On Monday, Russian defense minister Sergei Shoigu made his first public appearance and visits Russian troops in Ukraine following the Wagner group mutiny.
Image source: Russian Defense Ministry Press Service via AP
Russian news agencies reported that Yevgeny Prigozhin, the leader of the Wagner Group, a group of mercenaries, continues to be under investigation for his involvement in leading an armed rebellion against top Russian military leaders and President Vladimir Putin. The case against him continues to remain open and
Background of the Russian coup.
Prigozhin has been openly critical of the Russian military establishment, declaring on Friday his intention to seek “revenge” following an alleged attack by the Russian military on his organization’s facility in Ukraine.
Following the Russian attack, Yevgeny Prigozhin, the leader of the Russian mercenary group Wagner, initiated an armed uprising with the objective of removing Russia’s defense minister and started advancing toward Moscow. However, when they approached within 200 km of the capital, Prigozhin instructed his troops to retreat in order to prevent unnecessary violence. Prior to this, Prigozhin had claimed that his mercenaries had taken control of all military installations in the southern city of Rostov-on-Don and had also been deployed in Voronezh as they made their way northward towards Moscow.
In an emergency televised address on Saturday, Russian President Vladimir Putin declared the rebellion led by the Wagner Group mercenaries a “stab in the back” to Russia. He referred to the uprising as an “armed mutiny” and emphasized that it constituted an act of treason. President Putin further declared that individuals involved in the revolt against the Russian military would face punishment for their actions.
The Wagner mutiny has raised questions about President Vladimir Putin’s grip on power and what follows for the country. The Belarusian President, Alexander Lukashenko, played a role in mediating a deal between Prigozhin, a former close ally of Putin, and the Kremlin and effectively halted the Wagner Group’s march towards Moscow.
UK PM Rishi Sunak addresses concerns over the Russian mutiny.
Prime Minister Rishi Sunak affirmed that the United Kingdom is ready to handle various potential scenarios in Russia. He emphasized that the tensions between the Wagner Group and President Vladimir Putin could have a destabilizing impact, and therefore, the UK is closely monitoring the situation. Sunak’s statement reflects the UK’s awareness of the complex dynamics at play and its commitment to adapt and respond accordingly to ensure stability and security.
Sunak has called on all parties involved in Russia to act responsibly and ensure the safety of civilians. This statement comes as mercenaries affiliated with the Wagner group seize military installations from the Russian government, and Vladimir Putin vows to take action against those responsible for the uprising.
Sunak stated that the UK is closely monitoring the unfolding events. He emphasized that it is too early to predict the exact consequences of these developments but assured that the UK is prepared for various scenarios, as is customary. Sunak also acknowledged that the situation has been under analysis and monitoring for some time due to concerns about the destabilizing impact of Russia’s illegal war in Ukraine and the tensions between the Wagner Group and the Putin administration.
During a meeting in Luxembourg, European foreign ministers made a commitment to provide additional military support to Ukraine in the wake of the recent armed rebellion in Russia.
The leaders reached an agreement to raise the EU’s military assistance fund for Ukraine by approximately 3.5 billion euros ($3.8 billion), bringing the total amount to around 12 billion euros for the upcoming years. This financial boost aims to enhance Ukraine’s defense capabilities and reinforce its position in the ongoing conflict.
