On Saturday, Wagner Group chief Yevgeny Prigozhin sent his forces against the Russian military and seized control of key military facilities in the southwestern city of Rostov-on-Don, threatening to make his way to Moscow. However, later, he ordered his mercenaries to halt their march to Moscow to avoid bloodshed in Russia.
Prigozhin released a video in which he highlighted his rivalry with Russia’s armed forces and, for the first time, publicly contradicted President Vladimir Putin’s primary justification for invading Ukraine.
What Was Wagner Group’s ‘March for Justice’?
Tensions between Russia’s defence ministry and Wagner escalated severely on Friday when Prigozhin claimed that Russian soldiers attacked Wagner field camps in eastern Ukraine.
Prigozhin claimed in an audio message uploaded on Telegram that the “evil” of Russia’s military leadership “must be stopped” and that Wagner would lead a “march for justice” against the Russian military.
RUSSIA-WAGNER
— The Spectator Index (@spectatorindex) June 24, 2023
- Wagner Group's chief Prigozhin claims his forces were attacked by Russian military, vows to march and remove leadership.
- Russia enhanced security in Moscow and called for the arrest of Prigozhin on charges of armed rebellion.
- Prigozhin says his forces have…
The Wagner chief announced on Saturday that his troops had crossed the border from Ukraine into Russia and were prepared to go “all the way” against the Russian military. Wagner’s forces seized a key military facility in Rostov-on-Don and were prepared to advance towards Moscow.
Wagner also claimed to have taken control of Russian installations in Voronezh, 600 kilometres (372 miles) north of Rostov-on-Don. Alexander Gusev, governor of the Voronezh region, claimed the Russian military was taking “combat measures” in the area.
Prigozhin stated in an audio message, “We are going onwards and we will go to the end. We will destroy everything that stands in our way.” He declared to march on Moscow unless Defence Minister Sergei Shoigu and Russia’s senior general, Valery Gerasimov, met with him in Rostov.
However, late on Saturday, his mercenaries halted their march and said they would return “to avoid shedding Russian blood” — an agreement brokered by Belarusian President, and Russia’s closest ally, Alexander Lukashenko.
Prigozhin declared in an audio message, “In a day, we marched nearly 200 km outside of Moscow. In this time, we did not spill a single drop of blood from our fighters.” “Now, the moment has come when blood may spill. That’s why, understanding the responsibility of spilling Russian blood on one of the sides, we are turning back our convoys and going back to field camps according to the plan,” he remarked.
Update: Yevgeny Prigozhin, the head of the Wagner paramilitary group, has agreed to leave Russia for Belarus, the Kremlin said Saturday, in a deal apparently brokered by Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko that ends an armed insurrection: media reports… pic.twitter.com/O6xkMDpWVP
— Global Times (@globaltimesnews) June 25, 2023
Putin’s Response
Putin immediately addressed the public, denouncing the coup attempt and warning that the very existence of the Russian state was at stake. He vowed that those on the “path of treason” or armed rebellion would be punished.
In his address to the nation, the Russian President declared, “It is a stab in the back of our country and our people,” threatening strong retaliation against anyone organising “an armed rebellion.”
“We are fighting for the lives and security of our people, for our sovereignty and independence,” Putin declared, equating the Wagner “mutiny” to the 1917 revolution that led to the fall of imperial Russia.
“Inflated ambitions and personal interests have led to treason – treason against our country, our people and the common cause in which Wagner Group soldiers and commanders were fighting and dying shoulder to shoulder, together with our other units and troops,” Putin remarked.
The Federal Security Service (FSB) of Russia responded by ordering Wagner troops to seize their commander and registering a criminal case against the militia chief, accusing him of “calling for an armed rebellion.”
Vladimir Putin says Russia is facing "treachery" as he accused Wagner militia group leader Yevgeny Prigozhin of starting an “attempt at an armed mutiny.”@RosMathieson reports on the dramatic escalation https://t.co/pIqoNZffyv pic.twitter.com/BZXdquXhez
— Bloomberg (@business) June 24, 2023
Role of Belarus’ President
Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko, a close Putin supporter who has also known Prigozhin for a long time, was negotiating with both sides. Lukashenko’s administration said he had agreed with Prigozhin to halt Wagner’s advance and take additional steps to de-escalate tensions.
The Kremlin reached an agreement with Prigozhin to put an end to the mercenary group’s insurrection on Saturday. According to the agreement, Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov stated that Prigozhin would go to neighbouring Belarus, which has supported Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
Additionally, charges against Prigozhin of waging an armed revolt against Russia would be withdrawn. Peskov further stated that troops not participating in the rebellion would be given Defence Ministry contracts.
China’s Continued Support to Russia
In Beijing’s first public statement on the brief armed insurrection by the Wagner Group, China declared on Sunday that it supported Russia in “protecting national stability.”
The foreign ministry said, “As a friendly neighbour and a new era comprehensive strategic cooperative partner, China supports Russia in protecting national stability and achieving development and prosperity.” The issue is Russia’s “internal affair,” the ministry added.
Zelensky’s Response
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky stated on Twitter, “Russia’s weakness is obvious. Full-scale weakness [...] And the longer Russia keeps its troops and mercenaries on our land, the more chaos, pain, and problems it will have for itself later.”
Zelensky declared, “For a long time, Russia used propaganda to mask its weakness and the stupidity of its government. And now there is so much chaos that no lie can hide it.”
Western Nations’ Remarks
According to the White House, US President Joe Biden spoke to the leaders of France, Germany, and the UK on Saturday, as mutinous Russian mercenaries advanced towards Moscow after seizing a southern city overnight. “The leaders discussed the situation in Russia. They also affirmed their unwavering support for Ukraine,” a readout stated.
European nations, notably the UK, France, Germany, and Italy, issue statements indicating they were closely monitoring developments in Russia. Several other countries throughout the world made similar statements.