Wagner mercenaries headed back to their base on Sunday after Russia's President Vladimir Putin agreed to allow their leader to avoid treason charges and accept exile in neighbouring Belarus. ManilaBulletin READ:
The agreement halted an extraordinary crisis -- a private army led by Putin's former close ally Yevgeny Prigozhin trying to storm Moscow -- but analysts said Wagner's revolt had exposed Putin's rule as more fragile than previously thought.
Prigozhin was last seen late Saturday in an SUV leaving Rostov-on-Don, where his fighters had seized a military headquarters, to the cheers of some local people. Some shook his hand through the car window.There were reports that Wagner fighters had come as close as 400 kilometres from Moscow, while Prigozhin himself claimed that "in 24 hours we got 200 kilometres from Moscow".
Ukrainian leader Volodymyr Zelensky and US President Joe Biden discussed the revolt on Sunday, ahead of a NATO summit in Lithuania next month. Belarusian leader Alexander Lukashenko said he had negotiated the truce with Prigozhin. Moscow thanked him, but observers noted that an intervention by Lukashenko, usually seen as Putin's junior partner, was itself an embarrassment.
"Most people, most military, understand very well that the circus from Russia is still here," said Nazar, a 26-year-old bearded soldier, parked at a service station on a road leading out of the Bakhmut area.
United Kingdom Latest News, United Kingdom Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
Wagner rebellion stab in the back to Russia – PutinPresident Vladimir Putin on Saturday said that an armed mutiny by Wagner mercenaries was a "stab in the back" and that the group&39;s chief Yevgeny Prigozhin had "betrayed" Russia, vowing to punish those rebelling.
Read more »
Putin vows to punish ‘armed uprising’ by Wagner militia as Russia is plunged into crisisVladimir Putin is facing the greatest threat to his authority in two decades after the head of the Wagner paramilitary group launched an apparent insurrection, claimed control of military facilities in two Russian cities, and warned that his troops would head for Moscow.
Read more »
Putin vows to punish ‘armed uprising’ by Wagner militiaRussian President Vladimir Putin warned that those on “path of treason” or armed rebellion will be “punished” after the head of the Wagner paramilitary group said his troops had taken control of military facilities in two Russian cities, plunging the country into crisis.
Read more »
Putin vows to defeat Wagner as rebels advance on MoscowRebel mercenaries advanced north towards Moscow after seizing a key military base Saturday, just as Kremlin chief Vladimir Putin's vowed to defeat the revolt and head off the threat of civil war. | ManilaBulletin
Read more »
Wagner chief turns on Putin and takes over military facilities in two Russian citiesRussian President Vladimir Putin is facing the greatest threat to his authority in two decades after Yevgeny Prigozhin, the head of the Wagner paramilitary group and Putin’s former ally, launched an apparent insurrection
Read more »
Putin survives Wagner revolt but forced to cut dealThe leader of the Russian mercenary group Wagner has agreed to go into exile in Belarus, the Kremlin said, after President Vladimir Putin was forced to accept an amnesty deal to halt a mutiny. | ManilaBulletin
Read more »