The founder of the Wagner Group, Yevgeny Prigozhin, who the day before called for an uprising against the Russian high commandsaid on Saturday that he had ordered his fighters who had advanced towards Moscow to return to their bases to avoid bloodshed, Reuters reported.

Prigozhin claims to have taken control in Rostov Photo: Handout / AFP / Profimedia
  • VIDEO Prigozhin will move to Belarus, after the military he led – the Kremlin

His statement came after the office of Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko said earlier that he had negotiated a deal with Wagner Group leader Yevgeny Prigozhin, who agreed to de-escalate the situation in Russia, Reuters reported.

Thus, Yevhen Prigozhin agreed to stop the movement of mercenaries through Russia on the condition that the mercenaries’ safety was guaranteed.

In an audio message, Prigozhin said that the fighters would return to the base because of the risk of bloodshed.

  • “VVK “Wagner” wanted to liquidate. We went to the Justice March on June 23. In 24 hours we reached 200 km from Moscow. During this time, we did not shed a single drop of the blood of our soldiers.
  • “Now is the time when blood could be spilled. Understanding of responsibility [pentru riscul] So that Russian blood is spilled on one side, we turn the columns and return to the camps, as planned,” Prigozhin said.

Earlier on Friday, Prigozhin said his people were going on a “march for justice” to remove corrupt and incompetent Russian commanders.

In a televised speech from the Kremlin, Putin said that Russia’s very existence was under threat.

“We are fighting for the life and safety of our people, for our sovereignty and independence, for the right to remain Russia, a state with a thousand-year history,” he said.

“All those who deliberately took the path of treason, who prepared an armed uprising, who took the path of blackmail and terrorist methods, will bear the inevitable punishment, will answer both to the law and to our people.”

Chronology of the Prigozhin uprising

On Friday evening, Yevgeny Prigozhin accused the Russian army of attacking Wagner’s militant camps and called for an uprising against the Russian military leadership. He said he had 25,000 fighters and would lead a “march for justice.”

The Russian Security Service (FSB) opened an investigation for “calls for armed rebellion” and called for the arrest of Chief Wagner.

Wagner’s troops enter Russia

Early on Saturday, Prigozhin announced that his troops had entered Russian territory and that he would “go to the end.”

He assured that his troops are ready to die for the “fatherland” and “liberate the Russian people.”

Around 07:30 Yevgeny Prigozhin announced that he had captured the headquarters of the Russian army in Rostov, which is the key center of the Russian offensive on Ukraine, and had taken control of military facilities, including the airport.

An “anti-terrorist operation regime” is being established in Moscow, which strengthens the powers of special services.

Putin condemned “treason”

In a televised speech, Vladimir Putin accused Prigozhin of “betraying” Russia because of his “excessive ambitions.” He promised that he would “not allow” a new “civil war” in Russia and promised “decisive” measures against the “mortal threat” from Wagner’s army.

The Russian military was conducting “combat” operations in the Voronezh region, halfway between Moscow and Rostov, local authorities reported.

Prigozhin replied to Vladimir Putin: “The president was deeply mistaken. We are patriots. No one will surrender at the request of the president, special services or anyone else.”

The situation is being closely monitored

The countries of the European Union and the G7 announced that they are closely monitoring the situation. British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak called on “all sides to be responsible and protect the civilian population.”

President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyi said that “Russia’s weakness is obvious” and that “Ukraine is capable of protecting Europe from being infected by Russian evil and chaos.”

Vladimir Putin spoke by phone with his counterparts in Belarus, Alexander Lukashenko and Kassym-Iomart Tokayev, Moscow’s allies, to brief them on the situation.

The head of Chechnya, Ramzan Kadyrov, said that he was sending his people to “tension zones”. “We will do everything to preserve the unity of Russia,” he said.

Vladimir Putin received “full support” from his Turkish counterpart Recep Tayyip Erdogan during a telephone interview, the Kremlin said.

Wagner advances on Moscow

Wagner’s fighters entered the Lipetsk region, the local authorities reported, confirming the advance of the PKK to Moscow.

The strictest security measures have been introduced in Moscow. People were advised to stay at home, and Monday was declared a holiday.

The White House reported that President Joe Biden spoke with the President of France, the Prime Minister of Great Britain and the Chancellor of Germany about the situation in Russia.

During the evening, the Belarusian presidency announced that an agreement had been reached with Prigozhin. Commander Wagner immediately announced that he had ordered his troops to stop the attack on Moscow.

Wagner retires from Rostov. Prigozhin is driving a car

In a video on social networks, one can see how Wagner’s manager Yevgeny Prigozhin is leaving the headquarters of the Russian army in Rostov.