Russia has also begun to fracture from within as mercenaries favored by Vladimir Putin's once best friend, Yevgeny Prigozhin, seized control of the Russian city of Rostov on the border with Ukraine. The rebellion has shaken the chair of President Putin, who has described the plan as treason and a stab in the back, while Prigozhin has insisted that it is not a coup d'état, but a march for justice. However, on Saturday evening, the leader of the mercenaries withdrew from the plan towards Moscow, after the agreement reached with the president of Belarus, Alexander Lukashenko. You can read the details of how it all happened, from the early hours of Saturday until now, below
22:51 - The pictures come out: Wagner begins his retreat from Russian cities
Footage of the withdrawal of Wagner's mercenaries from the towns they captured on the march to Moscow on Saturday has begun to be released. In the photos of the "Reuters" agency, tanks are seen leaving the center of Rostov. Citizens are seen greeting the departing mercenaries.
22:21 - Russia offers military posts to Wagner's mercenaries
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov has confirmed that Wagner's mercenaries will be offered the opportunity to take up military posts in Russia. He has said that Wagner's mercenaries can sign contracts with the Ministry of Defense of Russia and will not be prosecuted, after the decision to withdraw from the march towards Moscow.
22:07 - Russia withdraws the charge against Prigozhin
also
A year after the "Wagner" uprising, the Kremlin controls the remaining mercenaries
The criminal charges against Wagner's boss, Yevgeny Prigozhin, will be dropped and he will be allowed to go to Belarus, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov has confirmed.
"The case against him will be dismissed and he will go to Belarus on his own," Peskov said at a press conference on Saturday, hours after Wagner agreed to withdraw from the march to Moscow.
19:51 - The head of the Wagner mercenary group, Yevgeny Prigozhin, has published an audio recording on the "Telegram" network publicly announcing that the march towards Moscow has been stopped.
"Within one day, we have approached 200 kilometers from Moscow. During this time, we have not shed a drop of blood of our warriors. Now is the moment when blood can be shed. Realizing the responsibility for the fact that Russian blood will be spilled, we are turning the columns and leaving in the opposite direction, to our field camps, according to the plan," he said, reports CNN.
As "Spectator Index" writes, Russia has agreed to provide security guarantees to Wagner, in exchange for the ban. It is also guaranteed that there will be major changes in the Government, especially in the Ministry of Defense.
19: 41 - The prestigious Associated Press news agency has confirmed that Wagner's boss, Yevgeny Prigozhin, has halted mercenary movements after Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko said he had reached an agreement on de-escalation. In an audio message, Prigozhin said that he is stopping his troops to avoid "Russian bloodshed".
19:26 - Biden coordinates with allies after rebellion in Russia
The President of the United States of America, Joe Biden, and the main allies of the USA have reaffirmed on Saturday the "unwavering support for Ukraine" in a conversation with the leaders of France, Germany and the United Kingdom about the new situation in Russia, after the rebellion of Wagner's mercenaries against the Russian state.
French President Emmanuel Macron, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz and British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak have been in close contact with Biden all the time since Russia launched its invasion of Ukraine. As CNN writes, Biden has been in constant contact with the trio of European leaders over the past year.
The White House announced on Saturday that Biden has already been briefed on the latest rebellion in Russia.
18:17- All activities are banned for one week in Moscow
The Moscow region has suspended all mass events in outdoor spaces until July 1, the authorities announced.
The mayor of Moscow, Sergei Sobyanin, has called on everyone not to travel around the city.
He also declared Monday a holiday for all workers to "minimize risks".
"City services are on high alert."
17: 56 - Wagner's troops are approaching Moscow faster than expected. As the BBC wrote on Saturday, the Russian authorities have already been alerted and have started blocking roads for mercenary troops.
According to a video published on Telegram, and verified by the BBC, many heavy vehicles have already blocked a bridge about 100 kilometers from Moscow.
The mayor of Moscow has already announced the launch of an "anti-terrorist" operation.
16: 24 - The group of mercenaries, Wagner, is moving rapidly towards Moscow, the BBC reports.
It is difficult to obtain verified information from the ground, wrote the prestigious medium, which said that, however, Wagner's troops were seen moving north, towards the Russian capital.
This morning, Wagner's mercenaries were seen in Rostov, while later troops were said to have reached Voronezh. Now, the mayor of the Lipetsk region has confirmed the movement of Wagner's troops.
Moscow is only 400 kilometers away from this region.
15:08 - Prigozhin's office is raided, they find 47 million dollars
The Russian security service has raided a Wagner group property in St. Petersburg.
Unconfirmed Russian media reports say they found $47 million in cash in cardboard boxes near Yevgeny Prigozhin's office.
The leader of the paramilitary group said the money was to cover salaries and other expenses for his Wagner fighters.
14:55 - "Evaporate" tickets at the Moscow airport
Flights from Moscow are reported to be fully booked for today, following news of the Wagner mercenary group approaching the Russian capital.
Der Spiegel has reported that tickets for direct connections from Moscow to Tbilisi, Astana and Istanbul are no longer available.
Google Maps shows the M4 south of Moscow has been closed, the route the Wagner rebels are expected to take.
14:42 - Erdogan expresses his support for Putin
14:15 - The US had predicted the crisis between Wagner and the Russian government since January
13:55 - Latvia strengthens border security
Latvia has strengthened security on its borders with Russia. Authorities have said they will not allow Russian citizens to enter.
13:40 - The presidential plane leaves Russia
12:44 - Putin announces the allies
Russian President Vladimir Putin has informed his counterparts of Belarus, Uzbekistan and Kazakhstan about the developments in Russia.
12:19 - Polish army on high alert
The Polish army has been put on high alert following the developments in Russia.
Poland borders Russia.
12:12 - Developments in Russia, Zelensky reacts: Glory to Ukraine
also
What is the Wagner Group and where are its fighters?
11:39 - Prigozhin responds to Putin
The head of the Wagner group, Yevgeny Prigozhin, has said that no soldier in his group plans to surrender himself as ordered by the Russian president.
Russians no longer want to live in a state with corruption, lies and bureaucracy, Prigozhin said.
"You are wrong to accuse me of treason", said Prigozhin to Putin.
His message came after Vladimir Putin accused him of leading an armed uprising.
11:22 - Meloni: The invasion of Ukraine is turning against Putin
11:05 - Kadyrov sends soldiers to fight against Wagner
11:02 - Prigozhin: Soldiers are ready to die in the uprising
The Wagner forces are ready to die in the uprising, said mercenary leader Yevgeny Prigozhin
Prigozhin said his soldiers, who launched an armed rebellion, were ready to die, in a message posted on Telegram on Saturday morning.
In a series of messages, the leader of the mercenary group vowed to overthrow Russia's military leadership.
"All of us are ready to die. All 25 thousand and then another 25 thousand. We are dying for the Russian people", said Prigozhin.
10:52 - Photo of the downed Russian helicopter in the Voronezh region
10:22 - Russians bomb Wagner vehicles
The Russian Air Force has reportedly bombed Wagner vehicles on the strategic M4 highway leading to Moscow.
10:19 - British intelligence: Wagner is aiming to enter Moscow via Voronezh
09:55 - Wagner: Russia will soon have a new president
The group of mercenaries has responded to the statements of Putin, who, without mentioning the names of Wagner or the leader Prigozhin, considers the recent developments an act of treason.
The Wagner group has said it has taken control of the city of Rostov and the military base in Voronezh. They are unhappy with the Russian military leadership, which they have accused of failing to invade Ukraine.
09:48 - Europeans are following the developments
French President Emmanuel Macron is closely following the situation in Russia, his country's officials said.
The President of Poland held consultations with the Prime Minister and the Ministry of Defense on the situation in Russia, he said on Saturday, adding that Warsaw was monitoring the situation.
09:14 - Putin addresses the Russian people
The Russian president has started addressing the Russian people. He has called the rebellion of Wagner's forces an act of treason, but without mentioning them or their leader, Prigozhin. He warned of punishment.
The address was short.
08:37 - What is Wagner's goal?
08:25 - Russian President Vladimir Putin is expected to address the people
Russian President Vladimir Putin will make a televised speech soon, the Tass news agency has announced.
08:20 - Wagner claims to have taken control of Rostov
Several international media photos have shown Wagner's fighters inside the southern Russian city of Rostov-on-Don, which the mercenary group's chief, Yevgeny Prigozhin, has said his forces now control. Wagner bosses say they now have control over the military facilities in Voronezh.
BREAKING:
- Visegrad 24 (@ visegrad24) June 24, 2023
Yevgeny Prigozhin has arrived at the headquarters of the Russian Army in Rostov after the Wagner Group captured him earlier today.
The military coup in Russia is in full swing.
pic.twitter.com/7YyRlTBadn
08:10 - Wagner boss vows to take down Russian military leaders
01: 30 - Tensions have escalated between Russia and the "Wagner" mercenary group on Friday evening and in the early hours of Saturday. After the last clashes for hitting each other, the head of the "Wagner" mercenary military group, Yevgeny Prigozhin, has announced that this group is sorry for attacking Moscow.
After accusations that the Russian Ministry of Defense deceived him about the war in Ukraine, Prigozhin said that "Wagneri" has already entered Russia and has taken pity on the capital.
"The border forces hugged us on the way to Russia. We will destroy everything on the way," he said, BBC reports.
Prigozhin himself, via Telegram as always, has said that Russia has given the order for air strikes on Wagner's mercenaries, but he has stated that the Russian pilots themselves have refused to do so.
The BBC and CNN have reported that they have not been able to confirm all of Wagner's claims about entering Russia.
As the Russian state media, TASS, has announced, security measures have already been taken in Moscow. Russia has already issued an arrest warrant for the head of "Wagner". The Russian president, Vladimir Putin, is also aware of the case. "President Putin has been informed of all the events surrounding Prigozhin. Necessary measures are being taken," Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said. As "The Guardian" reports, Moscow is already filled with armored military vehicles.
As reported by the Russian media, the BBC reports, "Operation Castle" has already been activated in the city of Rostov, which means the plan for all personnel to be "on full alert". The plan has also been activated in Moscow. All Kremlin facilities are now under increased protection.
also
Wagner is handing over his weapons to the Russian army
FSB calls on Wagner to ignore Prigozhin's criminal orders and to assist in his apprehension. Multiple generals making videos calling on them to do the same
- Dmitri Alperovitch (@DAlperovitch) June 23, 2023
Armored vehicles are observed on the streets of Moscow pic.twitter.com/DB7yfcVzy2
The American president, Joe Biden, has also been informed about the new situation caused in Russia. The White House also issued a brief statement on the case. "We are monitoring the situation and will continue consultations with allies and partners on these developments," said a spokesperson for the US National Security Council.
Prigozhin has been an ally of Putin. This year his group, "Wagner", has been declared a criminal organization by the West due to its activities in Ukraine, but also in the Middle East and Africa. Both Prigozhin and the group are sanctioned by the West.
