In a surprising turn of events, Wagner Group leader Yevgeny Prigozhin announced a halt to his mercenary forces' march on Moscow, averting a potential escalation of the conflict within Russia. Prigozhin communicated the decision via social media, stating his troops were turning back "to avoid bloodshed." This followed negotiations spearheaded by Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko, acting with the authorization of Russian President Vladimir Putin. The Belarusian government released a statement indicating a mutually agreeable solution had been reached, including security guarantees for Wagner fighters. This agreement seemingly ends what many analysts considered the most serious challenge to Putin's authority in his over two decades of leadership. While Prigozhin's statement didn't clarify whether the Kremlin had met his demand for the removal of Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu, the sudden de-escalation suggests a potential resolution, at least temporarily. Prior to the announcement, Reuters footage showed Wagner forces, including armored vehicles, advancing significantly towards Moscow, reportedly encountering resistance along the way. Prigozhin had earlier claimed control of the Southern Military District headquarters in Rostov-on-Don, a critical logistical hub for Russia's operations in Ukraine, asserting this was achieved without a shot fired.
Yevgeny Prigozhin, founder of the Wagner private mercenary group, at a cemetery in Moscow on April 8, 2023. (Reuters/Yulia Morozova/File Photo)
Composite image featuring Wagner Group chief Yevgeny Prigozhin, a Wagner patrol near a tank in Rostov-on-Don, and Russian President Vladimir Putin. (Prigozhin Press Service via AP/STRINGER / AFP via Getty Images / Gavriil Grigorov/Sputnik/AFP via Getty Images)
