June 24, 2023 - Wagner head says group standing down
ByHelen Regan,Andrew Raine,Sophie Tanno,Hafsa Khalil,Tori B. Powell,Adrienne Vogt andKaanita Iyer, CNN
Updated 12:05 AM EDT, Sun June 25, 2023
Kazakhstan President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev will hold an emergency meeting of his Security Council on Sunday, his office has said, hours after he called for “law and order” in Russia.
“The head of the government will hear reports from the prime minister (and) heads of the security forces about taking course measures connected to the situation in Russia,” Tokayev’s office wrote on Twitter, adding an “action plan is expected to be adopted to neutralize possible negative consequences linked to the situation in the neighboring friendly country impacting the security of citizens of Kazakhstan and the economy of our country.”
The announcement comes after Russian President Vladimir Putin called Tokayev to brief him on the situation in Russia.
Tokayev noted the events are an “internal affair” of Russia and called for the resumption of law and order.
Russian President Vladimir Putin has suffered “a mortal blow,” according to a retired US general, despite the apparent deal that will see Wagner boss Yevgeny Prigozhin leave for Belarus.
“There are two existential fights going on in this Russia-Ukraine war,” said retired US Army Brig. Gen. Peter Zwack.
“One is the viability of the survival, the existence, of a free-minded Ukrainian state. The other is inside the Kremlin and the viability of the Putin regime.”
What (Prigozhin) has done is divided the Russians, got them squabbling publicly… This I believe is a mortal blow to Putin and his regime.”
He called the events that unfolded on the streets of Russia over the past 36 hours “extraordinary,” adding there is a “narrative getting out to the mainstream population that this invasion of Ukraine was wrong.”
Zwack said: “And I think in this aspect, the information is that Russia’s Putin’s bodyguard of lies is collapsing as we watch.”
A retired major in the the US Army said there are many questions to be asked about the future facing Wagner fighters after their short-lived uprising.
“They’re an independent fighting company. They were given better rations. They dressed differently,” said Major Mike Lyons (Ret.) US Army.
“I don’t think they’ll be easily assimilated into the Russian military and sent back to the front there. So I think there is going to be an issue.”
He added: “Maybe some will splinter off. Maybe some will decide to defect and provide information to Ukraine. Those people are loyal to the man, Prigozhin, not to the country, not to the mission. I think we’ve got a lot more questions that are not answered right now.”
Earlier Saturday, Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov said Wagner fighters will not face legal action for taking part in the march toward Moscow, saying that the Kremlin has “always respected their heroic deeds” on the front lines in Ukraine.
The United States has not seen a change to Russia’s nuclear posture since Wagner chief Yevgeny Prigozhin began his insurrection challenging the Kremlin’s leadership, two US officials told CNN.
“We have not seen any changes in the disposition of Russian nuclear forces,” a State Department spokesperson said, adding that the US has “no reason to adjust our conventional or nuclear force posture. We have long-standing, established communication channels with Russia on nuclear issues.”
President Putin has repeatedly engaged in nuclear saber-rattling over the course of the Ukraine war. Putin said earlier this month that the first tactical nuclear weapons to be stored in Belarus had arrived. US President Joe Biden called the move “absolutely irresponsible.”
The US has continued to monitor Russia’s nuclear posture throughout the Ukraine War despite Russia this year suspending participation in the single lasting nuclear arms control treaty between the US and Russia. This has meant that the two nations are no longer sharing certain notifications with one another which were required under the treaty, including updates on the status or location of treaty-accountable items such as missiles and launchers.
“As a nuclear power, Russia has a special responsibility to maintain command, control, and custody of its nuclear forces and to ensure that no actions are taken that imperil strategic stability,” the State Department spokesperson said.
And as the US continues to monitor the situation in Russia the US diplomatic presence in the country has remain unchanged.
“Our embassy in Moscow remains open, we are in regular communication with it, and its operating posture remains the same at this time,” the spokesperson said.
Chechen leader Ramzan Kadyrov, an ally of Russian President Vladimir Putin, condemned the actions of Wagner chief Yevgeny Prigozhin in a Telegram post on Saturday, saying, “bloodshed could have happened.”
“Now everything ended peacefully, without bloodshed, but it could have happened,” Kadyrov said.
Kadyrov added that “extreme measures” would have been needed to stop any Wagner rebellion requiring “harsh suppression and destruction of anyone who encroaches on the integrity of the Russian Federation.”
Condemning Prigozhin for his actions over the last 24 hours, Kadyrov said: “The arrogance of one person could lead to such dangerous consequences and draw a large number of people into the conflict,” he added.
Kadyrov blamed Prigozhin for “mixing business ambitions with matters of national importance.”
Some context:Chechen State media Grozny reported earlier Saturday that “3,000 fighters of elite units were sent from Chechnya, and they have been holding their positions since early morning ready to fulfill any order of Russian President Vladimir Putin.”
Russian President Vladimir Putin “doesn’t forgive traitors,” said former CNN Moscow bureau chief, Jill Dougherty.
Even though Putin has told Prigozhin to go to Belarus, according to the Kremlin, the Wagner chief remains a “traitor,” Dougherty told CNN’s Anderson Cooper Saturday.
“I think Putin will never ever forgive that,” she added. “I think it is a real dilemma because as long as Prigozhin is acting the way he does and has some type of support, he is a threat. Regardless of where he is.”
Dougherty said the turmoil and chaos that transpired on the streets of Russia did not make Putin look like the strongman leader he has positioned himself to be.
“Putin himself looks really weak. If I were Putin, I would be worried about those people on the streets of Rostov cheering the Wagner people as they leave,” she said.
“Why are average Russians on the street cheering people trying to carry our a coup? That means that maybe they support them but they might like them. Whatever it is, it is really bad news for Putin.”
All restrictions on highways in Russia have been lifted, Russian state media TASS reported, citing a Sunday statement from Russia’s Federal Road Agency.
On Saturday, Avtodor, the company that operates Russian highways, had advised drivers to avoid the M-4, a major highway in southern Russia, as reports swirled that convoys of Wagner fighters were using the road.
Earlier in the day, TASS reported that car traffic had been blocked on the M-4 highway past Rostov-on-Don towards Aksay.
Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau convened a group of key senior government officials Saturday to discuss the evolving internal security situation playing out in Russia, a statement from the Office of the Prime Minister reads.
The Incident Response Group “discussed ongoing coordination with international partners, and assessed the implications for Canadians and Canadian personnel,” the statement said.
Trudeau’s office continues to monitor the situation in Russia very closely and maintains contact with the country’s allies and partners, the statement added.
New videos show Wagner private military chiefYevgeny Prigozhin and his forces leaving the Russian military headquarters in Rostov-on-Don in southwestern Russia after announcing thathis forces will turn around from a march toward Moscow.
Prigozhin has reached an apparent deal with Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko, but the Kremlin have only provided scant details about the agreement.
If you’re just now reading in, here’s what you should know:
Prigozhin will be sent to Belarus: Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov said Prigozhin has “the word” of Russian President Vladimir Putin that he will be able to leave and go to Belarus. Though Prigozhin was seen leaving Rostov-on-Don, hiscurrent whereabouts are unknown.
Case against Prigozhin will be dropped:Peskov also revealed that Lukashenko was able to draw on a personal relationship with Prigozhin to broker the deal, which includes any criminalcharges against Prigozhin to be dropped.
Wagner fighters will return to base:Peskov said the fighters willsign contracts with the Russian Ministry of Defense and will not face legal action for taking part in the march, adding that the Kremlin has “always respected their heroic deeds” on the front lines.
What others are saying: Former Russian member of Parliament Sergey Markov told CNN’s Christiane Amanpour that Prigozhin wasnever a threat to Putin, citing Putin’s popularity now being at “about 80%.”
Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro threw his support behind Putin on Saturday and condemned Wagner’s actions, saying that he rejected “any violent or unconstitutional change of power or uprising.”
Meanwhile, the leaders of UK, US, France and Germanyspoke earlier in day to discuss the situation in Russia and reiterated their continuing support for Ukrainian sovereignty, a spokesperson for UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak said. Foreign ministers for the G7 countries have also been in contact, the spokesperson added.
The US State Department said Secretary of StateAntony Blinken also called Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba, Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan and Polish Foreign Minister Zbigniew Rau to discuss the situation.
Ukraine’s reaction:Ukrainian presidential adviser Mykhailo Podolyak said Prigozhin’s escalation“almost nullified” Putin and criticized Prigozhin for “suddenly” turning his forces around. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, in his nightly address,claimed Putin is “very afraid,” saying that the Russian president is “probably hiding somewhere, not showing himself.”
How we got here:Prigozhin on Friday accused Russia’s military of attacking a Wagner camp and killing a “huge amount” of his men. He vowed to retaliate with force, insinuating that his forces would “destroy” any resistance, including roadblocks and aircraft.
By Saturday, Igor Artamonov, governor of the southwestern Russian region of Lipetsk, said Wagner equipment was moving across the region’s territory. Russian military also carried out “combat measures” in the southern Russia city of Voronezh, the region’s governor said, in light of Prigozhin’s claim Saturday to have seized control of key military facilities in the Voronezh and Rostov regions.
What else is going on: Ukrainian forces launched simultaneous counteroffensives in multiple directions, according to Ukraine’s Deputy Defense Minister Hanna Maliar. She said that “there is progress in all directions” without giving any further detail.
Earlier Saturday, Ukraine claimed it had taken back territory in the east that was held by Russia since it annexed Crimea in 2014. Ukrainian forces claim to have taken the area prior to the apparent Wagner insurrection but only announced it Saturday. CNN cannot independently verify battlefield reports.
UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak, US President Joe Biden, French President Emmanuel Macron and German Chancellor Olaf Scholz spoke earlier Saturday to discuss the situation in Russia and reiterate their continuing support for Ukrainian sovereignty, a spokesman for the UK prime minister said in a statement.
Their meeting followed a call between G7 foreign ministers, which the UK foreign secretary participated in earlier Saturday, the spokesman said.
The leaders spoke before Wagner private military company chief Yevgeny Prigozhin announced he had ordered his mercenary fighters tohalt their advance on Moscow and turn back.
Yevgeny Prigozhin, the head of the Wagner paramilitary group, led his forces in an insurrection Saturday and took control of a key military facility in the southern Russian city of Rostov-on-Don.
By Saturday evening, Prigozhin announced his forces werestopping their advance toward Moscow after striking an apparent deal brokered by Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko.
Here’s a look at what happened Saturday:
Mykhailo Podolyak, an adviser to Ukraine’s Presidential Administration, said Wagner private military company boss Yevgeny Prigozhin’s escalation “almost nullified” Russian President Vladimir Putin, and criticized Prigozhin forturning his forces around from a march toward Moscow and reaching an apparent deal.
“Prigozhin’s phenomenal choice… You almost nullified Putin, took control of the central authorities, reached Moscow and suddenly… you retreat,” Podolyak said in a tweet posted in English. “Because one very specific intermediary with a dubious reputation #Lukashenko promised security guarantees from the person #Putin who ordered to destroy you in the morning. And for the fear that the Putin elite has experienced in the past 24 hours, this order will certainly be executed.”
He added, “Although not without benefit: #Prigozhin humiliated Putin/the state and showed that there is no longer a monopoly on violence.”
Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov said Saturday he was unaware of the current whereabouts of Wagner mercenary chief Yevgeny Prigozhin.
Asked during a press briefing about Prigozhin’s whereabouts after hestruck a deal to call off his march on Moscow and leave for Belarus, Peskov said, “No, I don’t know.”
Peskov also said he “cannot answer the question” of what position Prigozhin will take in Belarus and what he will be doing there.
A new video posted on Telegram and geolocated and confirmed by CNN showed Prigozhin leaving a Russian military headquarters in the southern Russian city of Rostov-on-Don.
US Secretary of State Antony Blinken on Saturday called Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba, Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan and Polish Foreign Minister Zbigniew Rau to discuss the situation in Russia, according to statements from State Department.
Blinken reiterated that the US will stay in close coordination with allies and partners as the situation develops. He also underscored that US support for Ukraine will not change.
What we know: Wagner boss Yevgeny Prigozhin on Fridayaccused Russia’s military of attacking a Wagner camp and killing a “huge amount” of his men. He vowed to retaliate with force, insinuating that his forces would “destroy” any resistance, including roadblocks and aircraft.
By Saturday, Prigozhin announced that he wasturning his forces around from a march toward Moscow shortly after the Belarusian government claimed President Alexander Lukashenko had reached a deal with Prigozhin to halt the advance. Prigozhin said the move was in accordance with an unspecified plan and intended to avoid Russian bloodshed.
Wagner private military company boss Yevgeny Prigozhin has left Russian military headquarters in Rostov-on-Don in southwestern Russia, new video shows.
The video, posted to Telegram, and geolocated and authenticated by CNN, shows Prigozhin sitting in the backseat of a vehicle. Crowds cheer and the vehicle comes to a stop as an individual approaches it and shakes Prigozhin’s hand.
He is heard saying “All the best” to the people gathered before the vehicle drives off.
Russian state media outlet RIA Novosti quoted an unnamed eyewitness that said Prigozhin left the headquarters “with the fighters.”
It’s the first time Prigozhin has been seen in public since he announced that his troops would “turn back” from Moscow and return to “field camps.” It is unclear where Prigozhin is currently en route to, but per the apparent deal, he is expected to besent to Belarus and not face any criminal charges.
The video follows other clips posted to Telegram, also geolocated and authenticated by CNN, that show Wagner forces withdrawing from their positions at the military headquarters, crowds surrounding a Wagner vehicle convoy and people cheering the forces after it was announced they would turn back.
Before the Wagner forces were seen leaving, video from Russian state media outlet RIA Novosti showed a Russian military police vehicle arriving at the military headquarters.
Former Russian member of Parliament Sergey Markov described Wagner private military company boss Yevgeny Prigozhin as “extremely aggressive” but said he was never a threat to Putin.
“They support Prigozhin fighting against Ukrainian army but not against Vladimir Putin,” Markov told CNN’s Christiane Amanpour late Saturday local time, citing Putin’s popularity now being at “about 80%.”
Markov said that it was “really good news” that Prigozhin had ordered Wagner mercenary columns to turn back from an advance toward Moscow, adding that “a lot of Moscow are happy about this.”
Markov told Amanpour that he had been expecting a deal like the one allegedly negotiated by Belarusian President Lukashenko to happen, as both Russian sides in the conflict were “in a deadlock.”
“That’s why a lot of Russian militarists see Wagner fighters not as enemies but as real heroes because they don’t want to take part in the military clashes between them,” Markov said.
In a conference call with reporters, Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov provided details about what he described as an agreement struck with Yevgeny Prigozhin, the boss of the Wagner private military company, to halt a march of his forces toward Moscow.
“An agreement was reached on the return of PMC Wagner to their locations. Part of those who will wish to do so, will sign contracts with the Ministry of Defense — this concerns those who did not take part in the march, indeed, there were such formations which, from the very beginning, changed their minds and returned. They even requested to be escorted by the traffic police and other assistance in order to return to their permanent locations,” he said.
Wagner fighters will not face legal action for taking part in the march, Peskov added, saying that the Kremlin has “always respected their heroic deeds” on the front lines in Ukraine.
Prighozhin has provided scant details about his agreement to about-face. Peskov said Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko was able to draw on a personal relationship with Prigozhin to broker the deal.
“The fact is that Alexander Grigoryevich [Lukashenko] has known Prigozhin personally for a long time, for about 20 years,” Peskov said. “And it was his personal proposal, which was agreed with Putin. We are grateful to the President of Belarus for these efforts.”
Earlier this month, Prigozhin hadrefused to sign contracts with Russia’s Defense Ministry, rejecting an attempt to bring his force in line. The defense ministry said that “volunteer units” and private military groups would be required to sign a contract.
Criminal charges against Wagner boss Yevgeny Prigozhin will be dropped and he will be sent to neighboring Belarus, according to Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov.
“You will ask me what will happen to Prigozhin personally?” Peskov said in a conference call with reporters Saturday. “The criminal case will be dropped against him. He himself will go to Belarus.”
Peskov’s office later added in a text message to journalists that Prigozhin has a guarantee from Russian President Vladimir Putin to leave the country as part of the deal brokered to halt the march of Wagner forces toward Moscow.
“If you ask what kind of guarantee there is that Prigozhin will be able to leave for Belarus, this is the word of the President of Russia,” Peskov’s office said. “The counter-terrorist operation regime will be lifted in the nearest future.”
Earlier Saturday, the Russian National Anti-Terrorism Committee announced the introduction of a “counter-terrorist operation regime” in Moscow, as well as the Moscow region and Voronezh region. Moscow’s mayor also declared Monday a“non-working day.”
After previouslyrefusing to surrender, Wagner private military company chief Yevgeny Prigozhin announced his forces wereturning around from amarch toward Moscow.
The announcement comes as the Belarusian government claimed President Alexander Lukashenko had reached a deal with the Wagner boss to halt the march of his forces on Moscow. Prigozhin said the move was in accordance with an unspecified plan and intended to avoid Russian bloodshed.
If you’re just now reading in, here’s what you should know:
How we got here:Prigozhin on Fridayaccused Russia’s military of attacking a Wagner camp and killing a “huge amount” of his men. He vowed to retaliate with force, insinuating that his forces would “destroy” any resistance, including roadblocks and aircraft.
By Saturday, Igor Artamonov, governor of the southwestern Russian region of Lipetsk, said Wagner equipment wasmoving across the region’s territory. Russian military also carried out “combat measures” in the southern Russia city ofVoronezh, the region’s governor said, in light of Prigozhin’s claim Saturday to have seized control of key military facilities in the Voronezh and Rostov regions.
Precautions taken:Artamonov said authorities in Lipetsk were “taking all necessary measures to ensure the safety of the population” as he implied that roads had been dug up by Wagner fighters. In Moscow, Mayor Sergei Sobyaninconfirmed that a “counter-terrorist regime” was declared in the city and also declared Monday a “non-working day.” Russian authorities earlieroffered amnesty to Wagner mercenaries who agreed to lay down their arms, a lawmaker from the State Duma told Russian state media TASS on Saturday.
What others are saying:Former Russian President and Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev, who currently serves as the deputy chairman of Russia’s Security Council, accused Wagner of a “staged coup d’état,” Russian state media RIA Novosti reported on Saturday. Meanwhile, US President Joe Biden and allies reaffirmed their “unwavering support for Ukraine” in a call with leaders of France, Germany and the United Kingdom Saturday about the situation in Russia.
Since Prigozhin’s announcement to stand down, Putin and Lukashenkohad a phone call to discuss “the results of negotiations” with Prigozhin, according to the Belarusian presidential press service. Putin thanked Lukashenko, the press service said.
Ukraine’s reaction: In his nightly address, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyclaimed Putin is “very afraid,” saying that the Russian president is “probably hiding somewhere, not showing himself.”
What else is going on: Ukrainian forces launchedsimultaneous counteroffensives in multiple directions, according to Ukraine’s Deputy Defense Minister Hanna Maliar. She said that “there is progress in all directions” without giving any further detail.
Earlier Saturday, Ukraine claimed it hadtaken back territory in the east that was held by Russia since it annexed Crimea in 2014. Ukrainian forces claim to have taken the area prior to the apparent Wagner insurrection but only announced it Saturday. CNN cannot independently verify battlefield reports.
Here’s the latest map of control:
