The Russian Mercenary Rebellion Comes to an End... Putin's Leadership Inevitably Impacted

Mercenary Group Advances on Moscow, Withdraws Within 24 Hours
Advance Reaches Near Moscow... Losses Include 7 Russian Aircraft
Agreement Mediated by Belarus... No Punishment for Mercenaries
Putin's Leadership Inevitably Impacted... Zelensky Also Criticizes

[Image source=AP Yonhap News]

The armed rebellion of the Russian mercenary company Wagner Group, which had been advancing relentlessly, was halted just outside Moscow. Through Belarusian mediation, the Russian government agreed not to punish the Wagner Group in exchange for the group's leader leaving for Belarus. Russian President Vladimir Putin averted the greatest crisis but is expected to suffer considerable damage to his leadership.

"Let's not shed Russian blood"... Dramatic agreement reached within 24 hours

According to major foreign media including Sputnik on the 24th (local time), Wagner Group leader Yevgeny Prigozhin announced via an audio message that he had withdrawn the troops heading toward Moscow. He said, "They (the Russian government) tried to dismantle the Wagner Group, so we started the march of justice on the 23rd and reached within 200 km of Moscow in one day," adding, "We understand the responsibility that comes with shedding the blood of any Russian, so we are turning the troops back to their bases."

The Belarusian presidential office also stated, "Under an agreement with Russian President Vladimir Putin, Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko negotiated with Wagner Group leader Prigozhin," adding, "Both sides agreed that bloodshed within Russia is unacceptable."

Accordingly, Prigozhin accepted President Lukashenko's proposal to halt the Wagner Group's movement and take measures to ease the situation. It is also reported that an agreement is underway to guarantee the safety of Wagner Group soldiers. AFP reported that following this agreement, the Wagner Group began withdrawing from Rostov-on-Don, which they had occupied since the morning.

However, neither Prigozhin nor the Belarusian presidential office disclosed the detailed terms of the agreement, such as the punishment of Russian military leadership initially demanded by the Wagner Group.

President Lukashenko later spoke with President Putin and explained the negotiation results in detail. This was the second call between the two leaders that evening. Putin reportedly expressed his gratitude.

Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov said, "The criminal case against Prigozhin will be canceled, and he will leave for Belarus," adding, "Other Wagner Group soldiers will not be prosecuted considering their brave fighting on the front lines." He further explained, "Avoiding bloodshed was more important than punishing those responsible," and "It is nonsense that this incident will affect the war in Ukraine."

Mercenaries advanced relentlessly toward Moscow... Putin's leadership inevitably damaged

Wagner Group leader Yevgeny Prigozhin
[Photo by AP News]

Earlier, the Wagner Group seized a military facility in southern Rostov-on-Don and advanced north toward Moscow. This was in response to the Russian Ministry of Defense allegedly attacking their rear camp with missiles the day before. They entered Russia from Ukraine demanding punishment of the Russian military leadership.

Russia issued an arrest warrant for Prigozhin and activated an anti-terrorism operation system in Moscow and other areas. President Putin labeled the incident as "treason" and vowed a strong response, but Prigozhin's advance did not stop.

In the early stages of the rebellion, the Russian military barely resisted, allowing the Wagner Group to advance rapidly. After Russia declared the anti-terrorism operation system, clashes began. In southwestern Russia's Voronezh, a fuel depot exploded causing a fire. There were also scenes captured of Russian military helicopters attacking the moving Wagner Group.

The Russian military reportedly suffered significant damage from Wagner Group attacks. Belarusian Telegram media Nexta reported that the Russian military lost seven aircraft, including six helicopters and one airborne early warning and control aircraft.

The Wagner Group's advance proceeded relentlessly. Within a day, they rapidly approached Moscow, about 1,000 km from Rostov-on-Don. Tensions escalated in Moscow, leading to the closure of Red Square and major city museums. City authorities considered closing roads and urged residents to refrain from travel. Armored vehicles and troops were deployed on the southern outskirts of Moscow, with checkpoints established. To block the Wagner Group's advance, some roads were dug up and cut off using heavy equipment such as excavators.

Russian President Vladimir Putin [Photo by AP]

Although the 24-hour rebellion was resolved dramatically, President Putin's leadership is expected to be inevitably damaged. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky pointed this out in a national address that evening. President Zelensky said, "In one day, Russia lost several cities with populations in the millions, revealing to everyone how easy it is to seize Russian cities and capture arsenals," adding, "The longer your (Russia's) army stays in Ukraine, the more devastated Russia will become, and the longer Putin remains in the Kremlin, the more disasters there will be."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.