As part of a deal to defuse rebellion tensions, neither Yevgeny Prigozhin nor his troops will face criminal charges.
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Good evening. If you're just joining for the first time and want a quick snapshot of what's been going on, here's the key points to get you all caught up:
- Wagner boss Prigozhin says his forces are stopping their march on Moscow to avoid bloodshed
- Wagner paramilitary forces were earlier driving north on the main highway towards Moscow, where new security measures had been put in place, and local residents were told not to travel.
- The Kremlin accused the boss of private paramilitary company Wagner of attempting to stage a coup.
- Yevgeny Prigozhin insisted his forces were "patriots" who had the support of the Russian people.
- Prigozhin said his Wagner troops captured the Russian army HQ in Rostov-on-Don without firing a shot
- In a speech to the nation, Vladimir Putin described Wagner's actions as a "stab in the back."
- Ukraine's President Zelenskyy says that in Russia there's "so much chaos, no lie can hide it."
Deal reached to avoid bloodbath - Kremlin
The Russian presidency and Wagner leader Yevgeny Prigozhin reached an agreement, after a day of spectacular armed rebellion by paramilitaries from the Wagner group, "to avoid a bloodbath", Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov has said.
"It was in the best interest to avoid a bloodbath," Mr Peskov told reporters, after Prigozhin ordered his men who were marching towards Moscow to turn around and go back.
Wagner fighters leave Rostov
Wagner group fighters, who occupied the Russian military headquarters in Rostov, in the south-west of Russia, since Saturday morning, have begun to leave this evening, an AFP journalist has reported.
Wagner fighters were leaving in minibuses, while the positioned tanks had not yet moved, according to the journalist.
Russian leadership has no control over anything - Zelenskyy
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said Wagner's rebellion showed that "the Russian leadership has no control over anything".
"The Kremlin man is obviously very scared and probably hiding somewhere," he said.
His army claimed on Saturday "advances in all directions" on the eastern front where it claims to have launched new offensives.
Wagner boss says march on Moscow halted to avoid bloodshed
The head of the Wagner group Yevgeny Prigozhin says he has ordered his mercenaries to halt their march on Moscow and retreat to their field camps in Ukraine to avoid bloodshed.
Moscow had braced for the arrival of the private army led by the rebellious commander.
Prigozhin said that while his men are just 200 kilometers (120 miles) from Moscow, he decided to turn them back to avoid “shedding Russian blood.”
Belarusian President Lukashenko claims to have negotiated with Wagner's Prigozhin to stop movement of troops
The Belarusian president says he negotiated with the head of the Wagner group, Evgeny Prigozhin, to stop the movements of his troops in Russia and to avoid any further escalation.
"Evgeny Prigozhin has accepted the proposal of the President of Belarus Alexander Lukashenko to stop the movements of the armed men of the Wagner society and measures for a de-escalation of tensions", according to the unofficial Telegram channel of the Belarusian presidency.
Putin is very scared: Zelenskyy
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy says Vladimir Putin "is obviously very scared" of the Wagner Group rebellion and that he is "probably hiding somewhere" outside Moscow.
"The man from the Kremlin is obviously very scared and is probably hiding somewhere. I'm sure he is no longer in Moscow," he said in his daily address.
"Today the world has seen that the Russian leadership has no control over anything. Nothing at all. It's total chaos," he said.
Meanwhile Ukraine announced advances in several directions of the Eastern Front
Kremlin official warns about nuclear safety
A senior Kremlin official has warned that a successful rebellion by the Wagner group would mean the mercenaries getting hold of Russia’s vast nuclear arsenal and raise an existential threat to the entire world.
“The history of mankind hasn’t yet seen the largest arsenal of nuclear weapons under control by bandits,” Dmitry Medvedev, the deputy head of Russia’s Security Council chaired by President Vladimir Putin, said in remarks carried by Russian news agencies. “Such a crisis will not be limited by just one country’s borders, the world will be put on the brink of destruction.”
He added that “we won’t allow such a turn of events.”
Medvedev has frequently used hardline rhetoric since Russia sent troops into Ukraine, regularly reminding the West about Russia’s nuclear arsenal in a bid to discourage the US and its allies from ramping up weapons supplies to Kyiv.
Medvedev described the rebellion as a “well-planned operation aimed at seizing power in the country.” He claimed that some veterans of elite Russian military units and foreign actors could have been involved in it. (AP)
Mayor of Moscow says residents should limit their movements
The mayor of Moscow has advised residents to limit their movements and admitted on Saturday evening that the situation was "difficult" in the Russian capital.
Forces from the Wagner paramilitary group are travelling towards the Russian capital, and the mayor has declared Monday a non-working day to limit travel.
"The situation is difficult," Sergei Sobyanin admitted bluntly. "In order to minimize the risks (...), I have decided to declare Monday a day off", except for certain activities and municipal services, added the mayor.
He called on Muscovites to "limit as much as possible" their movements in the city and warned that traffic could be "blocked" on certain roads and in certain neighborhoods. (AFP)
Russia tightens security in several regions as Wagner troops advance
Security in a number of Russian regions was tightened as authorities sought to thwart an armed rebellion spearheaded by mercenary chief Yevgeny Prigozhin.
There was tighter security particularly in areas between the southern city of Rostov-on-Don, where Prigozhin’s Wagner group appeared to control military headquarters, and Moscow.
The governor of the Lipetsk region asked residents to stay at home and refrain from travelling. Governor Igor Artamonov said on Telegram that Wagner had entered the province but “the situation is under control.”
In the neighboring Tambov region, mass events were canceled Saturday.
Those events included high school graduation parties. Russia’s Education Ministry said such parties were being postponed until 1 July in Moscow, the region around the capital and “a number of other regions where additional anti-terrorist measures have been introduced.”
In the capital, traffic on the Moscow River was suspended. Police officers in bulletproof vests and with machine guns were seen near the entrance of the major highway that links Moscow with Voronezh and Rostov–on-Don. (AP)
Latvia seals its border with Russia
Latvian President-elect Edgars Rinkēvičs announced on Saturday that his country has tightened security at its borders, in the face of the ongoing mutiny in Russia, and that it will no longer allow Russians to enter its territory.
"Latvia is closely following the developing situation in Russia and exchanging information with allies," Rinkēvičs wrote on Twitter Saturday afternoon.
"Border security has been strengthened, visa or border entry from Russians leaving Russia due to current events won't be considered," he added.
Wagner boss on FBI's 'Most Wanted' Russians list
Yevgeny Prigozhin, leader of Russia's notorious Wagner mercenary group, is wanted by the FBI in America for allegedly interfering in the 2016 US election that saw Donald Trump enter the White House.
Described as a "deeply disreputable character", the former hot dog seller rose up the ranks doing the Kremlin’s bidding, be it using his private militia for shady business on the African content or waging war in Ukraine.
Read more about Prigozhin, and the other 'most wanted' Russians on the FBI list, at our story here:
Italy: Aggression against Ukraine 'provoking instability in Russia'
Italian PM Giorgia Meloni says she is monitoring events in Russia, and that they underline “how the aggression against Ukraine is provoking instability within the Russian Federation.”
Meloni told reporters in Austria on Saturday that the situation in Russia is hard to evaluate.
She said that “it is a very chaotic situation inside the Russian Federation, that is out of tune with certain propaganda we have seen in recent months.” (AP)
Chechen leader sending fighters to Russia to help Putin
Chechen leader Ramzan Kadyrov announced on Saturday that he would send fighters to "areas of tension" in Russia, as Kremlin forces face an armed rebellion from troops loyal to the Wagner paramilitary group.
“The Chechen Ministry of Defense and National Guard fighters have already gone to the areas of tension. We will do everything to preserve the unity of Russia and protect its statehood,” Mr. Kadyrov, whose men were very active in the Russian offensive in Ukraine."
The "areas of tension" those Chechens are headed to could be Rostov-on-Don, an important city on a key supply route into Ukraine, which has seemingly been easily captured by Wagner. (AFP)
Wagner says it took Russian army HQ in Rostov 'without firing a shot'
The leader of the Russian paramilitary group Wagner says his forces have captured the headquarters of the Russian army in Rostov-on-Don without a shot being fired.
Yevgeny Prigozhin says he has the support of the people in his military uprising against the Kremlin.
"Why does the country support us? Because we are marching for justice," Prigozhin said, even as Russian President Vladimir Putin accused him of treason.
"We entered Rostov, and without firing a single shot, we took the headquarters building," he wrote on Telegram. (AFP)
Wagner boss: 'We are patriots', as his forces hold several key locations and clash with Moscow's troops
The head of Russia's Wagner paramilitary group denied allegations by President Vladimir Putin that he is betraying his country and called his fighters patriots.
In an audio message on his Telegram channel, Wagner chief Yevgeny Prigozhin said: “Regarding the betrayal of the motherland, the president was deeply mistaken. We are patriots of our homeland.”
He said his fighters would not turn themselves in at the request of Putin, as “we do not want the country to live on in corruption, deceit and bureaucracy.”
Putin said in televised address to the nation earlier on Saturday that “all those who prepared the rebellion will suffer inevitable punishment.” He said that “the armed forces and other government agencies have received the necessary orders.” (AP)
Putin reaches out to Kazakh president for support
Vladimir Putin has called Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart to give an update on the situation in Russia.
That's according to a read-out of the call from the Kazakh president's office - the Kremlin so far hasn't mentioned the call.
President Tokayev "noted that the ongoing events are an internal affair of Russia," and said that the basis for security in society is maintenance of law and order.
"President Vladimir Putin thanked for Kazakhstan's understanding of the current situation in the Russian Federation," the read-out notes.
Analysts have speculated that Putin was perhaps reaching out to the Kazakhs for support, but were told the issue is an internal matter, and did not promise any assistance or support. (Euronews)
Zelenskyy: 'So much chaos, no lie can hide it'
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has mad his first public comments about the situation unfolding in Russia, where forces loyal to Wager paramilitary boss Yevgeny Prigozhin have taken over the key city of Rostov-on-Don in the south of the country, and are engaged with Russian forces between there and Moscow.
"Everyone who chooses the path of evil destroys himself," Zelenskyy wrote on Twitter.
"For a long time, Russia used propaganda to mask its weakness and the stupidity of its government. And now there is so much chaos that no lie can hide it."
Estonia advises any remaining citizens to leave Russia
Estonia's foreign ministry is advising any last remaining citizens to leave Russia "at the earliest opportunity."
The call comes amid ongoing turmoil in Russia, with forces loyal to Wagner paramilitary boss Yevgeny Prigozhin challenging the Moscow regime in an armed uprising.
"We are aware of what is happening, we are following the situation closely and exchanging information with Allies." Estonia's foreign minister Margus Tsahkna wrote on Twitter, Saturday morning.
On its website, the foreign ministry said it "reiterates its recommendation to avoid travelling to Russia. Estonian citizens who are temporarily in Russia are advised to return to Estonia at the earliest opportunity."
Russian officials rally to support President Putin
Officials across Russia have rallied behind President Vladimir Putin, publicly reiterating their allegiance to the Kremlin and urging mercenary leader Yevgeny Prigozhin to back down.
Vyacheslav Volodin, the speaker of Russia’s lower house of parliament, the State Duma, said that lawmakers “stand for the consolidation of forces” and support Putin after his address to the nation on Saturday.
He added that fighters from Prigozhin’s Wagner group “must make the only right choice: to be with their people, on the side of the law, to protect the security and future of the Motherland, to follow the orders of the Commander-in-Chief.”
Maria Zakharova, Russia’s Foreign Ministry spokesperson, said in a Telegram post that “we have one commander in chief. Not two, not three. One. And he urged everyone to unite.”
Ramzan Kadyrov, the leader of the Chechnya who in the past has sided with Prigozhin in his criticism of the military leadership, also expressed his full support for “every word of” Putin. He said that “the mutiny needs to be suppressed.”
So far, no Russian official has spoken out in support of Prigozhin. (AP)
How Wagner uses social media to recruit all over the world
Read more at our story here:
Russia carrying out 'combat operations' on home soil
The Russian army is carrying out "combat" operations on Saturday in the Voronezh region, bordering Ukraine and located some 600km south of Moscow, local authorities reported, in the midst of an armed rebellion from the paramilitary group Wagner.
“As part of the anti-terrorist operation on the territory of the Voronezh region, the armed forces of the Russian Federation are carrying out necessary operational and combat actions,” regional governor Alexander Gusev said on Telegram.
Voronezh is about halfway between Moscow and the city of Rostov, where Wagner claimed the first capture of Russian military infrastructure early Saturday. (AFP)
Russian opposition figure: 'Anti-war Russians should support Wagner chief'
Russian opposition leader Mikhail Khodorkovsky says that he thinks anti-war Russians "should support" Wagner chief Yevgeny Prigozhin.
Writing on Twitter in English, Khodorkovsky said "he's no ally of ours, and this support will be very temporary and conditional, but his march is a huge blow to Putin's legitimacy, and anything that fractures the regime is good." (Euronews)
Putin talks with Lukashenko about Wagner rebellion
Russian President Vladimir Putin has spoken on the phone Saturday with his counterpart in Belarus, Alexander Lukashenko, according to the Belarussian state news agency Belta.
This is believed to be the first international contact Putin has had since the start of what the Kremlin calls an attempted coup against the government.
"The Russian president called the Belarusian president this morning" to inform him "about the situation in Russia," Belta said, quoting Lukashenko's press service." (AFP)
French and German governments following Russia situation 'closely'
French President Emmanuel Macron is following the unfolding events in Russia on Saturday "closely."
A brief statement issued by the Elysee Palace said "the President is following the situation closely. We remain focused on supporting Ukraine."
And in Berlin, the government there says it "is closely following events in Russia." (AFP)
Latest UK intelligence assessment: More Wagner forces heading to Moscow
The UK's Ministry of Defence has released its latest intelligence assessment with a focus on the Wagner paramilitary forces, and say that more paramilitary fighters could be heading to the Russian capital.
"Further Wagner units are moving north through Vorenezh Oblast, almost certainly aiming to get to Moscow. With very limited evidence of fighting between Wagner and Russian security forces, some have likely remained passive, acquiescing to Wagner," the MoD said Saturday morning.
"Over the coming hours, the loyalty of Russia’s security forces, and especially the Russian National Guard, will be key to how the crisis plays out. This represents the most significant challenge to the Russian state in recent times." (Euronews)
'Unconfirmed information circulating' about Russia situation, says Finnish president
The President of Finland, Sauli Niinistö said on Saturday morning that "the situation in Russia is unclear and there is a lot of unconfirmed information circulating."
In comments to the STT Finnish news agency, Niinistö, whose country shares the EU's longest border with Russia, said "this is an internal Russian matter, the development of which is closely monitored both in Finland and elsewhere."
Referring to a Saturday morning speech that Putin made, Niinistö said it "shows the seriousness of the situation." (STT)
Putin denounces 'stab in the back' from Wagner
Russian President Vladimir Putin has denounced a "stab in the back" by the Wagner paramilitary forces, and accuses Wagner boss Yevgeny Prigozhin of "betraying Russia" because of his "excessive ambitions."
The comments came during a live address to the Russian people by Putin, after a night of unprecedented challenges to his regime, and Putin described events as "a deadly threat" to the Russian state.
Prigozhin used a series of social media posts to call for an armed rebellion aimed at ousting Russia’s defense minister, and confirmed Saturday morning that he and his troops have reached a key Russian city after crossing the border from Ukraine.
The Russian Defense Ministry denounced the actions as a “criminal venture” and called on Wagner fighters to return to their deployment point. The ministry said it would ensure their safety.
Prigozhin posted a video of himself in Rostov-on-Don at the Russian military headquarters that oversees the fighting in Ukraine. He claimed that his forces had military facilities in the city under their control, including the air field. Other videos posted on social media showed military vehicles, including tanks, on the streets outside.
Prigozhin said early Saturday that his forces had crossed into Russia from Ukraine and had reached Rostov, adding that they faced no resistance from young conscripts at checkpoints and that his forces “aren’t fighting against children.” (AFP, AP)
Vladimir Putin addresses the nation on 'coup attempt'
Russian President Vladimir Putin is addressing the nation Saturday, after mercenary chief Yevgeny Prigozhin called for armed rebellion and reached a key Russian city with his troops.
Prigozhin, owner of the Wagner private military company, has claimed that his forces had military facilities in Russia’s southern city of Rostov-on-Don under their control.
“We will destroy anyone who stands in our way,” Prigozhin said in one of a series of angry video and audio recordings posted on social media beginning late Friday. “We are moving forward and will go until the end.”
Russia’s security services had responded to Prigozhin’s declaration of an armed rebellion by calling for his arrest. In a sign of how seriously the Kremlin took the threat, security was heightened in Moscow, Rostov-on-Don and other regions. It was not immediately clear how he was able to enter the southern Russian city or how many troops he had with him. (AP)