Russia-Ukraine war live: Wagner boss turns coup troops back from Moscow as Kremlin denies Putin has fled
Earlier on Friday, drone footage showed a Russian troop being wiped out by a bomb
For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails
Sign up to our free breaking news emails
Wagner mercenary group boss Yevgeny Prigozhin [1]has said that his troops are turning back from their advance on Moscow to “avoid bloodshed”.
Audio messages released on Saturday evening have, according to Reuters, shown the leader has agreed to stop the movement of troops towards [2]the Russian capital after their day long journey north[3].
The office of Belarusian president Alexander Lukashenko, who is a close ally of Mr Putin, claimed on Saturday that he had brokered a deal to de-escalate the situation.
Mr Lukashenko claims an agreement has been reached that would “guarantee the safety of Wagner fighters” is on the table.
Neither the Wagner Group nor the Kremlin has commented on the claims.
Wagner’s forces were within four hours of Moscow[4] when the turnaround news came. The events had sparked panic in the capital [5]with residents told not to journey around the city.
Earlier on Saturday, Vladimir Putin[6]’s whereabouts was thrown into question after an aircraft belonging to the presidency was spotted flying[7] from Moscow[8] to St Petersburg.
His spokesperson, Dmitry Peskov, denied Mr Putin had fled.
Show latest update
1687628324
Wagner boss says he’s turning troops back from Moscow to ‘avoid bloodshed’
In an audio message, Wagner mercenary group boss Yevgeny Prigozhin says he is turning his troops back to their bases, Reuters reports.
He said he gave the order to turn back from their advance on Moscow “because of the risk of blood being spilled”.
Natalie Crockett24 June 2023 18:38
Prigozhin ‘will not face criminal case over Wagner coup’
All criminal charges against Wagner chief Yevgeny Prigozhin will be dropped, the Kremlin has confirmed as it breaks its silence on the group’s advance on Moscow.
Natalie Crockett24 June 2023 20:55
Russian Wagner fighters start pulling out of Rostov-on-Don
Fighters of the mutinous Wagner mercenary force started pulling out of the southern Russian city of Rostov-on-Don on Saturday night.
A Reuters journalist saw Wagner forces pulling away from the district military headquarters, where they had taken control.
Wagner leader Yevgeny Prigozhin had said his forces would return to base in order to avoid bloodshed, after Belarus President Alexander Lukashenko said he had brokered a deal.
William Mata24 June 2023 20:50
Wagner troops cheered as they leave Rostov
Fighters in the Wagner group have been cheered by Rostov residents as they moved on from the city.
They started pulling out on Saturday night after the group announced it would not be storming Moscow.
William Mata24 June 2023 20:40
Ukraine looking to ‘press the advantage’ in battle
Ukraine will “press the advantage” in battle after Russia was left in disarray following an uprising by leader of the Wagner mercenary group Yevgeny Prigozhin, a leading Russia expert has said.
Dr Patricia Lewis, director of the International Security programme at Chatham House think tank, told PA news agency: “Ukraine will press the advantage right now.
“There will be a lot of uncertainty in the (Russian) troops and it will be prime time to double up the efforts in the counter-offensive.
“Ukraine will get a bit of a break from this and you don’t know quite how the Wagner troops will react. They (Ukraine) will also have a morale boost.”
However, she said she did not believe the uprising will cause the Russian army to collapse.
William Mata24 June 2023 20:36
Soldiers in Rostov are packing up
Video has shown Wagner group troops leaving Rostov, the city which they had taken.
Shouts of “boys, let’s load up, let’s go home,” were heard as the group took their leave.
William Mata24 June 2023 20:12
Video: Wagner paramilitary boss orders troops to turn back from Moscow
Wagner paramilitary boss orders troops to turn back from Moscow
William Mata24 June 2023 20:04
Belarus president Lukashenko ‘told Putin of Prigozhin talks outcome’
Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko had a second telephone conversation with Russian president Vladimir Putin on Saturday evening to inform him of the results of his talks with Wagner mercenary chief Yevgeny Prigozhin, Belarusian state news agency Belta reported.
Earlier, Mr Lukashenko’s office said he had spoken to Prigozhin with Mr Putin’s approval, and that the mutinous head of the Wagner militia had agreed to stop the movements of his fighters, some of whom were advancing on Moscow in a convoy, and de-escalate.
Belarusian president Alexander Lukashenko
(Sputnik)
William Mata24 June 2023 19:55
Ukraine ‘making advances along the eastern front’
Ukraine is said to be making gains on the eastern front while their enemies have been distracted.
Deputy defence minister Hanna Maliar has been quoted as saying that gains were made near the eastern city of Bakhmut.
The Ukraine forces were said to have targeted a group of villages on Saturday.
“In all these areas, we have made advances,” Ms Maliar wrote.
The Defence of Ukraine Twitter account was also updated with a similar message.
William Mata24 June 2023 19:37
President Zelensky describes ‘complete chaos’ in Russia
Volodymyr Zelensky has said his country has “unity” that is not on display in Russia.
The Ukraine president described the invaders as being in “complete chaos”.
His tweet read: “Ukraine will definitely be able to protect Europe from any Russian forces, and it doesn’t matter who commands them. We will protect. The security of Europe’s eastern flank depends only on our defense.”
William Mata24 June 2023 19:30
References
- ^ Yevgeny Prigozhin (www.independent.co.uk)
- ^ movement of troops towards (www.independent.co.uk)
- ^ after their day long journey north (www.independent.co.uk)
- ^ were within four hours of Moscow (www.independent.co.uk)
- ^ sparked panic in the capital (www.independent.co.uk)
- ^ Vladimir Putin (www.independent.co.uk)
- ^ an aircraft belonging to the presidency was spotted flying (www.independent.co.uk)
- ^ Moscow (www.independent.co.uk)
- ^ 1687628324 (www.independent.co.uk)
- ^ 1687636556 (www.independent.co.uk)
- ^ 1687636251 (www.independent.co.uk)
- ^ 1687635651 (www.independent.co.uk)
- ^ 1687635369 (www.independent.co.uk)
- ^ 1687633979 (www.independent.co.uk)
- ^ 1687633499 (www.independent.co.uk)
- ^ 1687632936 (www.independent.co.uk)
- ^ 1687631830 (www.independent.co.uk)
- ^ 1687631406 (www.independent.co.uk)