Wagner chief calls off march of mercenaries on Moscow 'to avoid shedding Russian blood'
The head of the Wagner force said he has ordered his mercenaries to halt their march on Moscow and retreat to their field camps in Ukraine to avoid shedding Russian blood.
Mr Prigozhin’s actions had represented the most significant challenge to Mr Putin’s leadership in his more than two decades in power. In a televised speech to the nation, Mr Putin called the rebellion a “betrayal” and “treason”. Mr Prigozhin’s private army appeared to control the military headquarters in Rostov-on-Don, a city 660 miles south of Moscow that runs Russian operations in Ukraine, the UK’s Ministry of Defence said. Wagner troops and equipment were also in Lipetsk province, about 225 miles south of Moscow, where authorities “are taking all necessary measures to ensure the safety of the population”, said regional governor Igor Artamonov, via Telegram.
Mr Prigozhin’s private army has been fighting alongside regular Russian troops in Ukraine. His goals were not immediately clear but the rebellion marked an escalation in his struggle with Russian military leaders, whom he accused of botching the war in Ukraine and hobbling his forces in the field. A Muscovite who gave only his first name of Khachik called the situation “scary”. State-controlled TV networks led their news broadcasts with Mr Putin’s statement and reported the tense situation in Rostov-on-Don. Some showed social media videos of residents denouncing Wagner troops.
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