Russia: Wagner Group Calls Off Revolt, Prigozhin to Leave For Belarus Under Amnesty Deal
Wagner fighters and equipment seen leaving the captured Russian city of Rostov-on-Don.
Russian President Vladimir Putin and his inner circle can breathe a sigh of relief as the armed rebellion by the mercenary Wagner Group fizzles out after advancing close to 100 miles from Moscow.
The head of the Wagner private army, Yevgeny Prigozhin, has called off his ‘march on Moscow’ after reaching a deal with the Kremlin which provides amnesty to him and his men. As part of the agreement announced by President Putin’s government, Prigozhin will be allowed a safe passage to neighboring Belarus, were the pro-Russian regime of Alexander Lukashenko has granted him protection, media reports suggest.
“The Kremlin has revealed the details of the agreement with Wagner PMC. According to spokesman Dmitry Peskov, the criminal case against Prigozhin will be dropped and he will leave Russia for Belarus,” the Russian state-0wned broadcaster RT reported late Saturday.
NEW: The #Kremlin announced a deal in which #Prigozhin will go to #Belarus without facing criminal charges after his rebelling #WagnerGroup forces encircled #Russia's Southern Military District HQ in Rostov-on-Don & drove within 330km of Moscow June 23-24🧵https://t.co/M5yx53y7GV pic.twitter.com/dvIKuuaU59
— ISW (@TheStudyofWar) June 25, 2023
The deal may lead to the dismantling of the powerful Wagner Group, with some of its fighters getting inducted into the regular Russian army. “A part of the Wagner private military company’s troops, who decided against participating in an armed mutiny, will be able to sign contracts with the Russian Defense Ministry, Presidential Spokesman Dmitry Peskov told journalists,” the Russian state-run news agency TASS reported Sunday morning.
This is how the convoy of "Wagner" military equipment left Rostov-on-Don last night pic.twitter.com/6oNAJgqoPV
— Sprinter (@Sprinter99880) June 25, 2023
Rostov: Wagner fighters given hero’s farewell
The rebels were seen abandoning the southern Russian border town of Rostov-on-Don, which they took within the first hours of their uprising and without much military resistance. “The Wagner Group PMC contractors have begun leaving the premises of the headquarters of Russia’s Southern Military District in Rostov-on-Don. Footage from the scene shows the fighters packing their belongings and weaponry, and boarding combat vehicles,” the RT reported.
Clips posted on Twitter showed residents of Rostov cheering Prigozhin and his fighters as their armed convoy leaves the town, suggesting popular support for the mutineers and their cause.
In opposition to Putin, the Russian people are out on the streets of Rostov, chanting:
“Wagner, Wagner, Wagner”
This is far from over… pic.twitter.com/MN2bilRUXG
— Visegrád 24 (@visegrad24) June 24, 2023
“In 24 hours we reached within 200km of Moscow,” Prigozhin boasted. “Over that time we didn’t shed a single drop of our men’s blood.”
“Now though the time has come when blood might be shed. Therefore, mindful of the responsibility that Russian blood might be shed by one of the parties, we are turning our columns round and moving off in the opposite direction, to the field camps, according to plan,” the Wagner chief said, justifying his decision to stand down.
Iran backs Putin, Moscow admits rebellion emboldens “Russia’s external enemies”
The revolt exposes Russia’s internal rifts at a time the Kremlin wages war against Ukraine. The Russian Foreign Ministry on Sunday admitted that the war-time “mutiny plays into the hands of Russia’s external enemies.”
“We warn Western countries against undertaking even the slightest attempts to use the domestic Russian situation to achieve their Russophobic goals,” the ministry said in a statement on Telegram.
The Kremlin received support from the Iranian regime, perhaps the only Russian ally to openly back President Putin against the Wagner mutineers. “The Iranian side expressed support for the actions of the Russian leadership to ensure constitutional order,” the Russian Foreign Ministry confirmed.
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Comments
Money well spent, right CIA?
Operation Trust
Tinfoil hat time. Maybe it was a double bluff. Putin backed the attempt to use it as a stalking horse to smoke out those who would be tempted to join the effort.
Prigozhin and the more committed mutineers get put in Belarus which if anything like half the reported 25K involved would be positioned on the NW flank of Ukraine.
Prigozhin and his top cronies split the lions share of the CIA /State Dept money and hand out some walking around cash to the rest. While in Belarus they can take some down time, rest, recuperate while maintaining equipment and gearing up for the next fight. The are mercenaries after all and that’s kinda their thing.
That would make Ukraine need to give more than a passing thought to their border with Belarus and shift some forces around. Everyone is a winner, Putin smokes out the less devoted in his govt, Prigozhin and Wagner get a break and $.
More likely Putin planned it than the CIA
But the CIA paid for it. The Sting!!!
The besst way to pay for your spies.
I hope this was not some stupid CIA stunt. I don’t think it was, only because Prigozhin has millions and millions already. I do not see him being bought so easily. Then again, never underestimate CIA stupidity.
This is still one of the oddest coup ever and if the peace holds between Putin and Prigzhin then something else was going on with this. Perhaps a way to flush the disloyal out in Moscow? I am speculating. It is hard to tell with Russia because Russia is weird.
Heard it was like only 200. Looks like the protestors are getting better treatment than our J6.
Nah, these guys are dead meat sooner or later.
I heard that the CIA agreed to broker an amnesty deal, provided that the Wagner Group promised to allow drag queen shows, use correct pronouns and supply its troops with free hormone blockers. In return, Putin will provide a new Steele Dossier to use against Trump in 2024.
If that guy is going to Belarus he’s a good as dead.
He would’ve been safer visiting the Titanic.
After determing that nobody wanted to die for their country, the Great Russian Civil War has come to an end.
Priggy got cold feet.
A classic:
Encouraged by reports (from CIA operatives?) of widespread discontent among the military, Prigozhin launched his revolt expecting the army to join him in a coup. However, when he got to Rostov and met with the Army Commanders there, they all listened politely and said, “No Thanks.”
So, now, Prigozhin is all dressed up but with no place to go, and worse, with zero air support. Ya gotta know when to fold ’em and in this case that means while you still have an intact force. So, you face the Bear and tell him, “Okay you can probably eat me but it won’t be a cheap meal. Let’s talk.”
I give him about 36 months to live, and I am sure he agrees, but when you choice is “Die tomorrow” or “Die at some point in the future” you take the rain check.
It was never a coup attempt (not on Putin, at least).
Putin is vindictive. Priggy is either going to fall out of a window or drink some glowing tea sooner or later.
Blaming this on the CIA is idiotic.
My (partial) speculation: Prigozhin was never after Putin (he said as much), just Shoigu. He went on his adventure hoping to have Putin meet his demands to arrest or fire Shoigu. Putin told him that wasn’t going to happen and Prigozhin could stop or have the whole group destroyed. Prigozhin realized he wouldn’t gain the support of Putin and took the out.
I should add that there were some reports that Prigozhin was promised some reforms among Mod leadership. In interviews and video rants,. Prigozhin stated that he saw Putin as a victim of MoD misinformation, not the cause of his complaints.
This tweet says otherwise.
https://twitter.com/visegrad24/status/1672513733099175937
There’s a lot of prorussian and proukrainian misinformation on Twitter and unsourced quotes on both sides are often made up. There’s a larger body of Prigozhin videos I’ll stick with over random tweets.
x2
That account has proven to be rather unreliable.
Shortest coup attempt ever 😂 Man, everyone was getting a hard on over Putin being ousted eh 😂
You saying it was crazy to think a few thousand ground troops could cause a coup without any logistical support or air support?
Wow…when ya put it that way it does seem kind of silly.
Interesting discussion:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aPTqGmxEH1c
Blast from the past—Nikita the K
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HavJ0NEVE2s
Makes about as much sense as this Wagner skit.