Wagner mercenary uprising ends as deal is struck between Prigozhin and Kremlin intermediary Lukashenko

An open rebellion against Moscow began after Prigozhin called on Russians to join the Wagner fighters. Since then, Prigozhin claims he and his soldiers have taken control of military installations in the southern Russian city of Rostov-on-Don.

After a series of stunning developments, the uprising came to a sudden end late on Saturday evening after a deal was struck between Prigozhin and Belorussian President Alexander Lukashenko, who acted as an intermediary for the Kremlin.

As a result of negotiations, Prigozhin will be forced to go to Belarus while the Kremlin will not pursue punishments for the uprising. By Sunday morning, Wagner troops had left the city of Rostov-on-Don.

Read on below for a full breakdown of events.

What triggered the rebellion

For months, mercenary chief Prigozhin has been fighting a power struggle with the leadership of the Russian military over the deployment of his troops in the Russian war of aggression in Ukraine. Time and again, he sharply attacked Defence Minister Sergei Shoigu and Chief of General Staff Valery Gerasimov, expressed frustration over supply problems, demanded more ammunition and complained of a lack of support from Moscow.

The mercenary leader's anger apparently got the upper hand: Prigozhin accused the Russian military leadership on Friday of retreating at the front and deceiving the public about the true extent of the losses. He also openly cast doubt on the reason for the war given by Kremlin leader Vladimir Putin: "The war was needed for the self-promotion of a bunch of bastards."

He then accused the Russian military leadership of ordering missile attacks on his troops, killing scores of Wagner mercenaries. The Wagner chief vowed to "stop" the Russian military leadership. His men then advanced from Ukraine into Russia on Saturday night.

How is Moscow reacting?

The Kremlin declared as early as Saturday night that the "necessary measures" would be taken. Russia has since reinforced security in Moscow and regions such as Rostov and Lipetsk.

Kremlin chief Putin called the uprising of Wagner troops a "deadly threat" to Russia and called on the country to "unite". A civil war must be avoided, he said. He branded the rebel Wagner fighters as "traitors" who would "inevitably be punished".
Moscow mayor Sergei Sobyanin on Saturday warned the situation in the capital was "difficult," as forces of the Wagner mercenary group moved towards Moscow to oust Russia's military leadership.

"The situation is difficult. I ask you to refrain from travelling around the city as much as possible," Sobyanin said in a statement, warning of possible road closures and announcing Monday was a "non-working" day.

President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on Saturday said Turkey was ready to help seek a "peaceful resolution" to an armed rebellion in Russia, in a phone call with his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin, his office said.

Erdogan "underlined the importance of acting with common sense," the presidency said in a statement. "President Erdogan said that we, as Turkey, are ready to do our part for the peaceful resolution of events in Russia as soon as possible."

Who are the Wagner fighters?

Almost everywhere there is conflict, there is talk of the Russian private army. In addition to Ukraine, the mercenaries of the Wagner group are associated with crisis regions such as Mali, Syria, Libya and the Central African Republic.

Reports of the existence of the Wagner Force first emerged at the beginning of the war in eastern Ukraine in 2014. The businessman Prigozhin - for years a close confidant of Putin - admitted last year to having founded the group.

Recruited in significant part from Russian prisons, the Wagner mercenaries have played an important role in the Ukraine war in recent months, especially in the protracted and losing battle for the eastern Ukrainian town of Bakhmut.

What impact does the uprising have on the Russian war in Ukraine

For Putin, the mutiny is the most serious challenge and the biggest security crisis in the country since his rise to power in 1999. A Ukrainian counter-offensive is currently underway, with Kiev seeking to retake territory from Russian control - the uprising could divert attention and resources from fighting in Ukraine.

The Ukrainian army said it was monitoring the power struggle in Russia. Deputy Defence Minister Hanna Maljar spoke of a "unique opportunity" for Kiev. Moscow warned that the Ukrainian military was using the situation to gather its soldiers for an attack near Bakhmut.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky referred to political instability in Russia. "Russia's weakness is obvious. Complete weakness," he declared.
Ukraine's defence ministry taunted Russian troops in the country on Saturday, suggesting they return home to take part in fighting between rebel mercenaries and Russia's military.

In a statement the ministry wondered "why Russian soldiers are still sitting in muddy trenches rather than running to the aid of their comrades on both sides of the conflict. That would be far safer than confronting the Ukrainian army."

Warning to the West

Russia warned the West on Saturday against taking advantage of an armed insurrection carried out by the Wagner mercenary group in Russia to achieve what Moscow said were their "anti-Russian" goals.

"We warn the Western countries against any hint of possible use of the domestic Russian situation to achieve their Russophobic goals," the foreign ministry said in a statement.

"All goals and objectives of the special military operation will be fulfilled," it added, using the Kremlin-preferred term for Moscow's large-scale military intervention in Ukraine.

US President Joe Biden on Saturday discussed the unfolding crisis in Russia with the leaders of France, Germany and the United Kingdom, affirming the allies's staunch support for Ukraine.

According to a statement from the White House, Biden spoke by telephone with French President Emmanuel Macron, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz and UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak about "the situation in Russia."

The leaders "affirmed their unwavering support for Ukraine," the White House statement added.

Travel warnings have been issued

France on Saturday warned its citizens against all travel to and within Russia after the head of the Wagner mercenary group launched a rebellion against the military and threatened to march on Moscow.

Russian authorities in the Kaluga region south of Moscow on Saturday introduced travel restrictions as Wagner mercenary units marched on the capital to oust the country's military leadership.

On the other hand Latvia's president-elect on Saturday said the Baltic state had tightened its border security in response to the mutiny underway in Russia and would not be admitting Russians. "Latvia is closely following the developing situation in Russia... Border security has been strengthened, visa or border entry from Russians leaving Russia due to current events won't be considered," Edgars Rinkevics said on Twitter.

"Latvia will not issue humanitarian or other types of visas," added the president-elect, who is also still the foreign minister.

Latvia had already last year stopped issuing new visas to Russian citizens, but it had until now made an exception for humanitarian visas. It is unclear if the visas issued thus far will remain eligible for entry.

Exiled

According to reports from late Saturday evening, Prigozhin eventually called off his Wagner troops from marching into Moscow following talks with Putin's ally Alexander Lukashenko, the President of Belarus.

A deal was struck that will now see Prigozhin go to Belarus while the Kremlin will refrain from punishing the uprising. Wagner troops had reportedly abandoned their occupation of Rostov-on-Don, the military centre at Russia's border with Ukraine, and left the city by Sunday morning.

"We are turning our columns around and going back to field camps," Prigozhin announced after vowing to march on Moscow to topple the military leadership. He said he understood the importance of the moment and did not want to "spill Russian blood."