Revolt by Russian Mercenary Group Against Moscow Reveals Vulnerabilities but Fizzles Out

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After a rebellious mercenary commander ordered his troops to march on Moscow, posing a significant challenge to Russian President Vladimir Putin, the uprising ultimately came to an end when a deal was struck between the Kremlin and the commander. The revolt, though short-lived, exposed vulnerabilities within Russian government forces as Wagner Group soldiers, under the command of Yevgeny Prigozhin, were able to advance unhindered from the city of Rostov-on-Don towards Moscow, prompting the Russian military to scramble for defense.

According to Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov, Prigozhin will now go into exile in neighboring Belarus, a country that has supported Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. In exchange, charges of mounting an armed rebellion against Prigozhin will be dropped. The government also announced that it would not prosecute Wagner fighters who participated in the revolt, while those who did not join would be offered contracts by the Defense Ministry. Prigozhin ordered his troops to return to their field camps in Ukraine, where they had been fighting alongside regular Russian soldiers.

Earlier, Putin had vowed to punish those responsible for the armed uprising, referring to it as a “betrayal” and “treason” in a televised speech to the nation. However, by allowing Prigozhin and his forces to go free, Putin aimed to avoid bloodshed and internal conflict with unpredictable consequences, according to Peskov.

Some observers believe that Putin’s strongman image has suffered a blow as a result of this incident. Former U.S. Ambassador to Ukraine John Herbst stated on CNN that “Putin has been diminished for all time by this affair.”

In anticipation of the arrival of Wagner forces, Moscow had set up checkpoints with armored vehicles and deployed troops at the city’s southern edge. Approximately 3,000 Chechen soldiers were diverted from fighting in Ukraine and rushed to Moscow on Saturday. Russian troops armed with machine guns established checkpoints on the outskirts of the city, and sections of highways were dug up to impede the march.

According to Prigozhin, the Wagner troops advanced to within 200 kilometers (120 miles) of Moscow before the retreat was announced. The rebel commander decided to retreat to prevent the shedding of Russian blood. Prigozhin had demanded the ouster of Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu, whom he had criticized extensively for his handling of the ongoing war in Ukraine. If Putin were to acquiesce to Shoigu’s removal, it could have political ramifications for the president, who had previously branded Prigozhin as a backstabbing traitor.

Intelligence from the United States had indicated that Prigozhin had been amassing his forces near the Russian border for some time, contradicting his claim that the rebellion was a response to an attack on his camps in Ukraine by the Russian military.

Prigozhin accused Russian forces of launching rocket, helicopter gunship, and artillery attacks on the Wagner camps in Ukraine. He alleged that General Valery Gerasimov, Chief of the General Staff, ordered these attacks following a meeting with Shoigu where they decided to eliminate the military contractor. The Defense Ministry denied any involvement in the assault on the camps.

In the aftermath of the agreement that de-escalated tensions, videos from Rostov-on-Don showed people cheering the departure of Wagner troops, with Prigozhin riding in an SUV followed by a large truck. The regional governor confirmed that all troops had left the city. Wagner forces and equipment were also reported in Lipetsk province, approximately 360 kilometers (225 miles) south of Moscow.

In response to the heightened security situation, Moscow Mayor Sergei Sobyanin declared Monday a non-working day for most residents, a measure that remained in effect even after the retreat.

The conflict between Russian factions was seen as an opportunity by Ukraine, as it hoped the infighting would create chances for its army to reclaim territories seized by Russian forces. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy stated shortly before Prigozhin’s retreat announcement that the march had exposed weaknesses within the Kremlin and demonstrated how easy it was to capture Russian cities and arsenals.

Wagner troops have played a crucial role in the war in Ukraine, particularly in capturing the city of Bakhmut, where the bloodiest and longest battles have taken place. However, Prigozhin has increasingly criticized the military leadership, accusing them of incompetence and neglecting his troops’ supply of ammunition.

Yevgeny Prigozhin, aged 62 and a former convict, has longstanding connections to Putin and earned the nickname “Putin’s chef” due to lucrative catering contracts he secured with the Kremlin. Alongside a dozen other Russian nationals, he faced charges in the United States for operating a covert social media campaign aimed at sowing discord prior to Donald Trump’s victory in the 2016 presidential election. Wagner has deployed military contractors to various locations, including Libya, Syria, several African countries, and eventually Ukraine.

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Original sources:

• The Associated Press. “Russian mercenary group revolt against Moscow fizzles but exposes vulnerabilities.” The Big Big News. Retrieved from: https://bigbignews.net/russian-mercenary-group-revolt-against-moscow-fizzles-but-exposes-vulnerabilities

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• AP: Russian mercenary group revolt against Moscow fizzles but exposes vulnerabilities: The original article providing information about the Russian mercenary group revolt and its implications.
• CNN: Former US ambassador says Putin has been diminished for all time by Russian mercenary group revolt: CNN’s coverage of the impact of the revolt on Putin’s image.
• The Big Big News: Russia-Ukraine War Coverage: Ongoing coverage of the war in Ukraine, including related developments and events.