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Wagner leader Prigozhin flees Russia for Belarus after deal with Kremlin to end rebellion

Forces from the mercenary Wagner group have abruptly stopped their advance on Moscow, as the man in charge of the rebellion goes missing after being exiled to Belarus.

Alexis Carey and Frank Chung
16 min read
June 25, 2023 - 12:00PM
Vladimir Putin addresses Russia on alleged coup

Wagner Group leader Yevgeny Prigozhin will flee to Belarus in a deal agreed with the Kremlin after standing down his fighters less than 200 kilometres from Moscow.

The billonaire warlord will leave Russia as part of a deal to end his uprising and charges against him will be dropped, the Kremlin said.

Forces from the mercenary group have abruptly stopped their advance on the Russian capital, Moscow, after rebelling against Vladimir Putin’s government.

Prigozhin announced he was turning his forces back from their march towards Moscow on Saturday evening, local time.

“So that Russian blood is not spilled, we return our columns and return to the field camps,” Prigozhin said on Telegram.

“They wanted to disband Wagner. We set out on June 23 for the ‘March of Justice’. In a day we marched just short of 200km from Moscow. During this time, we have not shed a single drop of blood of our fighters.

“Now is the moment when blood can be shed. Realising the responsibility for the fact that Russian blood will be shed, we turn our columns around and leave in the opposite direction to the field camps, according to the plan.”

A picture shared on Telegram reportedly shows the Wagner boss leaving Russia’s military HQ. Picture: Twitter
A picture shared on Telegram reportedly shows the Wagner boss leaving Russia’s military HQ. Picture: Twitter

Follow below for the latest updates.

Wagner mercenary chief goes missing

Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov said Saturday he was unaware of the current whereabouts of Prigozhin.

Asked during a press briefing about the mercenary chief’s whereabouts after he struck a deal to call off his march on Moscow and leave for Belarus, Peskov said, “No, I don’t know.”

Peskov also said he “cannot answer the question” of what position Prigozhin will take in Belarus and what he will be doing there.

A new video posted on Telegram and geolocated and confirmed by CNN showed Prigozhin leaving a Russian military headquarters in the southern Russian city of Rostov-on-Don.

Wagner forces were seen cheering on the streets of Rostov after the retreat. Picture: Twitter
Wagner forces were seen cheering on the streets of Rostov after the retreat. Picture: Twitter

Warlord exiled to Belarus, mercenary forces retreat

Warlord Prigozhin will flee to Belarus in a deal agreed with the Kremlin after standing down his fighters on the outskirts of Moscow.

Prigozhin’s forces have also begun to pull out of the Rostov region and Russia’s military HQ in a dramatic turnaround.

It comes after Putin’s pal Belarusian president Alexander Lukashenko claimed he had brokered a deal with the Wagner Group.

“Yevgeny Prigozhin accepted the proposal of the President of Belarus to stop the movement of armed persons of the Wagner company on the territory of Russia and take further steps to de-escalate tensions,” said a spokesman for Lukashenko.

The terms of the deal appeared to be confirmed by the Kremlin after the announcement that Prigozhin would leave for Belarus and would not face charges over the attempted coup.

Fighters who took part alongside him would not be prosecuted while Wagner troops who did not march would sign contracts with the defence ministry, it said.

Videos showed forces in Rostov cheering after the apparent de-escalation while residents shouted support for the mercenary group.

The situation on the ground however remains unclear amid misinformation on both sides.

Data from Flightradar24 shows Putin’s presidential plane leaving Moscow.
Data from Flightradar24 shows Putin’s presidential plane leaving Moscow.

‘Counter-terrorist regime’ declared in Moscow

The mayor of Russia’s capital, Moscow, has declared a “counter-terrorist regime” in the city.

“The situation is difficult,” said Mayor Sergei Sobyanin.

“In order to minimise risks, I, withini the framework of the operational headquarters, decided to declare Monday a non-working day, with the exception of authorities and enterprises of a continuous cycle, the military-industrial complex, (and) city services.

“I ask you to refrain from travelling around the city as much as possible. It is possible that traffic will be blocked on certain areas and on certain roads.”

‘Nuclear weapons under the control of bandits’

Former Russian president and prime minister Dmitry Medvedev, an ally of Putin, has warned that allowing nuclear weapons to fall into the hands of “bandits” would be catastrophic.

“The history of mankind hasn’t yet seen the largest arsenal of nuclear weapons under control by bandits,” he told journalists, according to The Guardian.

“Such a crisis will not be limited by just one country’s borders. The world will be put on the brink of destruction.

“We won’t allow such a turn of events.”

Medvedev is currently the deputy chairman of Russia’s security council.

“The development of events shows that the actions of the people who organized the military rebellion fully fit into the scheme of a staged coup d’état,” Medvedev said, according to RIA Novosti.

“The current armed rebellion is a well thought out and planned operation, the purpose of which is to seize power in the country.”

‘Path of evil’: Ukraine reacts

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has said the turmoil in Russia exposes the country’s “weakness” as its invasion of Ukraine continues to stall.

“The longer Russia keeps its mercenaries and troops on our land, the more chaos, pain and problems it will have for itself later,” he said.

“Everyone who chooses the path of evil destroys himself.”

Wagner convoy rushes towards Moscow

Wagner forces have reportedly entered the southwestern Lipetsk region as they make their way north to Moscow on the M-4 highway.

Authorities in Lipetsk urged residents to stay at home on Saturday.

“To ensure law and order and the safety of the citizens of the Lipetsk region, the operational headquarters of the region asks residents without urgent need not to leave their homes and refrain from any travel by personal or public transport,” the press service of the regional government said in a statement on social media.

“Hardware of the Wagner mercenary group is moving across the territory of the Lipetsk region,” regional governor Igor Artamonov said on Telegram.

“I remind you that residents are strongly recommended not to leave their houses or to make trips on any mode of transport.”

Explosions at Rostov military HQ

At least two explosions and gunfire have been reported at the Wagner-controlled Southern Military District Headquarters in Rostov, RT reports.

People were filmed running away from the scene.

Video shows alleged strike on Wagner convoy

Video posted to Telegram purportedly shows the moment the Wagner convoy was hit by a Russian air strike on the M-4 highway to Moscow in the Voronezh region earlier this morning.

Another video shows a Russian helicopter successfully deploying countermeasures against a Wagner surface-to-air missile.

Chechen leader condemns ‘vile betrayal’

Chechen leader Ramzan Kadyrov has thrown his support behind Vladimir Putin and condemned the “treacherous march” of Yevgeny Prigozhin, warning of “harsh measures” to put down the rebellion.

“Whatever goals you are given, no matter what promises you are told — the security of the state and the cohesion of Russian society at such a moment is above all else!” he wrote on Telegram, addressing the Wagner fighters.

“See how our enemies in the West are taking advantage of this situation … These are the expected consequences of Prigozhin’s treacherous march.”

He slammed Prigozhin’s actions as a “vile betrayal”.

“I have repeatedly warned that war is not the time to voice personal grievances and resolve disputes in our rear,” he said.

“The rear must always be calm and reliable. Imagine how the guys in the trenches feel now, in the face of which there is an enemy, and behind their backs a treacherous adventure. We are talking about stability, about the cohesion of the state, about the security of citizens.”

Kadyrov, the former rebel turned Kremlin ally, added he “fully” supports Putin and concluded, “The rebellion must be crushed, and if this requires harsh measures, then we are ready!”

Ramzan Kadyrov, head of the Chechen Republic. Picture: Alexey Nikolsky/Sputnik/AFP
Ramzan Kadyrov, head of the Chechen Republic. Picture: Alexey Nikolsky/Sputnik/AFP

Massive fire as oil depot blown up

An oil depot and refinery has been blown up in the city of Voronezh, sending huge columns of smoke into the sky.

Multiple reports and videos now suggest the depot was attacked by Russian helicopters, likely to prevent its capture by Wagner forces advancing from the south.

Wagner chief says Putin ‘deeply mistaken’

Yevgeny Prigozhin says Russian President Vladimir Putin was “deeply mistaken” in calling rebelling Wagner fighters “traitors” and ruled out surrender.

“On treason of the motherland — the President is deeply wrong. We are patriots of our motherland,” Prigozhin, who launched a mutiny overnight, said in an audio message on Telegram.

“Nobody plans to turn themselves in at the request of the President, the FSB [security service] or anyone else.”

Photos show downed Russian helicopter

Photos on social media purportedly show the wreckage of a Russian helicopter downed by Wagner.

The group said this morning it had shot down three helicopters.

The Fighterbomber Telegram channel reports two Mi-8 MTPR Electronic Warfare helicopters and one Mi-35 gunship helicopter were shot down.

Russian army carrying out ‘combat measures’

The governor of Russia’s southern region of Voronezh confirmed on Saturday that Russian military were taking necessary measures to suppress an attempt by the Wagner mercenary group to topple the country’s senior military leadership.

“As part of the counterterrorist operation on the territory of the Voronezh region, the armed forces of the Russian Federation are carrying out necessary operational and combat measures,” the official, Alexander Gusev, said in a statement on social media.

Occupied regions back Putin

The Russian-installed heads of Ukrainian regions occupied by Moscow on Saturday expressed support for President Vladimir Putin as Russia faces an extraordinary mutiny by mercenaries from the Wagner group.

“The Kherson region and the people of Kherson completely support our President!” the Russian-installed head of Ukraine’s southern Kherson region said on Telegram.

The Kremlin-appointed head of the part of the Zaporizhzhia region controlled by Moscow, Yevgeny Balitsky, said the territory was “with the President”.

Clashes on road to Moscow

There are now multiple reports of heavy fighting between the Russian military and Wagner forces in the Voronezh region.

A Wagner column moving on the highway to Moscow has reportedly been targeted by air strikes.

France, Germany watching ‘closely’

Emmanuel Macron is closely monitoring the situation in Russia after the Wagner mercenary group launched an armed mutiny against the Kremlin’s forces, the French president’s office said on Saturday.

“The president is following the situation very closely. We remain focused on supporting Ukraine,” the Elysee said.

Germany also said it was “closely following” events in Russia.

‘We will have a new president’

A reportedly Wagner-linked Telegram channel has posted a defiant message in response to Vladimir Putin’s remarks.

“Putin made the wrong choice,” the channel wrote. “So much the worse for him. Soon we will have a new president.”

‘Treason’: Vladimir Putin speaks

Vladimir Putin has declared Wagner’s actions “treason” and a “stab in the back” to Russia, saying everyone involved will be punished harshly.

In a televised address at around 10am local time, he appealed to “those who, by deceit or threats, were dragged into a criminal adventure, pushed onto the path of a serious crime — an armed rebellion”.

“Today Russia is waging a hard struggle for its future, repelling the aggression of neo-Nazis and their masters,” he said.

“Virtually the entire military, economic and information machine of the West is directed against us … This battle, when the fate of our people is being decided, requires the unification of all forces, unity, consolidation and responsibility … This is a stab in the back of our country and our people.”

Putin vowed to “protect both our people and our statehood from any threats, including from internal betrayal”.

“And what we are faced with is precisely a betrayal — exorbitant ambitions and personal interests led to treason,” he said.

“I repeat, any internal turmoil is a deadly threat to our statehood, to us as a nation. This is a blow to Russia, to our people. And our actions to protect the Fatherland from such a threat will be tough. All those who deliberately embarked on the path of betrayal, who prepared an armed rebellion, embarked on the path of blackmail and terrorist methods, will suffer inevitable punishment, will answer both before the law and before our people.”

Putin added that “decisive actions will also be taken to stabilise the situation in Rostov-on-Don” but conceded “it remains difficult — in fact, the work of civil and military authorities is blocked”.

“The one who organised and prepared the military rebellion, who raised arms against his comrades-in-arms, betrayed Russia … they will answer for it,” he said. “And I urge those who are being drawn into this crime not to make a fatal and tragic, unique mistake, to make the only right choice — to stop participating in criminal acts.”

Russian President Vladimir Putin. Picture: Supplied
Russian President Vladimir Putin. Picture: Supplied

What terror declaration means

The sweeping counter-terrorism protocols for Moscow and the surrounding region, announced by Governor Andrey Vorobyov, effectively give Russia’s Federal Security Service (FSB) total control.

It means the FSB can monitor all telephone and internet traffic, mute and turn off connections, conduct random ID checks and home searches, restrict movement via checkpoints, and seize vehicles and property.

All mass events in the city have been cancelled, Moscow Mayor Sergey Sobyanin announced.

“All city services are operating at full capacity, and movement around the city is not impeded,” he said.

Russia declares ‘anti-terrorist’ regime

Russia has declared an “anti-terrorist operation regime” in Moscow.

It comes as President Vladimir Putin is late for his televised address.

“Putin will make an address soon,” Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told Russian news agencies.

Wagner claims to seize another city

Wagner now says it has taken control of military installations in the city of Voronezh, halfway between Rostov and Moscow.

“The army goes over to the side of the people,” the group wrote on Telegram.

Meanwhile the Russian Ministry of Defence has issued a plea to Wagner fighters, saying they have been “deceived into Prigozhin‘s criminal adventure and participation in an armed rebellion”.

Putin to make statement

Russian President Vladimir Putin is due to make a statement shortly, state news agency TASS reports.

The televised address is scheduled for 9am Moscow time (4pm AEST).

Vows to continue fighting Ukraine

In a new video from inside Southern Military Command HQ, Yevgeny Prigozhin says he is allowing those inside to continue fighting the war in Ukraine.

He reiterates that his issue is with the Russian Ministry of Defence not prosecuting the war competently, according to a translation from national security analyst Dmitri Alperovitch.

Prigozhin claims in the video the “number of killed soldiers is three to four times more than what is being reported in the documents to the top, and what gets reported is 10 times more than what is being said on television”.

“Total casualties are up to 1000 people on some days,” he said.

Prigozhin arrives in person

Yevgeny Prigozhin appears to have arrived in person at the Southern Military Command Headquarters in Rostov-on-don.

Unconfirmed video posted to Telegram shows Prigozhin accompanied by Wagner fighters walking around the Southern Military District buildings.

He is also seen speaking with Russia’s Deputy Defense Minister Yunus-bek Yevkurov and Vladimir Stepanovich Alekseev, First Deputy Head of the GRU military intelligence agency, according to several reports.

Alekseev had posted a video several hours earlier asking Prigozhin to stop the “coup d’etat” and describing his actions as a “stab in the back of the country and the president”.

According to a translation by CNN, Prigozhin claimed Russian Guards and military police are joining the Wagner group.

“Where soldiers meet us, the Russian Guards and military police, they wave their hands cheerfully,” he said.

“Many of them are saying, ‘We want to join you.’ Already 60 to 70 people have joined us, although we have gone a little way yet. I think half of the army is ready to join us.”

Joe Biden briefed on situation

US President Joe Biden had been briefed on the situation in Russia and Washington “will be consulting with allies and partners on these developments”, National Security Council spokesman Adam Hodge said.

Kyiv’s defence ministry said it was monitoring the situation. Ukraine was also on high alert after a fresh barrage of Russian missiles Saturday, with casualties and damage reported in Kyiv and the central city of Dnipro.

On Friday, Prigozhin said Moscow’s forces were retreating in Ukraine’s east and south following the start of Kyiv’s counteroffensive early this month. That directly contradicted Putin’s account that Ukraine was suffering “catastrophic” losses and that there was a lull in fighting.

“We are washing ourselves in blood,” Prigozhin said.

“No one is bringing reserves. What they tell us is the deepest deception,” he added, referring to the Russian military and political leadership.

Security tightened in several Russian regions

Authorities in the regions of Rostov and Lipetsk say security has been reinforced there.

It comes after the mayor of Moscow said on Saturday that “anti-terror” measures were being taken in the Russian capital after the chief of mercenary group Wagner vowed to bring down the country’s military leadership.

Siege developing as Wagner troops storm Russian city

Reports are emerging that Wagner troops have now crossed into Russia’s Rostov region.

It appears a siege is now developing, with Wagner tanks and troops surrounding the Russian military headquarters for the invasion of Ukraine in the city of Rostov-on-Don.

Rostov has a population of more than a million people, making it Russia’s 11th most populated city as well as a military hub.

The reports have prompted Vassily Golubev, the governor of Rostov Oblast, to issue a warning to citizens.

“Law enforcement agencies are doing everything necessary to ensure the safety of residents of the area. I ask everyone to stay calm and not to leave home unless necessary,” he said,

Meanwhile, Wagner chief Yevgeny Prigozhin has claimed his troops had entered Russia from Ukraine and were prepared to go “all the way” against the Russian military.

He has also claimed Wagner soldiers have shot down a Russian military helicopter.

“A helicopter has just now opened fire at a civilian column. It has been shot down by units of PMC Wagner,” he said in an audio message.

Wagner troops ‘ready to die’

Prigozhin has shared grim new audio message, declaring his men are “ready to die” for the cause.

“All of us are ready to die. All 25,000, and then another 25,000,” he said.

“We are dying for the Russian people.”

Commotion in Moscow

Moscow’s mayor Sergey Sobyanin has spoken publicly about a commotion in the city, confirming an “anti-terrorism event aimed at heightened security measures” is underway.

“In connection with the incoming information, anti-terrorist measures are being taken in Moscow aimed at strengthening security measures,” he said on Telegram.

“Additional control on the roads has been introduced.

“It is possible to limit the holding of public events. Please consider the measures taken with understanding.”

Unconfirmed reports soldiers defecting to Wagner

Unconfirmed reports are emerging that Russian army units are defecting to Prigozhin’s side.

While the veracity of these claims have not yet been confirmed, it would represent a major blow to the President.

Gunfire on highway

Gunfire has reportedly been recorded on a stretch of the M4 highway in Voronezh oblast as Wagner troops march onwards.

Military equipment, including tanks, have apparently been spotted on the road.

‘Must be stopped’: Bombshell accusations

Earlier, Prigozhin issued a statement declaring: “The evil that the military leadership of the country brings must be stopped”, although he claimed he was calling for “justice” and “not a coup”.

Yevgeny Prigozhin has called for military leaders to be ousted. Picture: Handout/TELEGRAM/@concordgroup_official/AFP
Yevgeny Prigozhin has called for military leaders to be ousted. Picture: Handout/TELEGRAM/@concordgroup_official/AFP

Prigozhin also dropped the bombshell accusation that the Ukraine war as launched under false pretences, including so that Russian defence minister Sergei Shoigu “could become a Marshal”.

“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.

Russia slams ‘armed mutiny’

But despite Prigozhin’s assurances that he was not attempting to stage a coup, Russia’s Federal Security Service (FSB) has opened a criminal probe, claiming Prigozhin called for “an armed mutiny”.

The FSB has also called on Wagner soldiers to ignore and detain their leader, with Sergey Surovikin, Russia’s top commander in Ukraine, urging Wagner troops to instead “stop” and “obey the will” of President Vladimir Putin.

“We call on the … fighters not to make irreparable mistakes, to stop any forceful actions against the Russian people, not to carry out Prigozhin’s criminal and treacherous orders, and to take measures to detain him,” a FSB statement reads.

“Prigozhin’s statements and actions are in fact calls for the start of an armed civil conflict on the territory of the Russian Federation and are a stab in the back of Russian servicemen fighting pro-fascist Ukrainian forces.”

‘Coup’ threatens Russian leadership

Russian intelligence official Lt. Gen. Vladimir Alekseev has also slammed Wagner, describing the unfolding crisis as “a coup d’etat”.

Meanwhile, Russian leaders have denied the strike and decried Prigozhin’s “illegal actions”.

President Vladimir Putin is aware of the escalating situation, which shows a stunning division within the nation’s most powerful institutions.

Russian President Vladimir Putin is aware of the situation. Picture: Gavriil Grigorov/SPUTNIK/AFP
Russian President Vladimir Putin is aware of the situation. Picture: Gavriil Grigorov/SPUTNIK/AFP

According to Russian state news agency TASS, Moscow has rolled out tougher security measures as a result of the threat posed by Wagner.

“Security measures in Moscow have been tightened. All critical facilities, government and transport infrastructure objects have been put under reinforced protection,” TASS reported, citing an insider.

Wagner’s feud with military

The Wagner paramilitary organisation has been fighting the Ukraine war with the Russian army, and recently Prigozhin has been making headlines by calling out his country’s military elite.

For example, last month he appeared in a disturbing video next to the bodies of his soldiers and accused Russian defence minister Sergei Shoigu and Chief of the General Staff Valery Gerasimov of failing to provide Wagner with enough ammunition.

In a new bombshell message posted to social media platform Telegram, he claimed “huge numbers” of his troops had been killed by the alleged strike.

“Those who killed our lads, and tens of thousands of lives of Russian soldiers [in the war in Ukraine] will be punished,” he said.

Russia's private army Wagner last month claimed the total control of the east Ukrainian city of Bakhmut, the epicentre of fighting, as Kyiv said the battle was continuing but admitted the situation was "critical". Picture: Handout/various sources/AFP
Russia's private army Wagner last month claimed the total control of the east Ukrainian city of Bakhmut, the epicentre of fighting, as Kyiv said the battle was continuing but admitted the situation was "critical". Picture: Handout/various sources/AFP

“I ask you not to resist. Anyone who does will be considered a threat and destroyed. That goes for any checkpoints and aviation on our way.

“Presidential power, the government, the police and Russian guard will work as usual.

“This is not a military coup, but a march of justice. Our actions do not interfere with the troops in any way.”

‘We are watching’

The stunning development comes as Russia’s bloody war in Ukraine shows no signs of slowing.

In a statement, the Russian Ministry of Defence said it was taking advantage of Prigozhin’s “provocation” by preparing for an offensive in the Ukrainian city of Bakhmut, which has become the epicentre of fighting.

“Taking advantage of Prigozhin’s provocation to disrupt the situation, the Kyiv regime is concentrating units of the 35th Marine Brigade and the 36th Mechanised Brigade of the AFU (Armed Forces of Ukraine) in Bakhmut tactical direction at the initial line for offensive actions,” the statement reads.

The White House has confirmed it is closely monitoring the situation, while Ukraine’s defence ministry took to Twitter to simply state: “We are watching”.

– with AFP

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Originally published as Wagner leader Prigozhin flees Russia for Belarus after deal with Kremlin to end rebellion

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Original URL: https://www.heraldsun.com.au/news/world/chaos-as-russias-wagner-chief-yevgeny-prigozhin-urges-armed-mutiny/news-story/f01334c4f6391292542106183827d98f