Wagner chief Prigozhin says he is accepted truce brokered by Belarus

The chief of Russia’s Wagner mercenary group, Yevgeny Prigozhin, mentioned Saturday that he’d agreed to halt his forces’ “motion inside Russia, and to take additional steps to de-escalate tensions,” in an settlement brokered by Belarusian chief Alexander Lukashenko. The Wagner group boss earlier ordered his forces to march towards Moscow after unleashing an extended collection of videotaped remarks threatening to topple Russia’s army management, which he blasted as having misled the nation and Putin himself in regards to the Ukraine battle. 

The Wagner boss’ actions drew an accusation of a “rise up” from Russian President Vladimir Putin earlier within the day, although the Russian chief didn’t identify Prigozhin individually. Prigozhin did not say whether or not the Kremlin had responded to his demand to oust Protection Minister Sergei Shoigu.  

Belarus President Alexander Lukashenko, a detailed ally of Putin, held two conferences to barter a deal that features “safety ensures for the Wagner PMC fighters,” a information launch printed by Belarus’ state-run information company mentioned. The Kremlin confirmed the discussions between Putin and Lukashenko had taken place, however didn’t focus on any phrases of an settlement with Prigozhin.

Prigozhin mentioned on his official Telegram channel that he had agreed to show his mercenary forces again, “realizing all of the duty for the truth that Russian blood can be shed.” He mentioned his forces had marched to inside 120 miles of Moscow with out shedding a “single drop of the blood of our fighters.” 

A U.S. official confirmed to CBS Information earlier Saturday that Wagner forces had been transferring north towards Moscow. That got here after the personal military had seized management of a regional Russian army headquarters in Rostov-on-Don, a metropolis close to the border with Ukraine, Britain’s Ministry of Protection mentioned in an intelligence briefing.

Heavy army vehicles and armored autos rolled by streets in central Moscow and troopers had been deployed outdoors the primary constructing of the Protection Ministry.

Earlier, the governor of Russia’s Lipetsk province mentioned the mercenary forces led by Prigozhin in an armed rise up had moved troops out of Ukraine and into the important thing area about 225 miles south of Moscow. CBS Information correspondent Ian Lee reported earlier Saturday that Wagner troops had “seized one other metropolis midway to Moscow.” 

The U.S. official confirmed to CBS Information that Prigozhin had about 25,000 troops below his command. His forces performed a vital function within the battle in Ukraine and succeeded in taking the jap metropolis of Bakhmut, the place the bloodiest and longest battles have taken place. 

Prigozhin had develop into publicly annoyed with Russian army leaders who he accused of botching the battle in Ukraine and hamstringing his forces within the subject. 

Putin referred to as the Wagner rebellion “a stab within the again.” The problem to Russia’s army management by Prigozhin, a longtime Putin ally with a ruthless repute, posed the most important menace Putin’s management in his over 20 years in energy.

Throughout his nightly video handle, Ukrainian President Zelensky mentioned the disruptions in Russia uncovered “merely full chaos” with its army and that Russians “management nothing.”

Reporting contributed by Haley Ott, Ian Lee and David Martin.