

<p>Putin “gave his assessment of the events of June 24,” Peskov said, referring to the date of the Wagner Group’s failed uprising.&nbsp;He added that Putin also "listened to accounts given by (Wagner) commanders".</p>

<p>The Wagner commanders told Putin they were his soldiers and would continue to fight for him.</p>

<p>The development comes following speculations that&nbsp;Prigozhin wasn't exiled to Belarus at all as part of the peace deal brokered by&nbsp;Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko.</p>

<p>On Thursday, Lukashenko told reporters that it was unclear if the Wagner fighters would come to Belarus after he previously offered them a desert military base.</p>

<p>“As for Prigozhin, he's in St Petersburg. He is not on the territory of Belarus," he said.</p>

<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/poland-deploys-troops-amid-rising-tensions-as-russias-wagner-group-moves-to-belarus-613560/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>

<p>Responding to Lukashenko's remarks, the Kremlin said it was "not following" Prigozhin's movements.</p>

<p>"No, we do not follow his movements, we have neither the ability nor the desire to do so," Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters on Thursday.</p>

<h2><strong>The failed coup attempt</strong></h2>

<p>On June 24, Prigozhin announced a coup against the Kremlin after growing discontent with the top Russian defence officials.</p>

<p>The mercenary groups took control of Rostov-on-Don—one of Russia’s largest cities—but did not proceed further saying that they want to avoid “shedding Russian blood” and agreed to live in exile in Belarus.</p>

<p><strong>Also read |</strong>&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/no-one-came-out-as-hero-lukashenko-disputes-russias-take-on-mutiny-612960">‘No one came out as hero’, Lukashenko disputes Russia’s take on Wagner mutiny</a></p>

<p>Initially, Putin accused the group of treason and sought to eliminate Prigozhin, once Putin’s ally, but Lukashenko claimed to have intervened in the matter and negotiated a peace deal between the two.</p>

<p><strong>Also read |</strong>&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/where-is-wagner-chief-prigozhin-lukashenko-says-not-in-belarus-612593"><strong>Where is Wagner chief Prigozhin? Lukashenko says not in Belarus</strong></a></p>

<p>Under the deal, Prigozhin was promised security and the Russian criminal case against Wagner was dropped.</p>

<p>Its fighters were told they could either sign regular army contracts, go home or head to Belarus.</p>

<p><strong>WATCH WION LIVE HERE</strong></p>

<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>


Russian President Vladimir Putin met the Wagner mercenary group’s chief Yevgeny Prigozhin five days after the failed coup attempt, the Kremlin said on Monday. Briefing the reporters, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said that the meeting took place on June 29, in which 35 people were invited, including unit commanders.

Russian President Vladimir Putin met the Wagner mercenary group’s chief Yevgeny Prigozhin five days after the failed coup attempt, the Kremlin said on Monday. Briefing the reporters, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said that the meeting took place on June 29, in which 35 people were invited, including unit commanders. He further said that the meeting lasted three hours. Putin “gave his assessment of the events of June 24,” Peskov said, referring to the date of the Wagner Group’s failed uprising. He added that Putin also "listened to accounts given by (Wagner) commanders". The Wagner commanders told Putin they were his soldiers and would continue to fight for him. The development comes following speculations that Prigozhin wasn't exiled to Belarus at all as part of the peace deal brokered by Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko. On Thursday, Lukashenko told reporters that it was unclear if the Wagner fighters would come to Belarus after he previously offered them a desert military base. “As for Prigozhin, he's in St Petersburg. He is not on the territory of Belarus," he said. Responding to Lukashenko's remarks, the Kremlin said it was "not following" Prigozhin's movements. "No, we do not follow his movements, we have neither the ability nor the desire to do so," Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters on Thursday. The failed coup attempt On June 24, Prigozhin announced a coup against the Kremlin after growing discontent with the top Russian defence officials. The mercenary groups took control of Rostov-on-Don—one of Russia’s largest cities—but did not proceed further saying that they want to avoid “shedding Russian blood” and agreed to live in exile in Belarus. Also read | ‘No one came out as hero’, Lukashenko disputes Russia’s take on Wagner mutiny Initially, Putin accused the group of treason and sought to eliminate Prigozhin, once Putin’s ally, but Lukashenko claimed to have intervened in the matter and negotiated a peace deal between the two. Also read | Where is Wagner chief Prigozhin? Lukashenko says not in Belarus Under the deal, Prigozhin was promised security and the Russian criminal case against Wagner was dropped. Its fighters were told they could either sign regular army contracts, go home or head to Belarus. WATCH WION LIVE HERE

Vladimir Putin met Wagner chief Yevgeny Prigozhin five days after failed coup attempt: Kremlin

Is the Wagner Chief back in Russia? Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko says Yevgeny Prigozhin has returned to Moscow. Is he a prisoner there or is he free? Molly Gambhir reports.

Gravitas: Has Yevgeny Prigozhin returned to Russia?

<p>President Alexander Lukashenko of Belarus has said that no one emerged as a hero out of the Wagner mutiny in Russia, disputing reports in Russian state media which claimed President Vladimir Putin had emerged victorious from the dramatic events. "I think that no-one came out of that situation a hero,” Lukashenko was quoted as saying by BBC.</p>

<p>He said that Putin requires to carefully monitor armed groups like Wagner that flourish on Russian soil.</p>

<p>“Not [Wagner chief Yevgeny] Prigozhin, not Putin, not Lukashenko. There were no heroes. And the lesson from this? If we create armed groups like this, we need to keep an eye on them and pay serious attention to them," Lukashenko said.</p>

<h2><strong>Lukashenko on using nuclear weapons</strong></h2>

<p>While talking to BBC, Lukashenko said he “won’t hesitate to use nuclear weapons” but added that he hopes he is never forced to take the decision to use them.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Upon being reminded that they were not Belarus’s own nukes, but given by Russia, Lukashenko replied, “Why can't I fight with someone else's weapons?”</p>

<p><strong>Watch:&nbsp;Russian state TV shows 'The Riches' of Wagner chief</strong></p>

<div class="ui-state-default" contenteditable="false">
<div class="twitter-block" draggable="false">
<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/russian-state-tv-shows-the-riches-of-wagner-chief-612824/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>
</div>
<a class="close-mark close-div" href="#" id="jqclosemark">×</a></div>

<p>"In Ukraine a whole army is fighting with foreign weapons, isn't it," the Belarusian leader retorted. "Nato weapons. Because they've run out of their own. So why can't I fight with someone else's weapons?"</p>

<h2><strong>Lukashenko on Wagner chief</strong></h2>

<p>Lukashenko also clarified that Wagner chief Prigozhin, along with his fighters, was not on Belarusian territory, and added that there was a possibility that he may never have to move to Belarus, as promised under the deal brokered by him between the Wagner chief and the Kremlin.&nbsp;</p>

<p>"He is in Petersburg ... perhaps he went to Moscow this morning," Lukashenko was quoted as saying by Reuters.</p>

<p><a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/where-is-wagner-chief-prigozhin-lukashenko-says-not-in-belarus-612593"><strong>Also read:&nbsp;Where is Wagner chief Prigozhin? Lukashenko says not in Belarus</strong></a></p>

<p>He also speculated that Russian intelligence forces were keeping a close watch on the Wagner chief and that Kremlin had never wanted to “wipe out” Prigozhin because that would have unleashed a civil war on the nation.<br />
"The fighters of the Wagner group are at their camps - their permanent camps - those where they have been located since they left the front," he added.</p>

<h2><strong>Russia on Prigozhin</strong></h2>

<p>The Kremlin earlier denied that Russia was tracking Prigozhin’s movements in Russia, while not confirming whether or not his departure from the country was one condition of the deal. "No, we do not follow his movements, we have neither the ability nor the desire to do so," Putin's spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters on Thursday.</p>

<div class="ui-state-default" contenteditable="false">
<div class="twitter-block" draggable="false">
<p><strong>WATCH WION LIVE HERE</strong></p>

<p><iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="350" loading="”lazy”" src="https://www.wionews.com/live-tv/embed?autoplay=1&amp;mute=1" width="100%"></iframe></p>
</div>
<a class="close-mark close-div" href="#" id="jqclosemark">×</a></div>

<p>&nbsp;</p>


President Alexander Lukashenko of Belarus has said that no one emerged as a hero out of the Wagner mutiny in Russia, disputing reports in Russian state media which claimed President Vladimir Putin had emerged victorious from the dramatic events.

President Alexander Lukashenko of Belarus has said that no one emerged as a hero out of the Wagner mutiny in Russia, disputing reports in Russian state media which claimed President Vladimir Putin had emerged victorious from the dramatic events. "I think that no-one came out of that situation a hero,” Lukashenko was quoted as saying by BBC. He said that Putin requires to carefully monitor armed groups like Wagner that flourish on Russian soil. “Not [Wagner chief Yevgeny] Prigozhin, not Putin, not Lukashenko. There were no heroes. And the lesson from this? If we create armed groups like this, we need to keep an eye on them and pay serious attention to them," Lukashenko said. Lukashenko on using nuclear weapons While talking to BBC, Lukashenko said he “won’t hesitate to use nuclear weapons” but added that he hopes he is never forced to take the decision to use them. Upon being reminded that they were not Belarus’s own nukes, but given by Russia, Lukashenko replied, “Why can't I fight with someone else's weapons?” Watch: Russian state TV shows 'The Riches' of Wagner chief × "In Ukraine a whole army is fighting with foreign weapons, isn't it," the Belarusian leader retorted. "Nato weapons. Because they've run out of their own. So why can't I fight with someone else's weapons?" Lukashenko on Wagner chief Lukashenko also clarified that Wagner chief Prigozhin, along with his fighters, was not on Belarusian territory, and added that there was a possibility that he may never have to move to Belarus, as promised under the deal brokered by him between the Wagner chief and the Kremlin. "He is in Petersburg ... perhaps he went to Moscow this morning," Lukashenko was quoted as saying by Reuters. Also read: Where is Wagner chief Prigozhin? Lukashenko says not in Belarus He also speculated that Russian intelligence forces were keeping a close watch on the Wagner chief and that Kremlin had never wanted to “wipe out” Prigozhin because that would have unleashed a civil war on the nation. "The fighters of the Wagner group are at their camps - their permanent camps - those where they have been located since they left the front," he added. Russia on Prigozhin The Kremlin earlier denied that Russia was tracking Prigozhin’s movements in Russia, while not confirming whether or not his departure from the country was one condition of the deal. "No, we do not follow his movements, we have neither the ability nor the desire to do so," Putin's spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters on Thursday. WATCH WION LIVE HERE ×

‘No one came out as hero’, Lukashenko disputes Russia’s take on Wagner mutiny

<p>Initially, it was said that Wagner boss Yevgeny Prigozhin was exiled to Belarus. Days later, reports emerged that the mercenary group’s boss was seen in Russia’s St. Petersburg, contradicting the earlier reports. Now a new piece of information has come to the fore that can be described as bizarre, to say the least.</p>

<p>A new theory is doing the rounds that Prigozhin never went to Belarus after all—which was part of a deal brokered by Belarusian leader Alexander Lukashenko, who took credit for convincing Russian President Vladimir Putin not to eliminate the mercenary chief for attempting a coup.</p>

<p>An unnamed Pentagon official told The New York Times that Prigozhin was actually in Russia the whole time in the aftermath of the failed coup attempt and that he may have employed a body double to make it appear as if he fled Russia.</p>

<p>The official also claimed that none of the Wagner troops were sent to Belarus, and most are still in eastern Ukraine.</p>

<h2><strong>Seen in Russia</strong></h2>

<p>On Thursday, Lukashenko told reporters that it was unclear if the Wagner fighters would come to Belarus after he previously offered them a desert military base.</p>

<p>“As for Prigozhin, he's in St Petersburg. He is not on the territory of Belarus," he said.</p>

<p>Responding to Lukashenko's remarks, the Kremlin said it was "not following" Prigozhin's movements.</p>

<p>"No, we do not follow his movements, we have neither the ability nor the desire to do so," Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters on Thursday.</p>

<p>Though Prigozhin's whereabouts remain a mystery, BBC claimed to have tracked the Wagner chief’s private jet, saying that it flew to Belarus in late June, but returned to Russia the same evening.</p>

<p>The UK-based news outlet further claimed that it found several flights between St Petersburg and Moscow, although it could not be confirmed if Prigozhin was on board.</p>

<h2>Russian state TV shows 'The Riches' of Wagner chief</h2>

<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/russian-state-tv-shows-the-riches-of-wagner-chief-612824/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>

<h2><strong>The failed coup attempt</strong></h2>

<p>On June 24, Prigozhin announced a coup against the Kremlin after growing discontent with the top Russian defence officials.</p>

<p>The mercenary groups took control of Rostov-on-Don—one of Russia’s largest cities—but did not proceed further saying that they want to avoid “shedding Russian blood” and agreed to live in exile in Belarus.</p>

<p><strong>Also read |</strong>&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/no-one-came-out-as-hero-lukashenko-disputes-russias-take-on-mutiny-612960">‘No one came out as hero’, Lukashenko disputes Russia’s take on Wagner mutiny</a></p>

<p>Initially, Putin accused the group of treason and sought to eliminate Prigozhin, once Putin’s ally, but Lukashenko claimed to have intervened in the matter, and negotiated a peace deal between the two.</p>

<p><strong>Also read |</strong>&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/where-is-wagner-chief-prigozhin-lukashenko-says-not-in-belarus-612593"><strong>Where is Wagner chief Prigozhin? Lukashenko says not in Belarus</strong></a></p>

<p>Under the deal, Prigozhin was promised security and the Russian criminal case against Wagner was dropped.</p>

<p>Its fighters were told they could either sign regular army contracts, go home or head to Belarus.</p>

<p>(With inputs from agencies)</p>

<p><strong>WATCH WION LIVE HERE</strong></p>

<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>


Initially, it was said that Wagner boss Yevgeny Prigozhin was exiled to Belarus. Days later, reports emerged that the mercenary group’s boss was seen in Russia’s St.

Initially, it was said that Wagner boss Yevgeny Prigozhin was exiled to Belarus. Days later, reports emerged that the mercenary group’s boss was seen in Russia’s St. Petersburg, contradicting the earlier reports. Now a new piece of information has come to the fore that can be described as bizarre, to say the least. A new theory is doing the rounds that Prigozhin never went to Belarus after all—which was part of a deal brokered by Belarusian leader Alexander Lukashenko, who took credit for convincing Russian President Vladimir Putin not to eliminate the mercenary chief for attempting a coup. An unnamed Pentagon official told The New York Times that Prigozhin was actually in Russia the whole time in the aftermath of the failed coup attempt and that he may have employed a body double to make it appear as if he fled Russia. The official also claimed that none of the Wagner troops were sent to Belarus, and most are still in eastern Ukraine. Seen in Russia On Thursday, Lukashenko told reporters that it was unclear if the Wagner fighters would come to Belarus after he previously offered them a desert military base. “As for Prigozhin, he's in St Petersburg. He is not on the territory of Belarus," he said. Responding to Lukashenko's remarks, the Kremlin said it was "not following" Prigozhin's movements. "No, we do not follow his movements, we have neither the ability nor the desire to do so," Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters on Thursday. Though Prigozhin's whereabouts remain a mystery, BBC claimed to have tracked the Wagner chief’s private jet, saying that it flew to Belarus in late June, but returned to Russia the same evening. The UK-based news outlet further claimed that it found several flights between St Petersburg and Moscow, although it could not be confirmed if Prigozhin was on board. Russian state TV shows 'The Riches' of Wagner chief The failed coup attempt On June 24, Prigozhin announced a coup against the Kremlin after growing discontent with the top Russian defence officials. The mercenary groups took control of Rostov-on-Don—one of Russia’s largest cities—but did not proceed further saying that they want to avoid “shedding Russian blood” and agreed to live in exile in Belarus. Also read | ‘No one came out as hero’, Lukashenko disputes Russia’s take on Wagner mutiny Initially, Putin accused the group of treason and sought to eliminate Prigozhin, once Putin’s ally, but Lukashenko claimed to have intervened in the matter, and negotiated a peace deal between the two. Also read | Where is Wagner chief Prigozhin? Lukashenko says not in Belarus Under the deal, Prigozhin was promised security and the Russian criminal case against Wagner was dropped. Its fighters were told they could either sign regular army contracts, go home or head to Belarus. (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE

Wagner boss Prigozhin never went to Belarus, used body double to appear as if he fled Russia: US official

<p>In a dramatic turn of events, Russian security services raided the residence of Yevgeny Prigozhin, the head of the Wagner mercenary group. Previously believed to be in exile in Belarus, Prigozhin's St. Petersburg Palace was discovered to harbour an assortment of peculiar items, including wigs.</p>

<h2><strong>A bizarre collection</strong></h2>

<p>During the raid, authorities uncovered a stunning array of possessions in Prigozhin's palace.</p>

<p>The cache included firearms, ammunition, gold bars, and even a stuffed alligator, accompanied by an assortment of hairpieces.</p>

<p>Notably, large piles of cash, estimated at 600 million roubles (approximately $6.7 million), were found scattered throughout the property.</p>

<p><em><strong>Disclaimer:&nbsp;WION cannot independently&nbsp;verify the authenticity of photos and videos shared on social media.</strong></em></p>

<div class="ui-state-default" contenteditable="false">
<div class="twitter-block" draggable="false">
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
<p dir="ltr" lang="en">Prigozhin's St Petersburg home has been raided by Russian security services.<br />
They found wigs a sledgehammer, weapons, and gold bars, the value of which has not been calculated.<br />
Images and video were released by pro-Kremlin newspaper Izvestia. <a href="https://t.co/ANRcuZrRU6">pic.twitter.com/ANRcuZrRU6</a></p>
— Sviat Hnizdovskyi (@s_hnizdovskyi) <a href="https://twitter.com/s_hnizdovskyi/status/1676841154980237313?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 6, 2023</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>
<a class="close-mark close-div" href="#" id="jqclosemark">×</a></div>

<p>Adding to the intrigue was a sledgehammer bearing the inscription, "for use in important negotiations," which Reuters reports was allegedly employed by Wagner in videos depicting the fatal bludgeoning of traitors.</p>

<p><strong>Also read |</strong>&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/where-is-wagner-chief-prigozhin-lukashenko-says-not-in-belarus-612593">Where is Wagner chief Prigozhin? Lukashenko says not in Belarus</a></p>

<h2 class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><strong>Extravagant facilities and suspicious artefacts</strong></h2>

<p>The lavish palace also boasted of several extravagant facilities. Among them were a personal helicopter, a private prayer room, a spa, a sauna area, an indoor swimming pool, and a fully equipped medical treatment room.</p>

<p>Additionally, authorities uncovered multiple passports belonging to Prigozhin, each bearing a different name.</p>

<h2><strong>Conflicting reports and mutiny aftermath</strong></h2>

<p>Following Prigozhin's alleged exile to Belarus, conflicting reports emerged regarding his whereabouts.</p>

<p>The pro-Kremlin newspaper Izvestia shared images and an FSB video of the raid, and later Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko claimed that Prigozhin was not in Belarus, suggesting he may be in St. Petersburg or Moscow instead.</p>

<p>Prigozhin himself has not been seen since the attempted armed rebellion by the Wagner group against the Russian military in&nbsp;June.</p>

<p>Although treason charges against Prigozhin and his fighters have been dropped, Russian state TV maintains that an ongoing investigation into the mutiny is underway.</p>

<h2><strong>Shaking confidence in Putin's regime</strong></h2>

<p>The mutiny and subsequent events have significantly undermined confidence in President Vladimir Putin's authoritarian regime.</p>

<p>Prigozhin's enduring popularity among Russian citizens, despite Putin's condemnation of the rebellion, adds to the gravity of the situation.</p>

<p><strong>Watch |&nbsp;Payback time for Wagner? 'Offices raided in Syria', strikes hit Libyan airbase used by mercenaries</strong></p>

<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/payback-time-for-wagner-offices-raided-in-syria-strikes-hit-libyan-airbase-used-by-mercenaries-611366/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>

<p>The failed coup represents the most significant threat to Putin's premiership since he assumed power over two decades ago. As the investigation continues, the nation watches with bated breath, questioning the stability of the Russian political landscape.</p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>

<p><strong>WATCH WION LIVE HERE:</strong></p>

<p><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/live-tv/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></p>


In a dramatic turn of events, Russian security services raided the residence of Yevgeny Prigozhin, the head of the Wagner mercenary group. Previously believed to be in exile in Belarus, Prigozhin's St.

In a dramatic turn of events, Russian security services raided the residence of Yevgeny Prigozhin, the head of the Wagner mercenary group. Previously believed to be in exile in Belarus, Prigozhin's St. Petersburg Palace was discovered to harbour an assortment of peculiar items, including wigs. A bizarre collection During the raid, authorities uncovered a stunning array of possessions in Prigozhin's palace. The cache included firearms, ammunition, gold bars, and even a stuffed alligator, accompanied by an assortment of hairpieces. Notably, large piles of cash, estimated at 600 million roubles (approximately $6.7 million), were found scattered throughout the property. Disclaimer: WION cannot independently verify the authenticity of photos and videos shared on social media. Prigozhin's St Petersburg home has been raided by Russian security services. They found wigs a sledgehammer, weapons, and gold bars, the value of which has not been calculated. Images and video were released by pro-Kremlin newspaper Izvestia. pic.twitter.com/ANRcuZrRU6 — Sviat Hnizdovskyi (@s_hnizdovskyi) July 6, 2023 × Adding to the intrigue was a sledgehammer bearing the inscription, "for use in important negotiations," which Reuters reports was allegedly employed by Wagner in videos depicting the fatal bludgeoning of traitors. Also read | Where is Wagner chief Prigozhin? Lukashenko says not in Belarus Extravagant facilities and suspicious artefacts The lavish palace also boasted of several extravagant facilities. Among them were a personal helicopter, a private prayer room, a spa, a sauna area, an indoor swimming pool, and a fully equipped medical treatment room. Additionally, authorities uncovered multiple passports belonging to Prigozhin, each bearing a different name. Conflicting reports and mutiny aftermath Following Prigozhin's alleged exile to Belarus, conflicting reports emerged regarding his whereabouts. The pro-Kremlin newspaper Izvestia shared images and an FSB video of the raid, and later Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko claimed that Prigozhin was not in Belarus, suggesting he may be in St. Petersburg or Moscow instead. Prigozhin himself has not been seen since the attempted armed rebellion by the Wagner group against the Russian military in June. Although treason charges against Prigozhin and his fighters have been dropped, Russian state TV maintains that an ongoing investigation into the mutiny is underway. Shaking confidence in Putin's regime The mutiny and subsequent events have significantly undermined confidence in President Vladimir Putin's authoritarian regime. Prigozhin's enduring popularity among Russian citizens, despite Putin's condemnation of the rebellion, adds to the gravity of the situation. Watch | Payback time for Wagner? 'Offices raided in Syria', strikes hit Libyan airbase used by mercenaries The failed coup represents the most significant threat to Putin's premiership since he assumed power over two decades ago. As the investigation continues, the nation watches with bated breath, questioning the stability of the Russian political landscape. WATCH WION LIVE HERE:

Wagner chief's palatial home raided: Gold bars, wigs and guns found by Russian security services

<p>Wagner mercenary group's chief Yevgeny Prigozhin, who launched a rebellion against the Russian military last month, remains in Russia despite Moscow's deal with Minsk to move him to Belarus, the president of Belarus Aleksandr Lukashenko said on Thursday.</p>

<p>"As far as Prigozhin is concerned, he is in Saint Petersburg. He is not in Belarus," Lukashenko told reporters from foreign media outlets at a press conference.</p>

<p><strong>Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/did-xi-jinping-personally-warn-vladimir-putin-against-nuclear-attack-in-ukraine-612226">Did Xi Jinping personally warn Vladimir Putin against nuclear attack in Ukraine?</a></strong></p>

<p>On June 27, Lukashenko announced that Yevgeny Prigozhin had arrived in Belarus as part of a deal that resolved the mutiny crisis.</p>

<p>But on Thursday, Lukashenko stated on Thursday that Prigozhin was now in St Petersburg, Russia's second-largest city, or might have even moved to Moscow.</p>

<h2><strong>On Wagner troops moving to Belarus</strong></h2>

<p>Lukashenko also mentioned that the issue of relocating Wagner units to Belarus remained unresolved, dependent on decisions made by Russia and Wagner.</p>

<p>"We will determine whether they will be present in Belarus or not, and in what numbers, in the near future," he added.</p>

<h2><strong>What does it mean?</strong></h2>

<p>Lukashenko's remarks highlight the significant uncertainties surrounding the terms and implementation of the deal that ended the mutiny.</p>

<h2><strong>Spotlight on anti-Prigozhin campaign in Moscow</strong></h2>

<p>On Wednesday, Russian state TV launched a strong criticism of Prigozhin and confirmed that investigations into the events were still ongoing.</p>

<p>Lukashenko also disclosed his plans to meet Putin in the near future and discuss the Prigozhin situation with him. He&nbsp;assured that Prigozhin was "absolutely free" and that Putin would not "eliminate him."</p>

<p>Lukashenko further reiterated that the offer to station Wagner fighters in Belarus, which had raised concerns among neighbouring NATO countries, remains still on the table.</p>

<p><strong>WATCH |&nbsp;Why Putin is trusting Lukashenko?</strong></p>

<div class="ui-state-default" contenteditable="false">
<div class="twitter-block" draggable="false">
<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/why-putin-is-trusting-lukashenko-611087/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>
</div>
<a class="close-mark close-div" href="#" id="jqclosemark">×</a></div>

<p>"We are not establishing camps. We have offered them several former military camps from Soviet times, including one near Osipovichi. If they agree. However, Wagner has a different deployment plan, and I won't disclose it," Lukashenko informed reporters.</p>

<p>Addressing the West, Lukashenko stated, "We have no intention of using nuclear weapons to attack anyone. If you do not provoke us, nuclear weapons will not be a concern. However, if you engage in aggression, our response will be immediate. The targets have been identified."</p>

<p><strong>WATCH WION LIVE HERE</strong></p>

<p><iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="350" loading="”lazy”" src="https://www.wionews.com/live-tv/embed?autoplay=1&amp;mute=1  width=&quot;100%&quot;"></iframe></p>

<p>You can <strong>now write for wionews.com</strong> and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us <strong><a href="https://www.wionews.com/content-contribution-registration-form">here</a>.</strong></p>


Wagner mercenary group's chief Yevgeny Prigozhin, who launched a rebellion against the Russian military last month, remains in Russia despite Moscow's deal with Minsk to move him to Belarus, the president of Belarus Aleksandr Lukashenko said on Thursday.

Wagner mercenary group's chief Yevgeny Prigozhin, who launched a rebellion against the Russian military last month, remains in Russia despite Moscow's deal with Minsk to move him to Belarus, the president of Belarus Aleksandr Lukashenko said on Thursday. "As far as Prigozhin is concerned, he is in Saint Petersburg. He is not in Belarus," Lukashenko told reporters from foreign media outlets at a press conference. Also read | Did Xi Jinping personally warn Vladimir Putin against nuclear attack in Ukraine? On June 27, Lukashenko announced that Yevgeny Prigozhin had arrived in Belarus as part of a deal that resolved the mutiny crisis. But on Thursday, Lukashenko stated on Thursday that Prigozhin was now in St Petersburg, Russia's second-largest city, or might have even moved to Moscow. On Wagner troops moving to Belarus Lukashenko also mentioned that the issue of relocating Wagner units to Belarus remained unresolved, dependent on decisions made by Russia and Wagner. "We will determine whether they will be present in Belarus or not, and in what numbers, in the near future," he added. What does it mean? Lukashenko's remarks highlight the significant uncertainties surrounding the terms and implementation of the deal that ended the mutiny. Spotlight on anti-Prigozhin campaign in Moscow On Wednesday, Russian state TV launched a strong criticism of Prigozhin and confirmed that investigations into the events were still ongoing. Lukashenko also disclosed his plans to meet Putin in the near future and discuss the Prigozhin situation with him. He assured that Prigozhin was "absolutely free" and that Putin would not "eliminate him." Lukashenko further reiterated that the offer to station Wagner fighters in Belarus, which had raised concerns among neighbouring NATO countries, remains still on the table. WATCH | Why Putin is trusting Lukashenko? × "We are not establishing camps. We have offered them several former military camps from Soviet times, including one near Osipovichi. If they agree. However, Wagner has a different deployment plan, and I won't disclose it," Lukashenko informed reporters. Addressing the West, Lukashenko stated, "We have no intention of using nuclear weapons to attack anyone. If you do not provoke us, nuclear weapons will not be a concern. However, if you engage in aggression, our response will be immediate. The targets have been identified." 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.

Where is Wagner chief Prigozhin? Lukashenko says not in Belarus

<p><meta name="uuid" content="uuidO9SNK2fnczWI" /><meta charset="utf-8" /></p>

<p>Patriot Media, controlled by Russian mercenary group Wagner's chief Yevgeny Prigozhin, will shut down, the director of one of its outlets said late Sunday (July 2). Patriot Media, whose most prominent outlet was the RIA FAN news site, had been providing positive coverage of Prigozhin and Wagner. Taking to social media, RIA FAN's director Yevgeny Zubarev said, "I am announcing our decision to close down and to leave the country's information space."&nbsp;</p>

<p>Zubarev did not give a reason for the decision. Praising Patriot Media's record, he said the group defended both Prigozhin and Russian President Vladimir Putin from attacks by the anti-Kremlin opposition.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Patriot worked "against Alexei Navalny and other representatives of the opposition who genuinely tried to destroy our country," the director added.&nbsp;</p>

<h2><strong>Media outlets linked to Prigozhin blocked</strong></h2>

<p>Last Friday, Russian newspaper Kommersant reported that Roskomnadzor blocked media outlets linked to Prigozhin, without elaborating. Local media reported that a troll factory allegedly used by the Wagner chief to influence public opinion in foreign countries was disbanded.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Last weekend, Prigozhin led a short-lived rebellion against Russia's top military brass. And under a deal that halted the mutiny, Prigozhin was allowed to go into exile in Belarus and his fighters were given the choice of joining him, being integrated into Russia's armed forces, or returning home.</p>

<h2><strong>Prigozhin accused of going 'off rail'</strong></h2>

<p>On Sunday, a top Russian propagandist accused Yevgeny Prigozhin of going "off rail" after receiving billions in public funds, the news agency AFP reported. On his weekly television show, Dmitry Kiselev said "Prigozhin has gone off the rails because of big money," adding the Wagner chief could challenge the defence ministry, the state itself, and the president personally.</p>

<p>Kiselev added that Wagner's operations in Syria and Africa gave Prigozhin a feeling of impunity that was later reinforced by his rag-tag forces' battlefield successes in eastern Ukraine. He claimed that Wagner had received more than $9.7 billion in state funds, but did not provide any evidence.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Last week, Russian President Putin admitted that Moscow fully financed Wagner with the group receiving over 86 billion rubles from May 2022 and May 2023.&nbsp;</p>

<p><strong>WATCH WION LIVE HERE</strong></p>

<p><iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="350" loading="”lazy”" src="https://www.wionews.com/live-tv/embed?autoplay=1&amp;mute=1" width="100%"></iframe></p>

<p>You can <strong>now write for wionews.com</strong> and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us <strong><a href="https://www.wionews.com/content-contribution-registration-form">here</a>.</strong></p>


Patriot Media, controlled by Russian mercenary group Wagner's chief Yevgeny Prigozhin, will shut down, the director of one of its outlets said late Sunday (July 2).

Patriot Media, controlled by Russian mercenary group Wagner's chief Yevgeny Prigozhin, will shut down, the director of one of its outlets said late Sunday (July 2). Patriot Media, whose most prominent outlet was the RIA FAN news site, had been providing positive coverage of Prigozhin and Wagner. Taking to social media, RIA FAN's director Yevgeny Zubarev said, "I am announcing our decision to close down and to leave the country's information space." Zubarev did not give a reason for the decision. Praising Patriot Media's record, he said the group defended both Prigozhin and Russian President Vladimir Putin from attacks by the anti-Kremlin opposition. Patriot worked "against Alexei Navalny and other representatives of the opposition who genuinely tried to destroy our country," the director added. Media outlets linked to Prigozhin blocked Last Friday, Russian newspaper Kommersant reported that Roskomnadzor blocked media outlets linked to Prigozhin, without elaborating. Local media reported that a troll factory allegedly used by the Wagner chief to influence public opinion in foreign countries was disbanded. Last weekend, Prigozhin led a short-lived rebellion against Russia's top military brass. And under a deal that halted the mutiny, Prigozhin was allowed to go into exile in Belarus and his fighters were given the choice of joining him, being integrated into Russia's armed forces, or returning home. Prigozhin accused of going 'off rail' On Sunday, a top Russian propagandist accused Yevgeny Prigozhin of going "off rail" after receiving billions in public funds, the news agency AFP reported. On his weekly television show, Dmitry Kiselev said "Prigozhin has gone off the rails because of big money," adding the Wagner chief could challenge the defence ministry, the state itself, and the president personally. Kiselev added that Wagner's operations in Syria and Africa gave Prigozhin a feeling of impunity that was later reinforced by his rag-tag forces' battlefield successes in eastern Ukraine. He claimed that Wagner had received more than $9.7 billion in state funds, but did not provide any evidence. Last week, Russian President Putin admitted that Moscow fully financed Wagner with the group receiving over 86 billion rubles from May 2022 and May 2023. 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's media holding group to shut down in wake of Russia mutiny

<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>

<div class="ui-state-default" contenteditable="false">
<div class="twitter-block" draggable="false">
<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/concert-economics-explained-the-craze-for-high-profile-concerts-609647/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>
</div>
<a class="close-mark close-div" href="#" id="jqclosemark">×</a></div>

<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>

<div class="ui-state-default" contenteditable="false">
<div class="twitter-block" draggable="false">
<p><strong>WATCH WION LIVE HERE</strong></p>

<p><iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="350" loading="”lazy”" src="https://www.wionews.com/live-tv/embed?autoplay=1&amp;mute=1  width=&quot;100%&quot;"></iframe></p>

<p>You can <strong>now write for wionews.com</strong> and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us <strong><a href="https://www.wionews.com/content-contribution-registration-form">here</a>.</strong></p>
</div>
<a class="close-mark close-div" href="#" id="jqclosemark">×</a></div>

<p>&nbsp;</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.

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>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>

<p id="6"><strong>WATCH WION LIVE HERE</strong></p>

<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>

<main>
<section>
<p><em>(With inputs from agencies)</em></p>

<p>You can&nbsp;<strong>now write for&nbsp;wionews.com</strong>&nbsp;and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us&nbsp;<strong><a href="https://www.wionews.com/content-contribution-registration-form">here</a>.</strong></p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>

<p><strong>WATCH WION LIVE HERE</strong></p>

<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>
</section>
</main>


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><meta name="uuid" content="uuid00LQoCYDP4v5" /><meta charset="utf-8" /></p>

<p>United States intelligence officials knew weeks ago that Russian mercenary group Wagner was planning a rebellion but kept this information secret from most allies, according to American media reports. As per a report by CNN on Monday (June 26), sources familiar with the matter said that intelligence officials gathered detailed information on Wagner chief Yevgeny Prigozhin's rebellion plans, including where and how the mercenary group was planning to advance.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The sources said that this intelligence was shared with only selected allies (of the US), including senior British officials, and not at the broader NATO level.&nbsp;</p>

<p><strong>Also read | <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></strong></p>

<p>Earlier, a report by The Washington Post last Saturday (June 24) said that intelligence officials urgently informed the White House and other government agencies (about the rebellion) so that they were not caught off guard.&nbsp;</p>

<h2><strong>'There were enough signals to tell...that something was up'</strong></h2>

<p>Several US officials told The Washington Post that the exact nature and timing of Yevgeny Prigozhin's plans were not clear until his takeover of a military command and tank run towards Moscow. But there were enough signals to be able to tell the leadership that something was up, one official, who chose to remain anonymous, told the publication.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Apart from the White House, senior officials at the Pentagon, the State Department and Congress were also briefed about the intelligence.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Officials further told The Washington Post that a key trigger for Prigozhin was a Russian defence ministry order which said that all volunteer detachments were to sign contracts with the government. The order, issued on June 10, did not mention Wagner by name but the implication was clear: a takeover of the mercenary group, the report added.&nbsp;</p>

<p><strong>Also watch | Zelensky hands out awards, poses for selfies with Ukrainian troops</strong></p>

<div class="ui-state-default" contenteditable="false">
<div class="twitter-block" draggable="false">
<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/zelensky-hands-out-awards-poses-for-selfies-with-ukrainian-troops-609107/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>
</div>
<a class="close-mark close-div" href="#" id="jqclosemark">×</a></div>

<p>A senior Ukrainian official told the publication that Ukrainian military officials were watching Prigozhin after the June 10 order and believed he might mobilise his forces against Russia.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The official added that the Wagner chief publicly protested the order and Ukrainian officials were serious about the possibility that he might move against Russian positions. The official also said that the timing of the move was unclear and pointed out he was not aware of the US sharing information with Ukraine about a possible march by Wagner.&nbsp;</p>

<h2><strong>Putin was informed that Prigozhin was plotting something</strong></h2>

<p>American intelligence agencies also believed that Russian President Vladimir Putin was informed that Prigozhin was plotting something. A US official said it was not clear when Putin was told. The report also said it was unclear why Putin did not take action to thwart the rebellion.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Meanwhile, Putin on Monday paid tributes to Russian pilots who were killed during the failed weekend mutiny, confirming earlier reports that several aircraft were shot down by Wagner. "The courage and self-sacrifice of the fallen heroes-pilots saved Russia from tragic devastating consequences," Putin said in his first address since the mutiny.</p>

<p>There is no official confirmation of&nbsp;how many pilots died. However, some Russian Telegram channels said last Saturday that 13 pilots were killed.</p>

<p><strong>WATCH WION LIVE HERE</strong></p>

<p><iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="350" loading="”lazy”" src="https://www.wionews.com/live-tv/embed?autoplay=1&amp;mute=1" width="100%"></iframe></p>

<p>You can <strong>now write for wionews.com</strong> and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us <strong><a href="https://www.wionews.com/content-contribution-registration-form">here</a>.</strong></p>


United States intelligence officials knew weeks ago that Russian mercenary group Wagner was planning a rebellion but kept this information secret from most allies, according to American media reports.

United States intelligence officials knew weeks ago that Russian mercenary group Wagner was planning a rebellion but kept this information secret from most allies, according to American media reports. As per a report by CNN on Monday (June 26), sources familiar with the matter said that intelligence officials gathered detailed information on Wagner chief Yevgeny Prigozhin's rebellion plans, including where and how the mercenary group was planning to advance. The sources said that this intelligence was shared with only selected allies (of the US), including senior British officials, and not at the broader NATO level. Also read | Putin says Wagner mutineers 'can join army or go to Belarus' in his address to Russians Earlier, a report by The Washington Post last Saturday (June 24) said that intelligence officials urgently informed the White House and other government agencies (about the rebellion) so that they were not caught off guard. 'There were enough signals to tell...that something was up' Several US officials told The Washington Post that the exact nature and timing of Yevgeny Prigozhin's plans were not clear until his takeover of a military command and tank run towards Moscow. But there were enough signals to be able to tell the leadership that something was up, one official, who chose to remain anonymous, told the publication. Apart from the White House, senior officials at the Pentagon, the State Department and Congress were also briefed about the intelligence. Officials further told The Washington Post that a key trigger for Prigozhin was a Russian defence ministry order which said that all volunteer detachments were to sign contracts with the government. The order, issued on June 10, did not mention Wagner by name but the implication was clear: a takeover of the mercenary group, the report added. Also watch | Zelensky hands out awards, poses for selfies with Ukrainian troops × A senior Ukrainian official told the publication that Ukrainian military officials were watching Prigozhin after the June 10 order and believed he might mobilise his forces against Russia. The official added that the Wagner chief publicly protested the order and Ukrainian officials were serious about the possibility that he might move against Russian positions. The official also said that the timing of the move was unclear and pointed out he was not aware of the US sharing information with Ukraine about a possible march by Wagner. Putin was informed that Prigozhin was plotting something American intelligence agencies also believed that Russian President Vladimir Putin was informed that Prigozhin was plotting something. A US official said it was not clear when Putin was told. The report also said it was unclear why Putin did not take action to thwart the rebellion. Meanwhile, Putin on Monday paid tributes to Russian pilots who were killed during the failed weekend mutiny, confirming earlier reports that several aircraft were shot down by Wagner. "The courage and self-sacrifice of the fallen heroes-pilots saved Russia from tragic devastating consequences," Putin said in his first address since the mutiny. There is no official confirmation of how many pilots died. However, some Russian Telegram channels said last Saturday that 13 pilots were killed. 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.

US knew about Wagner's rebellion plans but kept them secret from most allies: Reports

<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>

<p>You can&nbsp;<strong>now write for&nbsp;wionews.com</strong>&nbsp;and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us&nbsp;<strong><a href="https://www.wionews.com/content-contribution-registration-form">here</a>.</strong></p>

<p><strong>WATCH WION LIVE HERE</strong></p>

<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>


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><meta name="uuid" content="uuidGskFs49SQ8dq" /><meta charset="utf-8" /></p>

<p>Former director of the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA), Retired General David Petraeus, said on Sunday (June 25) that Russian mercenary group Wagner's chief Yevgeny Prigozhin should be careful around open windows in Belarus. Speaking to CNN, Petraeus said that Prigozhin lost his nerve in Russia after his revolt didn't appear to have generated the kind of support that he had hoped it would.&nbsp;</p>

<p>"Putin has weakened, his government has weakened. The irony is that his junior partner in Belarus Lukashenko had to bail him out of this. Prigozhin kept his life but lost his Wagner group. And he should be careful around open windows in his new surroundings in Belarus," Petraeus told CNN.&nbsp;</p>

<p><strong>Also read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/russian-officials-threat-to-harm-families-made-wagners-prigozhin-call-off-moscow-advance-report-608667">Russian officials’ threat to harm families made Wagner’s Prigozhin call off mutiny: Report</a></strong></p>

<p>“Clearly, Prigozhin lost his nerve. He was … within roughly two hours drive of the outskirts of Moscow, where they were starting to prepare defensive positions. This rebellion, although it had some applause along the way, didn’t appear to be generating the kind of support that he had hoped it would. And again, he decided to take the deal. He gave up this effort," the former CIA director added.&nbsp;</p>

<h2><strong>Putin has been shaken personally: Petraeus</strong></h2>

<p>Petraeus also told CNN that&nbsp;the Russian&nbsp;government and Putin had been shaken by the rebellion, adding this made the Russian president more vulnerable, arguably, than he has at any time in his two-decade rule of the country.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Petraeus' comments come as Russian mercenaries led by Prigozhin made a short-lived rebellion last Saturday, seizing Rostov and advancing on Moscow demanding the removal of Russian military commanders in charge of the ongoing war in Ukraine.</p>

<p>Wagner withdrew the rebellion after it struck a deal guaranteeing the safety and exile of Prigozhin to Belarus.&nbsp;</p>

<h2><strong>Russian defence minister visits troops involved in Ukraine war</strong></h2>

<p>Russian Defence Minister Sergei Shoigu visited troops involved in the Ukraine war, his first public appearance since the weekend mutiny by Wagner, according to the RIA news agency on Monday (June 26). Though it was not yet clear when and where he met the troops and commanders of the Western military district.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Meanwhile, Russia sought to restore calm following the aborted mutiny with Monday being declared a non-working day in Moscow to allow time for things to settle.&nbsp;</p>

<p><strong>WATCH WION LIVE HERE</strong></p>

<p><iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="350" loading="”lazy”" src="https://www.wionews.com/live-tv/embed?autoplay=1&amp;mute=1" width="100%"></iframe></p>

<p>You can <strong>now write for wionews.com</strong> and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us <strong><a href="https://www.wionews.com/content-contribution-registration-form">here</a>.</strong></p>


Former director of the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA), Retired General David Petraeus, said on Sunday (June 25) that Russian mercenary group Wagner's chief Yevgeny Prigozhin should be careful around open windows in Belarus.

Former director of the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA), Retired General David Petraeus, said on Sunday (June 25) that Russian mercenary group Wagner's chief Yevgeny Prigozhin should be careful around open windows in Belarus. Speaking to CNN, Petraeus said that Prigozhin lost his nerve in Russia after his revolt didn't appear to have generated the kind of support that he had hoped it would. "Putin has weakened, his government has weakened. The irony is that his junior partner in Belarus Lukashenko had to bail him out of this. Prigozhin kept his life but lost his Wagner group. And he should be careful around open windows in his new surroundings in Belarus," Petraeus told CNN. Also read | Russian officials’ threat to harm families made Wagner’s Prigozhin call off mutiny: Report “Clearly, Prigozhin lost his nerve. He was … within roughly two hours drive of the outskirts of Moscow, where they were starting to prepare defensive positions. This rebellion, although it had some applause along the way, didn’t appear to be generating the kind of support that he had hoped it would. And again, he decided to take the deal. He gave up this effort," the former CIA director added. Putin has been shaken personally: Petraeus Petraeus also told CNN that the Russian government and Putin had been shaken by the rebellion, adding this made the Russian president more vulnerable, arguably, than he has at any time in his two-decade rule of the country. Petraeus' comments come as Russian mercenaries led by Prigozhin made a short-lived rebellion last Saturday, seizing Rostov and advancing on Moscow demanding the removal of Russian military commanders in charge of the ongoing war in Ukraine. Wagner withdrew the rebellion after it struck a deal guaranteeing the safety and exile of Prigozhin to Belarus. Russian defence minister visits troops involved in Ukraine war Russian Defence Minister Sergei Shoigu visited troops involved in the Ukraine war, his first public appearance since the weekend mutiny by Wagner, according to the RIA news agency on Monday (June 26). Though it was not yet clear when and where he met the troops and commanders of the Western military district. Meanwhile, Russia sought to restore calm following the aborted mutiny with Monday being declared a non-working day in Moscow to allow time for things to settle. 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 'lost his nerve' in calling off rebellion: Ex-CIA chief

<p lang="en-US">Wagner chief Yevgeny Prigozhin, in his first video message released on Monday (June 26) since his aborted mutiny, said that his rebellion was aimed at saving his embattled mercenary group and not overthrowing the Russian leadership.<br />
<br />
"We went to demonstrate our protest and not to overthrow power in the country," said Prigozhin, in the first audio message released since the Wagner&nbsp;group's march towards Moscow was called off on the weekend.<br />
<br />
“We stopped at that moment when it became clear that much blood would be spilt,” he stated, while emphasising the military convoy's progress and that it was at a striking distance from Moscow.</p>

<p lang="en-US"><strong>ALSO READ |</strong>&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 orders fighters to retreat, halt advance on Moscow to prevent bloodshed</a></p>

<p lang="en-US">“That’s why we believe that the demonstration of what we were planning to do was enough. Our decision to turn back had two factors: we didn’t want to spill Russian blood. Secondly, we marched as a demonstration of our protest,” he added.<br />
<br />
The Wagner mercenary group's leader said that the march towards Moscow showed up "very serious security problems" in Russia. In the released audio file, Yevgeny Prigozhin said the convoy of armed rebellions was only 200 kilometres (125 miles) away from Moscow and had "blocked all military infrastructure", which included air bases along its path.<br />
<br />
He once again accused the defence ministry of Russia of targeting his armed forces with artillery fire, calling it the “trigger for us to move out immediately”.<br />
<br />
“The goal of the march was to not allow the destruction of the Wagner private military company and hold to account the officials who through their unprofessional actions have committed a massive number of errors. Society demanded it,” he added.<br />
<br />
Prigozhin said that his fighters received support from "happy" civilians in the towns they passed through while advancing towards Moscow. "In Russian towns, civilians met us with Russian flags and the symbols of Wagner. They were all happy when we passed through,” he stated.</p>

<p lang="en-US"><strong>WATCH |&nbsp;Wagner Mutiny Aftermath: Lukashenko overshadows Putin by playing peacemaker with Wagner</strong></p>

<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/wagner-mutiny-aftermath-lukashenko-overshadows-putin-by-playing-peacemaker-with-wagner-608711/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>

<p lang="en-US">He also acknowledged that his armed troops killed Russian airmen during the rebellion, stating that they “regretted that they were required to carry out strikes against aircraft but they were hitting our forces with bombs and rocket strikes”.<br />
<br />
He also stated that the incursion of Wagner forces into Russia was a “masterclass” in how Moscow should have invaded Ukraine in 2022.</p>

<h2 lang="en-US"><strong>Lukashenko proposed ways in which Wagner can continue to work</strong></h2>

<p lang="en-US">The Wagner chief said that ways in which his mercenary group can continue to work were proposed by Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko after the weekend rebellion was called off.<br />
<br />
"Lukashenko held out his hand and offered to find solutions for the continuation of the work of the Wagner private military company in a legal jurisdiction," said Yevgeny Prigozhin&nbsp;in the audio message.</p>

<main>
<section>
<p>You can&nbsp;<strong>now write for wionews.com</strong>&nbsp;and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us&nbsp;<strong><a href="https://www.wionews.com/content-contribution-registration-form">here</a>.</strong></p>

<p><strong>WATCH WION LIVE HERE</strong></p>

<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>
</section>
</main>


Wagner chief Yevgeny Prigozhin, in his first video message released on Monday (June 26) since his aborted mutiny, said that his rebellion was aimed at saving his embattled mercenary group and not overthrowing the Russian leadership.

Wagner chief Yevgeny Prigozhin, in his first video message released on Monday (June 26) since his aborted mutiny, said that his rebellion was aimed at saving his embattled mercenary group and not overthrowing the Russian leadership. "We went to demonstrate our protest and not to overthrow power in the country," said Prigozhin, in the first audio message released since the Wagner group's march towards Moscow was called off on the weekend. “We stopped at that moment when it became clear that much blood would be spilt,” he stated, while emphasising the military convoy's progress and that it was at a striking distance from Moscow. ALSO READ | Wagner chief Prigozhin orders fighters to retreat, halt advance on Moscow to prevent bloodshed “That’s why we believe that the demonstration of what we were planning to do was enough. Our decision to turn back had two factors: we didn’t want to spill Russian blood. Secondly, we marched as a demonstration of our protest,” he added. The Wagner mercenary group's leader said that the march towards Moscow showed up "very serious security problems" in Russia. In the released audio file, Yevgeny Prigozhin said the convoy of armed rebellions was only 200 kilometres (125 miles) away from Moscow and had "blocked all military infrastructure", which included air bases along its path. He once again accused the defence ministry of Russia of targeting his armed forces with artillery fire, calling it the “trigger for us to move out immediately”. “The goal of the march was to not allow the destruction of the Wagner private military company and hold to account the officials who through their unprofessional actions have committed a massive number of errors. Society demanded it,” he added. Prigozhin said that his fighters received support from "happy" civilians in the towns they passed through while advancing towards Moscow. "In Russian towns, civilians met us with Russian flags and the symbols of Wagner. They were all happy when we passed through,” he stated. WATCH | Wagner Mutiny Aftermath: Lukashenko overshadows Putin by playing peacemaker with Wagner He also acknowledged that his armed troops killed Russian airmen during the rebellion, stating that they “regretted that they were required to carry out strikes against aircraft but they were hitting our forces with bombs and rocket strikes”. He also stated that the incursion of Wagner forces into Russia was a “masterclass” in how Moscow should have invaded Ukraine in 2022. Lukashenko proposed ways in which Wagner can continue to work The Wagner chief said that ways in which his mercenary group can continue to work were proposed by Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko after the weekend rebellion was called off. "Lukashenko held out his hand and offered to find solutions for the continuation of the work of the Wagner private military company in a legal jurisdiction," said Yevgeny Prigozhin in the audio message. 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

Wagner chief posts first message since mutiny, says 'march not aimed at overthrowing government'

<p lang="en-US">Head of the Wagner group Yevgeny Prigozhin is still under investigation and the charges against him for organising armed rebellion have not been dropped, reported Russian news agencies on Monday, even after the mercenary group agreed to a deal with the Kremlin to end the mutiny.<br />
<br />
"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.</p>

<p lang="en-US"><strong>ALSO READ |</strong>&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 orders fighters to retreat, halt advance on Moscow to prevent bloodshed</a></p>

<p lang="en-US">The main state news service of Russia, Ria Novosti, on Monday citing the source confirmed that the charges against Prigozhin have not been dropped. Russian business newspaper Kommersant further reported that Prigozhin is still being investigated by Russia’s main security service FSB and said “not enough time has passed to take another decision”.<br />
<br />
Since he evacuated the southern army headquarters in Rostov-on-Don, Prigozhin has not been seen or heard anywhere. 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 lang="en-US"><strong>Wagner to continue operations in Mali, C.Africa, says Lavrov</strong></h2>

<p>Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov on Monday said that the country's Wagner mercenary group will&nbsp;continue its operations in the Central African Republic and Mali. Wagner members "are working there as instructors. This work, of course, will continue," said Lavrov in an interview with RT, adding that the rebellion will not impact the ties of Russia with "partners and friends".</p>

<h2 lang="en-US"><strong>Defence Minister Sergei Shoigu visits troops</strong></h2>

<p lang="en-US">The images of Defence Minister Sergei Shoigu visiting troops were released on Monday which marked the first public appearance of the minister since Prigozhin rebelled against the senior military leadership of the country.<br />
<br />
In the video shared by the defence ministry, Shoigu is seen inspecting a Russian command point and receiving a report on the progress made by Russia in the war against Ukraine from subordinates.<br />
<br />
Rybar, which is a social media channel run by the country's former defence ministry press secretary, said that it appeared that the video was filmed when the defence minister visited the Belgorod region, which is on Ukraine's border, before Prigozhin’s revolt.</p>

<p lang="en-US"><strong>WATCH |&nbsp;Wagner Mutiny Aftermath: Lukashenko overshadows Putin by playing peacemaker with Wagner</strong></p>

<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/wagner-mutiny-aftermath-lukashenko-overshadows-putin-by-playing-peacemaker-with-wagner-608711/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>

<p lang="en-US">There were speculations that Russian President Vladimir Putin had given a nod to the removal of Shoigu as part of a deal finalised with Prigozhin to end the rebellion, however, it was denied by the Kremlin.<br />
<br />
As per media reports, the video may be a way to show that the business has returned to normalcy just two days after Wagner group's armed forces marched most of the way to Moscow, posing a threat to Putin's regime.<br />
<br />
On Monday, the defence ministry said that Shoigu was given a report about “the current situation, (the) nature of the enemy’s activities and fulfilment of the (army’s) combat tasks in the main tactical directions” from Yevgeny Nikiforov, who is the commander of Russia’s Western Military District.<br />
<br />
Shoigu appreciated the army for its “high effectiveness” and ordered it to “uncover the enemy’s plans and stop them from being realised”.&nbsp;</p>

<main>
<section>
<p>You can&nbsp;<strong>now write for&nbsp;wionews.com</strong>&nbsp;and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us&nbsp;<strong><a href="https://www.wionews.com/content-contribution-registration-form">here</a>.</strong></p>

<p><strong>WATCH WION LIVE HERE</strong></p>

<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>
</section>
</main>


Head of the Wagner group Yevgeny Prigozhin is still under investigation and the charges against him for organising armed rebellion have not been dropped, reported Russian news agencies on Monday, even after the mercenary group agreed to a deal with the Kremlin to end the mutiny.

Head of the Wagner group Yevgeny Prigozhin is still under investigation and the charges against him for organising armed rebellion have not been dropped, reported Russian news agencies on Monday, even after the mercenary group agreed to a deal with the Kremlin to end the mutiny. "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. ALSO READ | Wagner chief Prigozhin orders fighters to retreat, halt advance on Moscow to prevent bloodshed The main state news service of Russia, Ria Novosti, on Monday citing the source confirmed that the charges against Prigozhin have not been dropped. Russian business newspaper Kommersant further reported that Prigozhin is still being investigated by Russia’s main security service FSB and said “not enough time has passed to take another decision”. Since he evacuated the southern army headquarters in Rostov-on-Don, Prigozhin has not been seen or heard anywhere. 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. Wagner to continue operations in Mali, C.Africa, says Lavrov Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov on Monday said that the country's Wagner mercenary group will continue its operations in the Central African Republic and Mali. Wagner members "are working there as instructors. This work, of course, will continue," said Lavrov in an interview with RT, adding that the rebellion will not impact the ties of Russia with "partners and friends". Defence Minister Sergei Shoigu visits troops The images of Defence Minister Sergei Shoigu visiting troops were released on Monday which marked the first public appearance of the minister since Prigozhin rebelled against the senior military leadership of the country. In the video shared by the defence ministry, Shoigu is seen inspecting a Russian command point and receiving a report on the progress made by Russia in the war against Ukraine from subordinates. Rybar, which is a social media channel run by the country's former defence ministry press secretary, said that it appeared that the video was filmed when the defence minister visited the Belgorod region, which is on Ukraine's border, before Prigozhin’s revolt. WATCH | Wagner Mutiny Aftermath: Lukashenko overshadows Putin by playing peacemaker with Wagner There were speculations that Russian President Vladimir Putin had given a nod to the removal of Shoigu as part of a deal finalised with Prigozhin to end the rebellion, however, it was denied by the Kremlin. As per media reports, the video may be a way to show that the business has returned to normalcy just two days after Wagner group's armed forces marched most of the way to Moscow, posing a threat to Putin's regime. On Monday, the defence ministry said that Shoigu was given a report about “the current situation, (the) nature of the enemy’s activities and fulfilment of the (army’s) combat tasks in the main tactical directions” from Yevgeny Nikiforov, who is the commander of Russia’s Western Military District. Shoigu appreciated the army for its “high effectiveness” and ordered it to “uncover the enemy’s plans and stop them from being realised”. 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

Criminal charges against Prigozhin 'not dropped' even after exile to Belarus

<p lang="en-US">In a span of 36&nbsp;hours, Russian President Vladimir Putin faced the greatest threat of an armed insurrection, the biggest challenge to his authority since the leader came to power more than two decades ago.<br />
<br />
As the armed fighters of Wagner group along with their chief Yevgeny Prigozhin marched towards Moscow, Putin vowed to punish them, calling their act as 'treason' and a 'stab in the back' before the crisis suddenly defused after the sudden deal with Belarus.<br />
<br />
As per the deal, Prigozhin had to pull back his troops and all the criminal charges against the Wagner chief were dropped. Now, as the Wagner group mercenaries move towards Belarus, emergency security measures still remain imposed in Moscow.</p>

<h2 lang="en-US"><strong>What will be the next steps of Putin?</strong></h2>

<p lang="en-US">Even though the immediate threat has been contained, experts believe that Putin has not emerged as a strong leader but rather appears badly bruised. Since the televised address of Putin, in which he loathed the Wagner group for its betrayal, the Russian president has not appeared in public and there have been no plans of any new presidential address in the near future.</p>

<p lang="en-US"><strong>ALSO READ |</strong>&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/wagner-rebellion-when-putins-former-chef-served-a-dish-of-treason-ten-points-608452">Wagner rebellion: When Putin’s former favourite chef served a dish of ‘treason’ | 10 points</a></p>

<p lang="en-US">However, in the pre-recorded interview televised on Sunday, Putin stated that he was confident about the progress being made in the war against Ukraine. Some experts believe that Putin will soon lash out at those who remained unsupportive at such a critical time and may also show military aggression in Ukraine.<br />
<br />
Speaking to BBC, Polish MEP Radek Sikorski said that Putin would "probably purge those who he saw as wavering", which means his regime will become "more authoritarian and more brutal at the same time".</p>

<h2 lang="en-US"><strong>What lies ahead for Prigozhin and Wagner?</strong></h2>

<p lang="en-US">It still remains unclear what will be the role of Prigozhin within the Wagner group and in the war against Ukraine and if all fighters will be contracted to the military of Russia.<br />
<br />
On Saturday, a Kremlin spokesperson said he “cannot answer” what will be Prigozhin's position in Belarus. Retired US Army Maj Mike Lyons said that the Wagner group is “an independent fighting company” with conditions which are different compared to the Russian military.<br />
<br />
“Maybe some will splinter off. Those people are loyal to the man, Prigozhin, not to the country, not to the mission. I think we’ve got a lot more questions that are not answered right now,” he said.</p>

<p lang="en-US"><strong>WATCH |&nbsp;Russia-Ukraine War: Wagner forces halt advance in Moscow</strong></p>

<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/russia-ukraine-war-wagner-forces-halt-advance-in-moscow-608534/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>

<p lang="en-US">“Putin doesn’t forgive traitors. Even if Putin says, ‘Prigozhin, you go to Belarus,’ he is still a traitor and I think Putin will never forgive that,” stated Jill Dougherty, CNN’s former Moscow bureau chief. She further hinted at the possibility of seeing Prigozhin “get killed in Belarus”.<br />
<br />
However, she stated that it is a tough dilemma for Russia till Prigozhin “has some type of support, he is a threat, regardless of where he is.”</p>

<h2 lang="en-US"><strong>How will Wagner's rebellion affect the war in Ukraine?</strong></h2>

<p lang="en-US">Some of the most successful fightings was carried out by the Wagner group in Ukraine, even though a lot of its fighters have come from prison and have been promised to be freed from frontline service. The group was heavily involved with Russia in capturing the city of Bakhmut. Russia maintains its stance that the rebellion has not impacted its Ukraine campaign.<br />
<br />
However, experts believe the news of armed rebellion may be demoralising for the Russian forces. Some believe that there is the possibility of in-fighting between rival units in the days ahead.<br />
<br />
Ukraine, along with being concerned over the chances of Russia escalating its involvement, will also look for opportunities that may emerge from the instability across the border. A counter-offensive has been launched by the forces of Kyiv to reclaim territories which have been captured by the occupiers and feel the unrest in Moscow offers a "window of opportunity".<br />
<br />
Speaking to BBC, former US ambassador to Ukraine Bill Taylor said that Ukrainian forces were in "a good position" to exploit tactical weaknesses exposed by the sudden movement of Wagner fighters.</p>

<h2 lang="en-US"><strong>How will the rebellion impact the Russian people?</strong></h2>

<p lang="en-US">When Prigozhin and his armed forces departed Rostov-on-Don, they were cheered by the residents of the city, who were even heard chanting “Wagner”. The videos shared on social media reflected the support Wagner had from the citizens as people shouted, "Take care of yourselves”.<br />
<br />
The show of support for Wagner mercenaries was striking in a nation which grew increasingly intolerant of public criticism of Putin's rule.<br />
<br />
“If I were Putin, I would be worried about those people on the streets of Rostov cheering the Wagner people as they leave,” stated Dougherty, speaking to CNN.<br />
<br />
“Why are average Russians on the street cheering people who just tried to carry out a coup? “That means that maybe they support them or they like them. Whatever it is, it’s really bad news for Putin,” she added.<br />
<br />
Emphasising how concerning it is for Putin to see civilians applauding Wagner units, leading Russia analyst Tatiana Stanovaya said, "Many inside the elite will personally blame Putin for the fact that everything went so far and that there was no proper reaction from the president in good time. Therefore, this whole story is also a blow to Putin's positions."<br />
<br />
It's difficult to assess how much Putin's image has suffered because of rebellion, however, the cracks seem evident.&nbsp;</p>

<main>
<section>
<p>You can&nbsp;<strong>now write for&nbsp;wionews.com</strong>&nbsp;and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us&nbsp;<strong><a href="https://www.wionews.com/content-contribution-registration-form">here</a>.</strong></p>

<p><strong>WATCH WION LIVE HERE</strong></p>

<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>
</section>
</main>


In a span of 36 hours, Russian President Vladimir Putin faced the greatest threat of an armed insurrection, the biggest challenge to his authority since the leader came to power more than two decades ago.

In a span of 36 hours, Russian President Vladimir Putin faced the greatest threat of an armed insurrection, the biggest challenge to his authority since the leader came to power more than two decades ago. As the armed fighters of Wagner group along with their chief Yevgeny Prigozhin marched towards Moscow, Putin vowed to punish them, calling their act as 'treason' and a 'stab in the back' before the crisis suddenly defused after the sudden deal with Belarus. As per the deal, Prigozhin had to pull back his troops and all the criminal charges against the Wagner chief were dropped. Now, as the Wagner group mercenaries move towards Belarus, emergency security measures still remain imposed in Moscow. What will be the next steps of Putin? Even though the immediate threat has been contained, experts believe that Putin has not emerged as a strong leader but rather appears badly bruised. Since the televised address of Putin, in which he loathed the Wagner group for its betrayal, the Russian president has not appeared in public and there have been no plans of any new presidential address in the near future. ALSO READ | Wagner rebellion: When Putin’s former favourite chef served a dish of ‘treason’ | 10 points However, in the pre-recorded interview televised on Sunday, Putin stated that he was confident about the progress being made in the war against Ukraine. Some experts believe that Putin will soon lash out at those who remained unsupportive at such a critical time and may also show military aggression in Ukraine. Speaking to BBC, Polish MEP Radek Sikorski said that Putin would "probably purge those who he saw as wavering", which means his regime will become "more authoritarian and more brutal at the same time". What lies ahead for Prigozhin and Wagner? It still remains unclear what will be the role of Prigozhin within the Wagner group and in the war against Ukraine and if all fighters will be contracted to the military of Russia. On Saturday, a Kremlin spokesperson said he “cannot answer” what will be Prigozhin's position in Belarus. Retired US Army Maj Mike Lyons said that the Wagner group is “an independent fighting company” with conditions which are different compared to the Russian military. “Maybe some will splinter off. Those people are loyal to the man, Prigozhin, not to the country, not to the mission. I think we’ve got a lot more questions that are not answered right now,” he said. WATCH | Russia-Ukraine War: Wagner forces halt advance in Moscow “Putin doesn’t forgive traitors. Even if Putin says, ‘Prigozhin, you go to Belarus,’ he is still a traitor and I think Putin will never forgive that,” stated Jill Dougherty, CNN’s former Moscow bureau chief. She further hinted at the possibility of seeing Prigozhin “get killed in Belarus”. However, she stated that it is a tough dilemma for Russia till Prigozhin “has some type of support, he is a threat, regardless of where he is.” How will Wagner's rebellion affect the war in Ukraine? Some of the most successful fightings was carried out by the Wagner group in Ukraine, even though a lot of its fighters have come from prison and have been promised to be freed from frontline service. The group was heavily involved with Russia in capturing the city of Bakhmut. Russia maintains its stance that the rebellion has not impacted its Ukraine campaign. However, experts believe the news of armed rebellion may be demoralising for the Russian forces. Some believe that there is the possibility of in-fighting between rival units in the days ahead. Ukraine, along with being concerned over the chances of Russia escalating its involvement, will also look for opportunities that may emerge from the instability across the border. A counter-offensive has been launched by the forces of Kyiv to reclaim territories which have been captured by the occupiers and feel the unrest in Moscow offers a "window of opportunity". Speaking to BBC, former US ambassador to Ukraine Bill Taylor said that Ukrainian forces were in "a good position" to exploit tactical weaknesses exposed by the sudden movement of Wagner fighters. How will the rebellion impact the Russian people? When Prigozhin and his armed forces departed Rostov-on-Don, they were cheered by the residents of the city, who were even heard chanting “Wagner”. The videos shared on social media reflected the support Wagner had from the citizens as people shouted, "Take care of yourselves”. The show of support for Wagner mercenaries was striking in a nation which grew increasingly intolerant of public criticism of Putin's rule. “If I were Putin, I would be worried about those people on the streets of Rostov cheering the Wagner people as they leave,” stated Dougherty, speaking to CNN. “Why are average Russians on the street cheering people who just tried to carry out a coup? “That means that maybe they support them or they like them. Whatever it is, it’s really bad news for Putin,” she added. Emphasising how concerning it is for Putin to see civilians applauding Wagner units, leading Russia analyst Tatiana Stanovaya said, "Many inside the elite will personally blame Putin for the fact that everything went so far and that there was no proper reaction from the president in good time. Therefore, this whole story is also a blow to Putin's positions." It's difficult to assess how much Putin's image has suffered because of rebellion, however, the cracks seem evident. 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

Explained | Bruised Putin's dangling future post Wagner's short-lived rebellion

<p>The Wagner mercenary group, propped up by the Russian state in recent years, first to fight Moscow's proxy wars in Central Africa and then its war in Ukraine, haunted Vladimir Putin last weekend with an armed revolt against the country's military leadership. The world was glued to their TV screens for blow-by-blow breakdown of the evolving situation that many believed would culminate into some kind of change-of-guard in Moscow. But that was not to be.</p>

<p><strong>Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/wagner-rebellion-when-putins-former-chef-served-a-dish-of-treason-ten-points-608452">Wagner rebellion: When Putin’s former favourite chef served a dish of ‘treason’ | 10 points</a></strong></p>

<p>Nevertheless in the hyperconnected corridors of social media, Wagner's race towards Moscow was followed with a humorous chase by edgy memes. Some netizens were also quick to jump from Titanic submersible implosion's bandwagon to that of Wagner's invasion on Russia itself. Something like this.</p>

<div class="ui-state-default" contenteditable="false">
<div class="twitter-block" draggable="false">
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
<p dir="ltr" lang="en">Ben Jennings on Vladimir <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Putin?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Putin</a> and the <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Wagner?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Wagner</a> uprising in <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Russia?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Russia</a> - political cartoon gallery in London <a href="https://t.co/dePcTdnXF6">https://t.co/dePcTdnXF6</a> <a href="https://t.co/5Y2fGqRyDE">pic.twitter.com/5Y2fGqRyDE</a></p>
— Political Cartoon (@Cartoon4sale) <a href="https://twitter.com/Cartoon4sale/status/1673049725459742721?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">June 25, 2023</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>
<a class="close-mark close-div" href="#" id="jqclosemark">×</a></div>

<p>&nbsp;</p>

<p><img alt="meme twitter wagner" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="ff2d9801-ba13-4902-a5ee-437ad54d4bfc" src="//cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/inline-images/Untitled%20design%20-%202023-06-26T121235.311.png" /><br />
<br />
A social media user described a scene of different groups of Russians pointing gun at each other.<img alt="Meme Twitter" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="63d47762-8cc0-43c7-b08e-02006790c3c9" src="//cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/inline-images/Untitled%20design%20-%202023-06-26T114202.787.png" /></p>

<p>Twitter owner Elon Musk also took to his own social media platform and in one of the memes, he warned that nobody should be trusted.<img alt="Musk Russia meme" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="af2e61e4-f19c-4f2d-a9ce-b9a51d6eba34" src="//cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/inline-images/Untitled%20design%20-%202023-06-26T124042.160.png" /></p>

<p>As Wagner mercenaries moved towards Rostov and asserted their occupation on the city, visuals showed the men sitting at a restaurant.</p>

<p>"Russia is always a meme. Even in this situation," another user wrote.<img alt="Russia SK meme" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="533b1510-9788-45c9-a864-e851601434f1" src="//cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/inline-images/Untitled%20design%20-%202023-06-26T120026.675.png" /></p>

<p>A third user on Twitter gave an admittedly slimy analogy of 'coup-coup clock' over Putin's head as Wagner mercenary columns were seen moving towards Moscow.</p>

<p><img alt="coup coup clock" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="6397c784-774f-4fbf-a2cd-58f58674b651" src="//cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/inline-images/Untitled%20design%20-%202023-06-26T120750.740.png" /></p>

<p>In the end, on internet's landscape of humour, Russian President Vladimir Putin and his Belarussian counterpart Aleksandr Lukashenko had the last laugh.</p>

<p><img alt="Putin memess" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="76ae5768-5d34-4c2c-bdb4-293d2d14e730" src="//cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/inline-images/Untitled%20design%20-%202023-06-26T122052.008.png" /></p>

<p><img alt="Lukashenko meme" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="3a89d265-0f46-483d-b535-97f3831810ff" src="//cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/inline-images/Untitled%20design%20-%202023-06-26T122246.508.png" /></p>

<p>Russia's Wagner mercenary group's rebellion lasted for a little less than 36 hours and ended after Belarus brokered a peace deal.&nbsp;Following the deal, the Wagner boss Yevgeny Prigozhin&nbsp;—&nbsp;also a former chef to President Vladimir Putin&nbsp;—&nbsp;announced that he was pulling his troops back to their bases.&nbsp;&nbsp;</p>

<p><strong>WATCH WION LIVE HERE</strong></p>

<p><iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="350" loading="”lazy”" src="https://www.wionews.com/live-tv/embed?autoplay=1&amp;mute=1  width=&quot;100%&quot;"></iframe></p>


The Wagner mercenary group, propped up by the Russian state in recent years, first to fight Moscow's proxy wars in Central Africa and then its war in Ukraine, haunted Vladimir Putin last weekend with an armed revolt against the country's military leadership.

The Wagner mercenary group, propped up by the Russian state in recent years, first to fight Moscow's proxy wars in Central Africa and then its war in Ukraine, haunted Vladimir Putin last weekend with an armed revolt against the country's military leadership. The world was glued to their TV screens for blow-by-blow breakdown of the evolving situation that many believed would culminate into some kind of change-of-guard in Moscow. But that was not to be. Also read | Wagner rebellion: When Putin’s former favourite chef served a dish of ‘treason’ | 10 points Nevertheless in the hyperconnected corridors of social media, Wagner's race towards Moscow was followed with a humorous chase by edgy memes. Some netizens were also quick to jump from Titanic submersible implosion's bandwagon to that of Wagner's invasion on Russia itself. Something like this. Ben Jennings on Vladimir #Putin and the #Wagner uprising in #Russia - political cartoon gallery in London https://t.co/dePcTdnXF6 pic.twitter.com/5Y2fGqRyDE — Political Cartoon (@Cartoon4sale) June 25, 2023 × A social media user described a scene of different groups of Russians pointing gun at each other. Twitter owner Elon Musk also took to his own social media platform and in one of the memes, he warned that nobody should be trusted. As Wagner mercenaries moved towards Rostov and asserted their occupation on the city, visuals showed the men sitting at a restaurant. "Russia is always a meme. Even in this situation," another user wrote. A third user on Twitter gave an admittedly slimy analogy of 'coup-coup clock' over Putin's head as Wagner mercenary columns were seen moving towards Moscow. In the end, on internet's landscape of humour, Russian President Vladimir Putin and his Belarussian counterpart Aleksandr Lukashenko had the last laugh. Russia's Wagner mercenary group's rebellion lasted for a little less than 36 hours and ended after Belarus brokered a peace deal. Following the deal, the Wagner boss Yevgeny Prigozhin — also a former chef to President Vladimir Putin — announced that he was pulling his troops back to their bases. WATCH WION LIVE HERE

Wagner's race to Moscow chased by Elon Musk and others with edgy memes

<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>

<p>&nbsp;</p>

<p><strong>WATCH WION LIVE HERE</strong></p>

<p><iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="350" loading="”lazy”" src="https://www.wionews.com/live-tv/embed?autoplay=1&amp;mute=1" width="100%"></iframe></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.

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>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>

<div class="ui-state-default" contenteditable="false">
<div class="twitter-block" draggable="false">
<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/russian-diplomat-stages-protest-as-australia-dismisses-lease-for-moscow-embassy-607879/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>
</div>
<a class="close-mark close-div" href="#" id="jqclosemark">×</a></div>

<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 />
&nbsp;</p>

<p><strong>WATCH WION LIVE HERE</strong></p>

<p><iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="350" loading="”lazy”" src="https://www.wionews.com/live-tv/embed?autoplay=1&amp;mute=1" width="100%"></iframe></p>

<p>You can <strong>now write for wionews.com</strong> and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us <strong><a href="https://www.wionews.com/content-contribution-registration-form">here</a>.</strong></p>


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>

<p><br />
&nbsp;</p>

<p><strong>WATCH WION LIVE HERE</strong></p>

<p><iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="350" loading="”lazy”" src="https://www.wionews.com/live-tv/embed?autoplay=1&amp;mute=1  width=&quot;100%&quot;"></iframe></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. 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>Russian mercenary group received tens of thousands of protective helmets from China late last year, the Financial Times reported. The report mentioned the period of time when the Wagner chief Yevgeny Prigozhin was apparently raising a massive prisoner army to attack Ukraine.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The report mentioned that entities used by the warlord to equip his operations in Africa have continued to freely export and import items across international markets despite Western sanctions.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The sanctions were aimed at curbing the private army that the US has designated as a "transnational crime organisation".&nbsp;</p>

<p>The report mentioned that as seen in the customs filings and interviews, a Wagner-connected Russian company named Broker Expert purchased 20,000 polymer-based helmets from a small Chinese company called Hangzhou Shinerain Import And Export Co in November and December of last year.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The Chinese organisation claimed they were intended for "gaming purposes". The helmets were reportedly split over four shipments with a combined value of more than £2m.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The Wagner chief told the media outlet in a voice message that he had "never heard of the name of the company" engaged in the helmet purchase.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Sarcastically, he also offered to send the FT "a large bag of my dirty laundry that I will collect over the course of a week or two so you can make a study of my underpants, socks, used toilet paper, and whatever else you want".&nbsp;</p>

<p>The report mentioned that Broker Expert sent power generators, welding electrodes, and fireproof insulating materials to a Prigozhin-controlled logging company in the Central African Republic in August.&nbsp;</p>

<p>In January, the US charged Wagner fighters in CAR with crimes including as "mass summary executions, rape, arbitrary detention, torture, and civilian displacement."&nbsp;</p>

<p>As quoted by FT, Marcel Plichta, who is a research fellow at the Centre for Global Law and Governance at the University of St Andrews, said: "That Prigozhin is still able to field armed contractors in Ukraine and at least three African countries, buy equipment from China, and smuggle resources show how resilient of a network he’s built."&nbsp;</p>

<h2><strong>Who is Yevgeny Prigozhin?&nbsp;</strong></h2>

<p>Prigozhin is a Russian oligarch and a close confidant of Russian President Vladimir Putin. He is sometimes referred to as "Putin's chef" because he owns restaurants and catering enterprises that serve the Kremlin. He also admitted that he is the founder of the Wagner group.&nbsp;</p>

<p>In a recent development, he said that his army is leading the assault on the devastated eastern city of Bakhmut said in a Telegram message released on Friday (May 19). He claimed that "heavy, bloody battles" were continuing and also claimed his men were close to completing the capture of the city itself.&nbsp;</p>

<p><strong>WATCH WION LIVE HERE</strong></p>

<p><iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="350" loading="”lazy”" src="https://www.wionews.com/live-tv/embed?autoplay=1&amp;mute=1" width="100%"></iframe></p>

<p>You can <strong>now write for wionews.com</strong> and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us <strong><a href="https://www.wionews.com/content-contribution-registration-form">here</a>.</strong></p>


Russian mercenary group received tens of thousands of protective helmets from China late last year, the Financial Times reported. The report mentioned the period of time when the Wagner chief Yevgeny Prigozhin was apparently raising a massive prisoner army to attack Ukraine.

Russian mercenary group received tens of thousands of protective helmets from China late last year, the Financial Times reported. The report mentioned the period of time when the Wagner chief Yevgeny Prigozhin was apparently raising a massive prisoner army to attack Ukraine. The report mentioned that entities used by the warlord to equip his operations in Africa have continued to freely export and import items across international markets despite Western sanctions. The sanctions were aimed at curbing the private army that the US has designated as a "transnational crime organisation". The report mentioned that as seen in the customs filings and interviews, a Wagner-connected Russian company named Broker Expert purchased 20,000 polymer-based helmets from a small Chinese company called Hangzhou Shinerain Import And Export Co in November and December of last year. The Chinese organisation claimed they were intended for "gaming purposes". The helmets were reportedly split over four shipments with a combined value of more than £2m. The Wagner chief told the media outlet in a voice message that he had "never heard of the name of the company" engaged in the helmet purchase. Sarcastically, he also offered to send the FT "a large bag of my dirty laundry that I will collect over the course of a week or two so you can make a study of my underpants, socks, used toilet paper, and whatever else you want". The report mentioned that Broker Expert sent power generators, welding electrodes, and fireproof insulating materials to a Prigozhin-controlled logging company in the Central African Republic in August. In January, the US charged Wagner fighters in CAR with crimes including as "mass summary executions, rape, arbitrary detention, torture, and civilian displacement." As quoted by FT, Marcel Plichta, who is a research fellow at the Centre for Global Law and Governance at the University of St Andrews, said: "That Prigozhin is still able to field armed contractors in Ukraine and at least three African countries, buy equipment from China, and smuggle resources show how resilient of a network he’s built." Who is Yevgeny Prigozhin? Prigozhin is a Russian oligarch and a close confidant of Russian President Vladimir Putin. He is sometimes referred to as "Putin's chef" because he owns restaurants and catering enterprises that serve the Kremlin. He also admitted that he is the founder of the Wagner group. In a recent development, he said that his army is leading the assault on the devastated eastern city of Bakhmut said in a Telegram message released on Friday (May 19). He claimed that "heavy, bloody battles" were continuing and also claimed his men were close to completing the capture of the city itself. 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.

China sent helmets to the Wagner mercenary group despite sanctions: Report

<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>

<p><strong>WATCH WION LIVE HERE</strong></p>

<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>


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>

<p><strong>WATCH WION LIVE HERE</strong></p>

<p><iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="350" loading="”lazy”" src="https://www.wionews.com/live-tv/embed?autoplay=1&amp;mute=1" width="100%"></iframe></p>

<p>You can <strong>now write for wionews.com</strong> and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us <strong><a href="https://www.wionews.com/content-contribution-registration-form">here</a>.</strong></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.

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

<p>Russia's Wagner Group, in a major shift of tactical goalpost during ongoing Russia-Ukraine war,&nbsp;announced that it will withdraw from the Bakhmut region where the battle to overrun Ukrainian resistance is continuing with sharp intensity for nearly two months.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Wagner founder Yevgeny Prigozhin said in a statement on Friday that the lack of ammunition was the reason for the withdrawal.</p>

<p>"I am pulling Wagner units out of Bakhmut because in the absence of ammunition they are doomed to perish senselessly," Prigozhin said.&nbsp;</p>

<p><strong>ALSO READ | <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>Wagner's positions in Bakhmut will be transferred to Russia's regular forces, Prigozhin said.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Earlier on Friday, Prigozhin published a video of himself standing among, what were referred to as, bloodied 'Wagner lads'. He blamed Russian defence minister Sergei Shoigu for the loss of lives Wagner Group faced in Bakhmut over past many weeks of fighting with the Ukrainian forces.&nbsp;</p>

<p>"These are Wagner lads who died today. The blood is still fresh," Prigozhin said. "They came here as volunteers and they are dying so you can get fat in your offices."</p>

<p>The battle for strategically important Bakhmut has become a tactical flashpoint between Russia and Ukraine. The battle for Bakhmut is among the longest and bloodiest of the war, with severe losses on both the Russian and Ukrainian sides.</p>

<p>Wagner in the recent past called upon Moscow to boost ammunition supply-lines towards it.</p>

<h2><strong>Kremlin's reaction on Wagner's Bakhmut withdrawal</strong></h2>

<p>Russian presidential spokesman Dmitry Peskov said the Kremlin has seen Yevgeny Prigozhin's statement that announced group's removal from Bakhmut region.</p>

<p>Peskov said he had seen reports in the media, but "cannot comment on this, because it concerns the special military operation".&nbsp;</p>

<p>Speaking of contacts between Russia and United States after purported drone attacks on the Kremlin, Peskov said "any contacts are possible" for reaching Russia's own goals, for providing Russia's interests.</p>

<p><strong>ALSO WATCH |&nbsp;Russia-Ukraine war: Russia still fighting for control in Bakhmut</strong></p>

<div class="ui-state-default" contenteditable="false">
<div class="twitter-block" draggable="false">
<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/russia-ukraine-war-russia-still-fighting-for-control-in-bakhmut-588263/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>
</div>
<a class="close-mark close-div" href="#" id="jqclosemark">×</a></div>

<p>"Of course, contacts will continue, if necessary," Peskov added.</p>

<p>Russia claimed it foiled an attack by Ukrainian drones on the Kremlin early Wednesday, calling it an unsuccessful assassination attempt against President Vladimir Putin and promising retaliation for what it termed a “terrorist” act.</p>

<p>The Kremlin alleges that the United States&nbsp;was behind the purported drone attacks.</p>

<p>Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky denied that Ukraine was behind the purported attacks, saying: “We don't attack Putin or Moscow.”</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><br />
<br />
<em>(With inputs from agencies)</em></p>

<p><strong>WATCH WION LIVE HERE</strong></p>

<p><iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="350" loading="”lazy”" src="https://www.wionews.com/live-tv/embed?autoplay=1&amp;mute=1  width=&quot;100%&quot;"></iframe></p>

<p>You can <strong>now write for wionews.com</strong> and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us <strong><a href="https://www.wionews.com/content-contribution-registration-form">here</a>.</strong></p>


Russia's Wagner Group, in a major shift of tactical goalpost during ongoing Russia-Ukraine war, announced that it will withdraw from the Bakhmut region where the battle to overrun Ukrainian resistance is continuing with sharp intensity for nearly two months.

Russia's Wagner Group, in a major shift of tactical goalpost during ongoing Russia-Ukraine war, announced that it will withdraw from the Bakhmut region where the battle to overrun Ukrainian resistance is continuing with sharp intensity for nearly two months. Wagner founder Yevgeny Prigozhin said in a statement on Friday that the lack of ammunition was the reason for the withdrawal. "I am pulling Wagner units out of Bakhmut because in the absence of ammunition they are doomed to perish senselessly," Prigozhin said. ALSO READ | Wagner group will soon cease to exist: Founder tells war blogger Wagner's positions in Bakhmut will be transferred to Russia's regular forces, Prigozhin said. Earlier on Friday, Prigozhin published a video of himself standing among, what were referred to as, bloodied 'Wagner lads'. He blamed Russian defence minister Sergei Shoigu for the loss of lives Wagner Group faced in Bakhmut over past many weeks of fighting with the Ukrainian forces. "These are Wagner lads who died today. The blood is still fresh," Prigozhin said. "They came here as volunteers and they are dying so you can get fat in your offices." The battle for strategically important Bakhmut has become a tactical flashpoint between Russia and Ukraine. The battle for Bakhmut is among the longest and bloodiest of the war, with severe losses on both the Russian and Ukrainian sides. Wagner in the recent past called upon Moscow to boost ammunition supply-lines towards it. Kremlin's reaction on Wagner's Bakhmut withdrawal Russian presidential spokesman Dmitry Peskov said the Kremlin has seen Yevgeny Prigozhin's statement that announced group's removal from Bakhmut region. Peskov said he had seen reports in the media, but "cannot comment on this, because it concerns the special military operation". Speaking of contacts between Russia and United States after purported drone attacks on the Kremlin, Peskov said "any contacts are possible" for reaching Russia's own goals, for providing Russia's interests. ALSO WATCH | Russia-Ukraine war: Russia still fighting for control in Bakhmut × "Of course, contacts will continue, if necessary," Peskov added. Russia claimed it foiled an attack by Ukrainian drones on the Kremlin early Wednesday, calling it an unsuccessful assassination attempt against President Vladimir Putin and promising retaliation for what it termed a “terrorist” act. The Kremlin alleges that the United States was behind the purported drone attacks. Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky denied that Ukraine was behind the purported attacks, saying: “We don't attack Putin or Moscow.” 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.

‘Doomed to perish’: Russia’s Wagner announces withdrawal from Bakhmut, cites lack of ammo

<p>In an audio message published on social media, Yevgeny Prigozhin, chief of Russia’s Wagner Group, on Wednesday (May 3), said he believes&nbsp;that Ukraine has “already begun” its counter-offensive. This comes after he claimed that his forces have seen heightened activity by Ukrainian troops along the front lines.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Meanwhile, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said that the death toll from Russian strikes on the country’s southern Kherson region has risen to 21 after authorities in Kyiv said Russian strikes hit both the city and nearby villages.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The Pentagon, on Wednesday, announced a $300 million military aid package to Ukraine as it prepares for the spring counter-offensive.&nbsp;</p>

<p><strong>Wagner chief about Ukraine’s spring offensive</strong></p>

<p>In the clip posted on social media, Prigozhin also said that the “active phase” of Ukraine's counteroffensive would begin in the coming days. “I believe the advance of the Ukrainian army has already begun...We are seeing the greatest possible activity both on the perimeter and within the front lines,” said the Wagner chief, as quoted by Reuters.&nbsp;</p>

<p>He added, “I therefore believe that it has all already started. And I believe it will all enter an active phase in the very near future. It could be a matter of days.” This comes as the Ukrainian forces have long promised to launch a counteroffensive and start taking back territory in the east which Russia has occupied after it began its invasion in February 2022.&nbsp;</p>

<p>In a subsequent statement, Prigozhin said his forces have advanced some 700 feet in the eastern Ukrainian town of Bakhmut which has witnessed some of the most intense battles since the conflict began, reported Reuters.<br />
<br />
He also reiterated his complaint about the Russian government ignoring his pleas to increase supplies of shells and said, “We only have resources for a few days. They (ministry of defence)&nbsp;ignore all requests from Wagner.”&nbsp;</p>

<p><strong>Zelensky about shelling in Kherson&nbsp;</strong></p>

<p>Zelensky took to Telegram and said, “As of now, 21 people have been killed! 48 wounded!” Officials in the region also imposed a curfew in the main city of Kherson starting Friday. The Ukrainian president also said the strikes hit “a railway station and a crossing, a house, a hardware store, a grocery supermarket and a gas station.”&nbsp;<br />
&nbsp;<br />
He also published images of bodies and wounded people on the floor of a supermarket and said “The world needs to see and know this.” According to Kherson prosecutors, who have since called these attacks “massive,” 12 people were killed in the city and others in nearby villages.&nbsp;</p>

<p>“On the morning of May 3, Russian troops began massive shelling of the city of Kherson and the region's settlements,” said the prosecutors, as quoted by AFP.&nbsp;</p>

<p><strong>United States announces more aid for Ukraine</strong></p>

<p>The United States, on Wednesday, announced that it is sending a new $300 million military aid package to Ukraine which will also include “additional ammunition” for the US-provided HIMARS.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Among other weapons, are “howitzers, artillery and mortar rounds, and anti-armour capabilities,” which the US says, “Ukraine is using to push back against Russia’s unprovoked war of aggression.” Notably, the US has now committed a little over $35 billion in military to Ukraine.&nbsp;</p>

<p><em>(With inputs from agencies)&nbsp;</em><br />
<br />
<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><strong>WATCH WION LIVE HERE</strong></p>

<p><iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="350" loading="”lazy”" src="https://www.wionews.com/live-tv/embed?autoplay=1&amp;mute=1" width="100%"></iframe></p>

<p>You can <strong>now write for wionews.com</strong> and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us <strong><a href="https://www.wionews.com/content-contribution-registration-form">here</a>.</strong></p>


In an audio message published on social media, Yevgeny Prigozhin, chief of Russia’s Wagner Group, on Wednesday (May 3), said he believes that Ukraine has “already begun” its counter-offensive.

In an audio message published on social media, Yevgeny Prigozhin, chief of Russia’s Wagner Group, on Wednesday (May 3), said he believes that Ukraine has “already begun” its counter-offensive. This comes after he claimed that his forces have seen heightened activity by Ukrainian troops along the front lines. Meanwhile, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said that the death toll from Russian strikes on the country’s southern Kherson region has risen to 21 after authorities in Kyiv said Russian strikes hit both the city and nearby villages. The Pentagon, on Wednesday, announced a $300 million military aid package to Ukraine as it prepares for the spring counter-offensive. Wagner chief about Ukraine’s spring offensive In the clip posted on social media, Prigozhin also said that the “active phase” of Ukraine's counteroffensive would begin in the coming days. “I believe the advance of the Ukrainian army has already begun...We are seeing the greatest possible activity both on the perimeter and within the front lines,” said the Wagner chief, as quoted by Reuters. He added, “I therefore believe that it has all already started. And I believe it will all enter an active phase in the very near future. It could be a matter of days.” This comes as the Ukrainian forces have long promised to launch a counteroffensive and start taking back territory in the east which Russia has occupied after it began its invasion in February 2022. In a subsequent statement, Prigozhin said his forces have advanced some 700 feet in the eastern Ukrainian town of Bakhmut which has witnessed some of the most intense battles since the conflict began, reported Reuters. He also reiterated his complaint about the Russian government ignoring his pleas to increase supplies of shells and said, “We only have resources for a few days. They (ministry of defence) ignore all requests from Wagner.” Zelensky about shelling in Kherson Zelensky took to Telegram and said, “As of now, 21 people have been killed! 48 wounded!” Officials in the region also imposed a curfew in the main city of Kherson starting Friday. The Ukrainian president also said the strikes hit “a railway station and a crossing, a house, a hardware store, a grocery supermarket and a gas station.” He also published images of bodies and wounded people on the floor of a supermarket and said “The world needs to see and know this.” According to Kherson prosecutors, who have since called these attacks “massive,” 12 people were killed in the city and others in nearby villages. “On the morning of May 3, Russian troops began massive shelling of the city of Kherson and the region's settlements,” said the prosecutors, as quoted by AFP. United States announces more aid for Ukraine The United States, on Wednesday, announced that it is sending a new $300 million military aid package to Ukraine which will also include “additional ammunition” for the US-provided HIMARS. Among other weapons, are “howitzers, artillery and mortar rounds, and anti-armour capabilities,” which the US says, “Ukraine is using to push back against Russia’s unprovoked war of aggression.” Notably, the US has now committed a little over $35 billion in military to Ukraine. (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.

Wagner leader says Ukraine counter-offensive has begun; Kherson shelling toll rises to 21

<p>The chief of the Russian mercenary Wagner Group has threatened to withdraw his troops from the besieged Bakhmut city, Ukraine, if Moscow fails to address ammunition supply problems.</p>

<p>According to local media reports, Yevgeny Prigozhin told military blogger Semyon Pegov on April 29 that casualties have been mounting higher than necessary because of the lack of artillery ammunition.</p>

<p>"Every day, we have stacks of thousands of bodies that we put in coffins and send home," Prigozhin said in the interview published on Saturday.&nbsp;</p>

<p>He had written to Russian Defence Minister Sergei Shoigu asking for additional supplies.</p>

<p>"If the ammunition deficit is not replenished, we are forced, in order not to run like cowardly rats afterwards, to either withdraw or die."</p>

<p>In an audio statement published on the Telegram messaging app account of his press service on Saturday evening, Prigozhin said that 94 fighters from his group have lost their lives due to lack of ammunition.</p>

<p>“It would have been five times fewer if we had more ammunition,” he said.</p>

<p>This is the second time he has expressed his ire over the lack of support from the Russian officials.</p>

<h2><strong>Ukraine's possible counteroffensive, holds military drills in Zaporizhzhia</strong></h2>

<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/ukraines-possible-counteroffensive-holds-military-drills-in-zaporizhzhia-world-news-wion-587416/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>

<p>Prigozhin had previously claimed that the Russian military was withholding ammunition from his soldiers. He claimed that top Russian officials are committing “treason” by withholding ammunition stockpiles.</p>

<p>The mercenary group chief said that he would be forced to withdraw some of his troops if the situation persists, warning that could lead to collapse elsewhere.</p>

<p>Over the past few months, Russia has been deploying a heavy amount of troops to Bakhmut in the hope&nbsp;of capturing the city as it desperately seeks a win after a series of setbacks. The Russian troops are being assisted by the mercenary Wagner Group, which has claimed to have taken control of the majority parts of the city.</p>

<p>Russia believes that capturing Bakhmut would deal a heavy blow to the Ukrainian defences and be a step towards seizing all of the Donbas industrial region, a major target. Kyiv says the battle is&nbsp;grinding&nbsp;down Russia's best units.</p>

<h2>Ukraine in control of key Bakhmut supply route</h2>

<p>Ukrainian military on Saturday claimed that they remain in control of a key supply route into Bakhmut, but added that the situation remains "really difficult".</p>

<p>For several weeks, the Russians have been talking about seizing the 'road of life,' as well as about constant fire control over it," Serhiy Cherevatyi, a spokesperson for Ukrainian troops in the east, said in an interview with local news website Dzerkalo Tyzhnia.</p>

<p>"Yes, it is really difficult there, because their attempts to seize the road continue, as well as attempts to establish fire control. But...the defence forces have not allowed the Russians to 'cut off' our logistics."</p>

<p><em>(With inputs from agencies)</em></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><br />
&nbsp;</p>

<p><strong>WATCH WION LIVE HERE</strong></p>

<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>


The chief of the Russian mercenary Wagner Group has threatened to withdraw his troops from the besieged Bakhmut city, Ukraine, if Moscow fails to address ammunition supply problems.

The chief of the Russian mercenary Wagner Group has threatened to withdraw his troops from the besieged Bakhmut city, Ukraine, if Moscow fails to address ammunition supply problems. According to local media reports, Yevgeny Prigozhin told military blogger Semyon Pegov on April 29 that casualties have been mounting higher than necessary because of the lack of artillery ammunition. "Every day, we have stacks of thousands of bodies that we put in coffins and send home," Prigozhin said in the interview published on Saturday. He had written to Russian Defence Minister Sergei Shoigu asking for additional supplies. "If the ammunition deficit is not replenished, we are forced, in order not to run like cowardly rats afterwards, to either withdraw or die." In an audio statement published on the Telegram messaging app account of his press service on Saturday evening, Prigozhin said that 94 fighters from his group have lost their lives due to lack of ammunition. “It would have been five times fewer if we had more ammunition,” he said. This is the second time he has expressed his ire over the lack of support from the Russian officials. Ukraine's possible counteroffensive, holds military drills in Zaporizhzhia Prigozhin had previously claimed that the Russian military was withholding ammunition from his soldiers. He claimed that top Russian officials are committing “treason” by withholding ammunition stockpiles. The mercenary group chief said that he would be forced to withdraw some of his troops if the situation persists, warning that could lead to collapse elsewhere. Over the past few months, Russia has been deploying a heavy amount of troops to Bakhmut in the hope of capturing the city as it desperately seeks a win after a series of setbacks. The Russian troops are being assisted by the mercenary Wagner Group, which has claimed to have taken control of the majority parts of the city. Russia believes that capturing Bakhmut would deal a heavy blow to the Ukrainian defences and be a step towards seizing all of the Donbas industrial region, a major target. Kyiv says the battle is grinding down Russia's best units. Ukraine in control of key Bakhmut supply route Ukrainian military on Saturday claimed that they remain in control of a key supply route into Bakhmut, but added that the situation remains "really difficult". For several weeks, the Russians have been talking about seizing the 'road of life,' as well as about constant fire control over it," Serhiy Cherevatyi, a spokesperson for Ukrainian troops in the east, said in an interview with local news website Dzerkalo Tyzhnia. "Yes, it is really difficult there, because their attempts to seize the road continue, as well as attempts to establish fire control. But...the defence forces have not allowed the Russians to 'cut off' our logistics." (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

Russian mercenary Wagner Group chief threatens to withdraw his troops from Bakhmut

The leader of the Russian paramilitary force Wagner group and someone believed to have President Vladimir Putin's ear, Yevgeny Prigozhin, has called for an end to the war in Ukraine. This he says should be done as Russia has achieved all of its planned goals in its special operation.

Russia Ukraine War: Wagner Chief Yevgeny Prigozhin calls for end to war in Ukraine & declare victory

<p>Wagner chief Yevgeny Prigozhin said on Saturday (March 25) that over 5,000 former criminals were pardoned after finishing their contracts to fight in the group against Ukraine. In an audio clip posted on Telegram, Prigozhin said, "At present, more than 5,000 people have been released on pardon after completing their contracts with Wagner," the news agency Reuters reported. Prigozhin added that only 0.31 per cent of those pardoned after serving with Wagner go on to commit a crime, a figure he said was 10-20 times less than the standard indicators.</p>

<p><strong>ALSO READ | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/russian-troops-lose-momentum-in-battle-of-bakhmut-as-ukraine-puts-up-strong-defence-575529">Russian troops losing momentum in Bakhmut battle as Ukraine puts up strong defence</a></strong></p>

<p>Wagner, the Russian mercenary group, has played an important role in the Ukraine war after the Russian army suffered a series of humiliating defeats last year. Yevgeny Prigozhin emerged from the shadows and recruited thousands from prisons, offering them freedom for serving in some of the most dangerous battles in Ukraine.</p>

<p>The announcement of criminals being pardoned comes after Prigozhin told Russia's Defence Minister Sergei Shoigu that the Ukrainian army was planning an imminent offensive aimed at cutting off his Wagner forces from the main body of Russian troops in eastern Ukraine.</p>

<p>In a letter to Shoigu on Monday, Prigozhin said that the large-scale attack was planned by Ukraine for late March or the start of April. He urged the defence minister to take all necessary measures to prevent Wagner from being "cut off from the main forces of the Russian army, which will lead to negative consequences for the special military operation."</p>

<p>This was the first time that the Wagner chief published such correspondence with Shoigu, who&nbsp;he frequently criticised over the conduct of the war. Prigozhin also said on Monday that he was providing details of the Ukrainian plan and of his proposal to counter it in an attachment to the letter, Reuters reported.&nbsp;</p>

<p>In separate comments published on Telegram, Prigozhin also said there was a "high probability" that the Russian city of Belgorod would be one of the targets of the coming Ukrainian offensive.<br />
<br />
&nbsp;</p>

<p><strong>WATCH WION LIVE HERE</strong></p>

<p><iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="350" loading="”lazy”" src="https://www.wionews.com/live-tv/embed?autoplay=1&amp;mute=1" width="100%"></iframe></p>

<p>You can <strong>now write for wionews.com</strong> and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us <strong><a href="https://www.wionews.com/content-contribution-registration-form">here</a>.</strong></p>


Wagner chief Yevgeny Prigozhin said on Saturday (March 25) that over 5,000 former criminals were pardoned after finishing their contracts to fight in the group against Ukraine.

Wagner chief Yevgeny Prigozhin said on Saturday (March 25) that over 5,000 former criminals were pardoned after finishing their contracts to fight in the group against Ukraine. In an audio clip posted on Telegram, Prigozhin said, "At present, more than 5,000 people have been released on pardon after completing their contracts with Wagner," the news agency Reuters reported. Prigozhin added that only 0.31 per cent of those pardoned after serving with Wagner go on to commit a crime, a figure he said was 10-20 times less than the standard indicators. ALSO READ | Russian troops losing momentum in Bakhmut battle as Ukraine puts up strong defence Wagner, the Russian mercenary group, has played an important role in the Ukraine war after the Russian army suffered a series of humiliating defeats last year. Yevgeny Prigozhin emerged from the shadows and recruited thousands from prisons, offering them freedom for serving in some of the most dangerous battles in Ukraine. The announcement of criminals being pardoned comes after Prigozhin told Russia's Defence Minister Sergei Shoigu that the Ukrainian army was planning an imminent offensive aimed at cutting off his Wagner forces from the main body of Russian troops in eastern Ukraine. In a letter to Shoigu on Monday, Prigozhin said that the large-scale attack was planned by Ukraine for late March or the start of April. He urged the defence minister to take all necessary measures to prevent Wagner from being "cut off from the main forces of the Russian army, which will lead to negative consequences for the special military operation." This was the first time that the Wagner chief published such correspondence with Shoigu, who he frequently criticised over the conduct of the war. Prigozhin also said on Monday that he was providing details of the Ukrainian plan and of his proposal to counter it in an attachment to the letter, Reuters reported. In separate comments published on Telegram, Prigozhin also said there was a "high probability" that the Russian city of Belgorod would be one of the targets of the coming Ukrainian offensive. 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 says over 5,000 criminals pardoned by Russia after fighting in Ukraine war