Rebellious Mercenary Commander Halts March on Moscow, Defusing Crisis

Rebellious Mercenary Commander Orders Retreat, Easing Tensions in Moscow

In a surprising turn of events, a rebellious mercenary commander announced on Saturday that he had ordered his troops to halt their march on Moscow and retreat to field camps in Ukraine. This decision appears to have defused a dramatically escalating crisis that posed the most significant challenge to President Vladimir Putin in his more than two decades in power.

The mercenary commander, Yevgeny Prigozhin, leads the Wagner Group, a private army that has been fighting alongside regular Russian troops in Ukraine. Moscow had prepared for the arrival of these forces by setting up checkpoints with armored vehicles and troops on the southern edge of the city. Red Square was shut down, and motorists were urged to avoid certain roads.

However, Prigozhin announced that despite being just 200 kilometers away from Moscow, he had decided to turn his troops back to avoid “shedding Russian blood.” It remains unclear whether the Kremlin responded to his demand to oust Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu, and there has been no immediate comment from Putin’s government.

The announcement came after Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko’s office stated that he had negotiated a deal with Prigozhin, with Putin’s involvement, to halt the advance. The proposed settlement reportedly includes security guarantees for Wagner troops, although further details were not provided.

Putin had previously vowed harsh consequences for the organizers of the armed uprising led by Prigozhin, who had brought his forces out of Ukraine, seized a key military facility in southern Russia, and advanced toward Moscow. In a televised speech, Putin referred to the rebellion as a “betrayal” and “treason,” promising that those responsible would face punishment.

The motivations behind Prigozhin’s decision to retreat remain unclear, as do any potential concessions made by Putin to persuade him to do so. If Prigozhin’s demand to oust Shoigu is met, it would be a significant blow to Putin’s authority, and Prigozhin would emerge as a clear winner. On the other hand, if Prigozhin agrees not to press the demand, Putin could reward him with more lucrative government contracts.

Some observers speculate that Prigozhin may make concessions such as placing the Wagner Group under federal authority or shifting their activities back to Africa, where they have been active in recent years.

The rebellion and subsequent retreat have caused significant disruptions in Moscow. Authorities declared a “counterterrorist regime” in the city and its surrounding region, enhancing security measures and restricting movement. Checkpoints were set up on the southern outskirts, and roads were dug up to slow the march.

The developments come 16 months after Russia launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine, which has resulted in tens of thousands of deaths, millions of displaced people, and widespread destruction. Ukrainians hope that the infighting among Russian forces will create opportunities for their army to reclaim territory seized by Russian forces.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy stated that Moscow is experiencing “full-scale weakness” and that Kyiv is protecting Europe from “the spread of Russian evil and chaos.”

The situation remains fluid, and the implications of Prigozhin’s retreat are yet to be fully understood. However, it is clear that the rebellion has further hindered Moscow’s war effort in Ukraine, as Kyiv’s forces continue their counteroffensive. The infighting among Russian military forces could create confusion and potential division, providing a unique opportunity for the Ukrainian army.

Western countries are closely monitoring the situation, with U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken speaking with his counterparts in the G7 countries and the European Union’s foreign affairs representative. The outcome of this crisis will have significant implications for the ongoing conflict in Ukraine and Russia’s relations with the international community.Rebellious Mercenary Commander Orders Retreat, Easing Tensions in Moscow

In a surprising turn of events, a rebellious mercenary commander announced on Saturday that he had ordered his troops to halt their march on Moscow and retreat to field camps in Ukraine. This decision appears to have defused a dramatically escalating crisis that posed the most significant challenge to President Vladimir Putin in his more than two decades in power.

The mercenary commander, Yevgeny Prigozhin, leads the Wagner Group, a private army that has been fighting alongside regular Russian troops in Ukraine. Moscow had prepared for the arrival of these forces by setting up checkpoints with armored vehicles and troops on the southern edge of the city. Red Square was shut down, and motorists were urged to avoid certain roads.

However, Prigozhin announced that despite being just 200 kilometers away from Moscow, he had decided to turn his troops back to avoid “shedding Russian blood.” It remains unclear whether the Kremlin responded to his demand to oust Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu, and there has been no immediate comment from Putin’s government.

The announcement came after Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko’s office stated that he had negotiated a deal with Prigozhin, with Putin’s involvement, to halt the advance. The proposed settlement reportedly includes security guarantees for Wagner troops, although no further details were provided.

Prior to Prigozhin’s decision, Putin had vowed harsh consequences for the organizers of the armed uprising led by his former protege. The rebellion involved bringing forces out of Ukraine, seizing a key military facility in southern Russia, and advancing toward Moscow. In a televised speech, Putin referred to the rebellion as a “betrayal” and “treason,” promising that those responsible would face punishment.

The motives behind Prigozhin’s retreat remain unclear, as well as any concessions Putin may have made to persuade him to halt his march. If Prigozhin’s demand to oust Shoigu is met, he would emerge as a clear winner, dealing a major blow to Putin’s authority. On the other hand, if Prigozhin agrees not to press the demand, Putin could reward him with more lucrative government contracts.

While tensions seem to have eased for now, the situation could have significant implications for the ongoing war in Ukraine. Prigozhin’s actions may create confusion and potential division among Russian military forces operating in Ukraine, potentially providing a military opportunity for the Ukrainian army.

Western countries, including the United States and NATO members Latvia and Estonia, closely monitored the developments. U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken reiterated the United States’ support for Ukraine, while Latvia and Estonia increased security at their borders. Putin also spoke with the leaders of Turkey, Belarus, Kazakhstan, and Uzbekistan about the events.

As the situation continues to unfold, it remains to be seen how the retreat of the Wagner Group will impact the conflict in Ukraine and the power dynamics within Russia.

What are the reported security guarantees for Wagner troops in the proposed settlement negotiated with Prigozhin and Putin’s involvement?

That he had negotiated a deal with Prigozhin, with Putin’s involvement, to halt the advance. The proposed settlement reportedly includes security guarantees for Wagner troops, although further details were not provided.

Putin had previously vowed harsh consequences for the organizers of the armed uprising led by Prigozhin, who had brought his forces out of Ukraine, seized a key military facility in southern Russia, and advanced toward Moscow. In a televised speech, Putin referred to the rebellion as a “betrayal” and “treason,” promising that those responsible would face punishment.

The motivations behind Prigozhin’s decision to retreat remain unclear, as do any potential concessions made by Putin to persuade him to do so. If Prigozhin’s demand to oust Shoigu is met, it would be a significant blow to Putin’s authority, and Prigozhin would emerge as a clear winner. On the other hand, if Prigozhin agrees not to press the demand, Putin could reward him with more lucrative government contracts.

Some observers speculate that Prigozhin may make concessions such as placing the Wagner Group under federal authority or shifting their activities back to Africa, where they have been active in recent years.

The rebellion and subsequent retreat have caused significant disruptions in Moscow. Authorities declared a “counterterrorist regime” in the city and its surrounding region, enhancing security measures and restricting movement. Checkpoints were set up on the southern outskirts, and roads were dug up to slow the march.

The developments come 16 months after Russia launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine, which has resulted in tens of thousands of deaths, millions of displaced people, and widespread destruction. Ukrainians hope that the infighting among Russian forces will create opportunities for their army to reclaim territory seized by Russian forces.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy stated that Moscow is experiencing “full-scale weakness” and that Kyiv is protecting Europe from “the spread of Russian evil and chaos.”

The situation remains fluid, and the implications of Prigozhin’s retreat are yet to be fully understood. However, it is clear that the rebellion has further hindered Moscow’s war effort in Ukraine, as Kyiv’s forces continue their counteroffensive. The infighting among Russian military forces could create confusion and potential division, providing a unique opportunity for the Ukrainian army.

Western countries are closely monitoring the situation, with U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken speaking with his counterparts in the G7 countries and the European Union’s foreign affairs representative. The outcome of this crisis will have significant implications for the ongoing conflict in Ukraine and Russia’s relations with the international community.