Rebellious Mercenary Commander Reaches Deal with Kremlin, Fizzling Out Challenge to Putin’s Power
In a surprising turn of events, the greatest challenge to Russian President Vladimir Putin in his more than two decades in power has fizzled out. The rebellious mercenary commander, Yevgeny Prigozhin, who ordered his troops to march on Moscow, abruptly reached a deal with the Kremlin to go into exile and sounded the retreat.
The brief revolt, however, exposed vulnerabilities among Russian government forces. Wagner Group soldiers, under Prigozhin’s command, were able to move unimpeded into the Russian city of Rostov-on-Don and advance hundreds of kilometers towards Moscow. The Russian military scrambled to defend the capital.
Under the deal announced by Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov, Prigozhin will go to neighboring Belarus, which has supported Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. Charges against him of mounting an armed rebellion will be dropped. The government also stated that it would not prosecute Wagner fighters who took part in the revolt, while those who did not join in would be offered contracts by the Defense Ministry. Prigozhin ordered his troops back to their field camps in Ukraine, where they have been fighting alongside Russian regular soldiers.
Putin had previously vowed to punish those behind the armed uprising led by his onetime protege. In a televised speech to the nation, he called the rebellion a “betrayal” and “treason.” However, in allowing Prigozhin and his forces to go free, Peskov stated that Putin’s “highest goal” was “to avoid bloodshed and internal confrontation with unpredictable results.”
Some observers believe that Putin’s strongman image has taken a hit. Former U.S. Ambassador to Ukraine, John Herbst, said on CNN that “Putin has been diminished for all time by this affair.”
Moscow had prepared for the arrival of the Wagner forces by erecting checkpoints with armored vehicles and troops on the city’s southern edge. Russian troops armed with machine guns put up checkpoints on Moscow’s southern outskirts, and crews dug up sections of highways to slow the march. However, Wagner troops advanced to just 200 kilometers from Moscow before retreating to avoid “shedding Russian blood,” according to Prigozhin.
Prigozhin had demanded the ouster of Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu, whom he has long criticized for his conduct of the war in Ukraine. If Putin were to agree to Shoigu’s ouster, it could be politically damaging for the president after he branded Prigozhin a backstabbing traitor.
The U.S. had intelligence that Prigozhin had been building up his forces near the border with Russia for some time, conflicting with Prigozhin’s claim that his rebellion was a response to an attack on his camps in Ukraine by the Russian military.
The rebellion exposed weaknesses in the Kremlin and raised hopes among Ukrainians that it could create opportunities for their army to take back territory seized by Russian forces. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy stated that the march exposed weakness in the Kremlin and “showed all Russian bandits, mercenaries, oligarchs” that it is easy to capture Russian cities “and, probably, arsenals.”
Wagner troops have played a crucial role in the Ukraine war, capturing the eastern city of Bakhmut, where the bloodiest and longest battles have taken place. However, Prigozhin has increasingly criticized the military brass, accusing them of incompetence and starving his troops of munitions.
Yevgeny Prigozhin, a former convict with longstanding ties to Putin, has won lucrative Kremlin catering contracts, earning him the nickname “Putin’s chef.” He and a dozen other Russian nationals were charged in the United States with operating a covert social media campaign aimed at fomenting discord ahead of Donald Trump’s 2016 presidential election victory. Wagner has also sent military contractors to Libya, Syria, several African countries, and eventually Ukraine.
The retreat of the Wagner forces has de-escalated tensions, and Moscow Mayor Sergei Sobyanin declared Monday a non-working day for most residents as part of heightened security measures. However, even with the deal, Putin’s position has likely been weakened, according to Ben Barry, senior fellow for land warfare at the International Institute for Strategic Studies.
The war in Ukraine continues to unfold, and the situation remains fluid. For the latest updates, follow AP coverage of the war in Ukraine at https://ap
What vulnerabilities within the Russian government forces were exposed during the sudden revolt led by Yevgeny Prigozhin, and how did this impact the President’s image and priorities
The Kremlin has struck a deal with mercenary commander Yevgeny Prigozhin, effectively ending his challenge to Russian President Vladimir Putin’s power. Prigozhin, who ordered his troops to march on Moscow, has agreed to go into exile in Belarus. In return, charges against him for mounting an armed rebellion will be dropped, and his troops will be allowed to return to their field camps in Ukraine. The sudden revolt exposed vulnerabilities within the Russian government forces and caused the military to scramble to defend the capital. While some critics believe Putin’s image has been damaged, the president’s main priority was to avoid bloodshed and internal conflict. The rebellion had come after Prigozhin demanded the ouster of Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu, whom he has long criticized for his handling of the war in Ukraine.
The retreat of the Wagner Group sheds light on the vulnerabilities within the Russian government forces, potentially impacting Putin’s reputation and raising questions about his ability to effectively control his military operations.
The retreat of the Wagner Group reveals a glaring weakness within the Russian government forces, ultimately jeopardizing Putin’s reputation. It emphasizes the challenges the Russian government faces in maintaining control over their covert activities and raises questions about their overall effectiveness.