Wagner Army's rebellion against Russia ends: Belarus President brokers agreement; Fighters ordered to return, Chief Prigogine to leave Russia
Wagner Army's rebellion against Russia ends: Belarus President brokers agreement; Fighters ordered to return, Chief Prigogine to leave Russia
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| Wagner Army's rebellion against Russia |
The threat of civil war and a coup in Russia has been averted. Yevgeny V. Prigozhin, the leader of the private army Wagner, which rebelled against President Vladimir Putin, has ordered his fighters to retreat. Now, this private army is returning to its camps. Prigozhin himself will also leave Russia and go to Belarus.
According to Russian media outlet RT, this private army had advanced towards the city of Moscow after seizing control of Rostov.
The #Wagner Group has launched a rebellion against #Moscow after its leader #YevgenyPrigozhin released a statement allegedly from the army HQ in Russia’s #Rostov-on-Don, on the #Ukrainian border, claiming to control all military sites in the city.#NoNATOnoWar pic.twitter.com/iYxiqn0Q3p
— Dada Shastoni (@DadaShastoni) June 24, 2023
According to The New York Times, Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko plays a crucial role in the withdrawal of the private army. Lukashenko stated late Saturday night that he had brokered an agreement between Wagner's Prigozhin and Russia. After this, the Wagner Group instructed its soldiers to withdraw so that bloodshed could be prevented.
Why was the Wagner Group rebelling?
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| Wagner Army's rebellion against Russia |
According to Reuters, the conflict between Russia and the private army Wagner escalated in the region of Bakhmut in Ukraine after a missile attack on the Wagner training camp. Several Wagner fighters were killed in this attack. Prigozhin had blamed the Kremlin for it. However, the exact timing of this attack was not provided.
Here's a visual timeline of the Wagner rebellion. The leader of Russia's largest mercenary army, Yevgeniy Prigozhin, claimed to have mobilized 25,000 of the group’s fighters to march against the military elite and called on Russian troops to join him.https://t.co/lq8HNuz7Yf pic.twitter.com/1kW5od2AvY
— Joe Snell (@joesnell03) June 24, 2023
Wagner's leader, Prigozhin, claimed that Russian generals had ordered airstrikes against his soldiers in Ukraine. He stated that he was not against Russia but was specifically targeting Russia's Defense Minister, Sergei Shoigu, and other top Russian officials.
According to sources, there are ongoing disputes over the control of territories that Putin and Defense Minister Shoigu won in the Ukrainian conflict. Prigozhin seeks to establish his control over significant portions of the areas captured in Ukraine. After Putin's denial, Prigozhin became inclined toward rebellion.
Wagner Army's rebellion against Russia
According to Reuters, just two weeks ago, the Russian Ministry of Defense issued an order stating that all private fighters engaged in combat against Ukraine should join the Russian army. It was mentioned that they should sign a contract with the private military to facilitate this process. Wagner had refused to comply with this agreement.
What deal was made with Belarus and what will Prigozhin get?
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov stated that all ongoing criminal cases against Prigozhin would be dropped. The members of the group who are not involved in the rebellion will also not face any action. Prigozhin will have to leave Russia and go to Belarus.
Those Wagner fighters who did not participate in the rebellion will have to sign a contract with the Russian Ministry of Defense. From July 1st, they will work under the Ministry of Defense.
Roads in Rostov reopened, a land l restrictions lifted
According to the report from the Interfax news agency, all bans have been lifted in the city of Rostov, and the roads have been reopened.
Considering the movement of the Wagner Army towards Moscow, Russian soldiers had set up checkpoints and implemented extensive security measures in the southern region of the capital.
Red Square in Moscow had been closed off, and military forces and tanks were deployed in various locations. More than three thousand elite troops were also stationed.
Meanwhile, in Moscow, all collective events and programs have been suspended until July 1st due to security concerns. There will be no programs in schools or colleges as well.
What is the Wagner Group?
The Wagner Group is a private military organization composed of soldiers. Before 2014, it operated as a secretive organization primarily active in Ukraine, Africa, and the Middle East. It consists mainly of elite regiments and special forces from Russia. The group has over 50,000 soldiers.
It was founded by former Russian military officer Dmitry Utkin, who named the group during his radio call sign in the Chechen war. The Wagner Group provided assistance to Russia in its first campaign by seizing Crimea in 2014.
Wagner Group's involvement in rapists and Hepatitis-C patients
In a report by the UK Ministry of Defense on October 30 last year, it was claimed that Russia's private army was recruiting individuals infected with AIDS and Hepatitis-C. The Ukrainian newspaper Ukrayinska Pravda reported that more than 100 prisoners suffering from AIDS and Hepatitis were recruited into the private army.
The Daily Beast also stated in its investigative report that convicts in Russia, including rapists and individuals infected with sexually transmitted diseases, were being sent to fight on the front lines against their will.
What is the Wagner Group?
The Wagner Group is a private military organization composed of soldiers. Before 2014, it operated as a secretive organization primarily active in Ukraine, Africa, and the Middle East. It consists mainly of elite regiments and special forces from Russia. The group has over 50,000 soldiers.
It was founded by former Russian military officer Dmitry Utkin, who named the group during his radio call sign in the Chechen war. The Wagner Group provided assistance to Russia in its first campaign by seizing Crimea in 2014.
Wagner Group's involvement in rapists and Hepatitis-C patients
In a report by the UK Ministry of Defense on October 30 last year, it was claimed that Russia's private army was recruiting individuals infected with AIDS and Hepatitis-C. The Ukrainian newspaper Ukrayinska Pravda reported that more than 100 prisoners suffering from AIDS and Hepatitis were recruited into the private army.
The Daily Beast also stated in its investigative report that convicts in Russia, including rapists and individuals infected with sexually transmitted diseases, were being sent to fight on the front lines against their will.
Eugene Prigozhin was known as Putin's Chef.
Eugene Prigozhin, the founder of the Wagner Group, was also known as Putin's Chef. He used to run a restaurant where Putin often visited to eat. Over time, he became a close associate of Putin, and he started receiving multimillion-dollar contracts from the Russian government.
It is Eugene who funds the Wagner Group. Initially, he denied any connections to this group, but in 2022, he admitted his involvement. Read the full story...
In which countries are private military companies or contractors like Wagner present?
Private military companies (PMCs) are private military organizations that provide security or other services in a confidential manner to countries, organizations, or individuals. Currently, there are around 50 such companies. The United States has the most PMCs, with approximately 15. The United Kingdom ranks second with 6, and Russia has 5 PMCs.
