Russia seeks to show Prigozhin’s Wagner ‘treason’ with Shoigu’s return to Ukrainian war commander
There was an uneasy calm on Monday as Russian state television tried to report what was normal in neighboring Ukraine with President Vladimir Putin’s ongoing war. But Putin’s strong man image definitely looked weaker after a short period of time. a prominent challenge to his authority with his longtime colleague over the weekend, Evgeny Prigogine, boss of the Wagner Mercenariesraised an apparent rebellion and threatened to march to Moscow.
Tensions have escalated between Prigozhin and senior Russian military officials for weeks, with businessman Prigozhin regularly posting videotaped rants on social media, accusing senior generals of incompetence and, at best, traitors. Was. But on Saturday, his verbal warfare against the Russian upper echelon exploded into rebellion.
A US official confirmed to CBS News that members of Prigozhin’s private army were on the move to Moscow on Saturday morning, while Wagner’s boss himself said the main target was Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu. made it clear that and Chief of the General Staff Valery Gerasimov.
Wagner’s forces were able to quickly and without a fight take control of the southwestern city of Rostov-on-Don, home to the headquarters of the Russian Southern Army, which orchestrated the war in Ukraine.
On Russian state television, Putin attacked Wagner’s actions as “stabbed in the back” and vowed to crush the “rebellion”.
But just hours after Prigozhin declared an uprising against the Russian military leadership in a series of social media videos, typically in vague terms, as Wagner’s forces nimbly approached Moscow, he said: . accepted the agreement intermediary Putin’s ally Alexander Lukashenkothe authoritarian leader of Belarus, to turn his subordinates and stop the rebellion.
Under the terms of this agreement, which the Kremlin never confirmed, but which Prigozhin and Lukashenko’s offices discussed in a statement, Wagner’s forces would receive an amnesty and return to their bases to continue the war in Ukraine on Russia’s behalf, Prigogine faces criminal charges. If dismissed, he would remain in exile in Belarus.
As he left Rostov in a motorcade, the inhabitants gave Prigozhin and his failed rebels a heroic farewell. When Prigozhin left, he smiled and even took a selfie with the residents.
On Monday, Russian officials seemed eager to quell the apparent civil unrest and show that things were returning to normal. Officials said the criminal case filed against Prigozhin on Saturday had not yet been dropped, at least not yet, but state television aired footage of Mr Shoigu calmly commanding the Russian army in full command. .
However, it is unclear when the footage of the defense minister meeting with the military, which aired without sound, was actually filmed, and there was no mention of Gerasimov’s whereabouts in state media.
The Kremlin has said nothing about senior personnel changes, except to explain that such decisions are the sole personal responsibility of Putin.
Prigozin, meanwhile, released a new video statement on Monday, defining his actions as “protests” and insisting his aim was “not to overthrow the domestic government.” He said his motive was to prevent the forced dissolution of the Wagner Group, which he said was decided by Russian leaders “as a result of conspiracy and hasty decisions”.
“We felt that it was enough to prove that we wanted to,” Mr. Prigozhin said, again trying to explain why he stopped the march to Moscow.
But in what appears to be the gravest challenge yet to the Russian leadership’s authority, Ukrainian forces have taken advantage of the cross-border turmoil to push an ongoing counteroffensive to the invasion, with troops pulling Russian forces near the town of Bakhmut. more trenches were removed.
US Secretary of State Anthony Blinken He told CBS News’ “Face the Nation” on Sunday. He predicted that the Russian situation was “an unfolding story” and that the world had yet to “see the final performance” of Prigogine or Wagner.
“We are watching very closely and closely,” said Mr. Blinken, adding that although Prigogine’s whereabouts could not be traced, U.S. intelligence agencies are “tracking.”
a A CBS News investigation reveals Earlier this year, the Wagner Group was funding the Ukrainian war machine, and possibly Russia as well, and as part of it has been looting the natural resources of countries across Africa, often It was revealed that he had received an invitation from an undemocratic leader on the African continent.
“My research and analysis of Wagner in Africa over the past five years has shown me that this group is resilient, creative, fearless and predatory, so that the Wagnerian empire can quickly emerge like a house of cards. It means that it is unlikely to collapse in 2020,” Natalia said. Mr. Dukann is an expert on Wagner, Sentrytold CBS News on Monday.
“No one can predict exactly what will happen tomorrow or in the next few months,” Ducan said, adding that the situation was “extremely precarious”.
But she said, “When the Ukrainian War broke out and Russia withdrew Wagnerian mercenaries from the Central African Republic and other countries to support Putin’s invasion, many believed that this was the end of Wagner’s potential in Africa. Instead, we documented the Wagnerian mutation.” It has become a more aggressive, predatory and deadly monster, expanding its terrorist activities and gaining an even stronger hold in Africa. “
Justin Redman of CBS News, Dnipro, Ukraine and Sarah Carter of Johannesburg, South Africa contributed to this report.
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There was an uneasy calm on Monday as Russian state television tried to report what was normal in neighboring Ukraine with President Vladimir Putin’s ongoing war. But Putin’s strong man image definitely looked weaker after a short period of time. a prominent challenge to his authority with his longtime colleague over the weekend, Evgeny Prigogine, boss of the Wagner Mercenariesraised an apparent rebellion and threatened to march to Moscow.Tensions have escalated between Prigozhin and senior Russian military officials for weeks, with businessman Prigozhin regularly posting videotaped rants on social media, accusing senior generals of incompetence and, at best, traitors. Was. But on Saturday, his verbal warfare against the Russian upper echelon exploded into rebellion. A US official confirmed to CBS News that members of Prigozhin’s private army were on the move to Moscow on Saturday morning, while Wagner’s boss himself said the main target was Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu. made it clear that and Chief of the General Staff Valery Gerasimov.
Wagner’s forces were able to quickly and without a fight take control of the southwestern city of Rostov-on-Don, home to the headquarters of the Russian Southern Army, which orchestrated the war in Ukraine.On Russian state television, Putin attacked Wagner’s actions as “stabbed in the back” and vowed to crush the “rebellion”.
Former U.S. Ambassador to Russia John Sullivan Says Putin Wagner Ceasefire Is ‘Evidence of Weakness’ for Putin
06:34
But just hours after Prigozhin declared an uprising against the Russian military leadership in a series of social media videos, typically in vague terms, as Wagner’s forces nimbly approached Moscow, he said: . accepted the agreement intermediary Putin’s ally Alexander Lukashenkothe authoritarian leader of Belarus, to turn his subordinates and stop the rebellion.
Under the terms of this agreement, which the Kremlin never confirmed, but which Prigozhin and Lukashenko’s offices discussed in a statement, Wagner’s forces would receive an amnesty and return to their bases to continue the war in Ukraine on Russia’s behalf, Prigogine faces criminal charges. If dismissed, he would remain in exile in Belarus.As he left Rostov in a motorcade, the inhabitants gave Prigozhin and his failed rebels a heroic farewell. When Prigozhin left, he smiled and even took a selfie with the residents.
Wagner Group chief Evgeny Prigozhin is seen leaving the Southern Military District Headquarters in Rostov-on-Don, Russia June 24, 2023.
Stringer/Anadolu Agency/Getty
On Monday, Russian officials seemed eager to quell the apparent civil unrest and show that things were returning to normal. Officials said the criminal case filed against Prigozhin on Saturday had not yet been dropped, at least not yet, but state television aired footage of Mr Shoigu calmly commanding the Russian army in full command. .However, it is unclear when the footage of the defense minister meeting with the military, which aired without sound, was actually filmed, and there was no mention of Gerasimov’s whereabouts in state media.
The Kremlin has said nothing about senior personnel changes, except to explain that such decisions are the sole personal responsibility of Putin.Prigozin, meanwhile, released a new video statement on Monday, defining his actions as “protests” and insisting his aim was “not to overthrow the domestic government.” He said his motive was to prevent the forced dissolution of the Wagner Group, which he said was decided by Russian leaders “as a result of conspiracy and hasty decisions”.”We felt that it was enough to prove that we wanted to,” Mr. Prigozhin said, again trying to explain why he stopped the march to Moscow.
Ukraine launches strike as Wagner revolts
03:19
But in what appears to be the gravest challenge yet to the Russian leadership’s authority, Ukrainian forces have taken advantage of the cross-border turmoil to push an ongoing counteroffensive to the invasion, with troops pulling Russian forces near the town of Bakhmut. more trenches were removed.US Secretary of State Anthony Blinken He told CBS News’ “Face the Nation” on Sunday. He predicted that the Russian situation was “an unfolding story” and that the world had yet to “see the final performance” of Prigogine or Wagner.”We are watching very closely and closely,” said Mr. Blinken, adding that although Prigogine’s whereabouts could not be traced, U.S. intelligence agencies are “tracking.”
Secretary of State Anthony Brinken says ‘we haven’t seen the final act yet’ on Russia’s Wagner Rebellion
08:42
a A CBS News investigation reveals Earlier this year, the Wagner Group was funding the Ukrainian war machine, and possibly Russia as well, and as part of it has been looting the natural resources of countries across Africa, often It was revealed that he had received an invitation from an undemocratic leader on the African continent.
“My research and analysis of Wagner in Africa over the past five years has shown me that this group is resilient, creative, fearless and predatory, so that the Wagnerian empire can quickly emerge like a house of cards. It means that it is unlikely to collapse in 2020,” Natalia said. Mr. Dukann is an expert on Wagner, Sentrytold CBS News on Monday.
Russia’s Wagner Group accused of massacres hidden from the world
05:01
“No one can predict exactly what will happen tomorrow or in the next few months,” Ducan said, adding that the situation was “extremely precarious”.But she said, “When the Ukrainian War broke out and Russia withdrew Wagnerian mercenaries from the Central African Republic and other countries to support Putin’s invasion, many believed that this was the end of Wagner’s potential in Africa. Instead, we documented the Wagnerian mutation.” It has become a more aggressive, predatory and deadly monster, expanding its terrorist activities and gaining an even stronger hold in Africa. “Justin Redman of CBS News, Dnipro, Ukraine and Sarah Carter of Johannesburg, South Africa contributed to this report.
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Ian Lee
Ian Lee is a London-based CBS News correspondent and reporter for CBS News, CBS NewsPass and the CBS News Streaming Network. Lee, who joined CBS News in March 2019, is an award-winning journalist who has received an Emmy Award, a Peabody Award, and investigative reporter and editor Tom Renner for his work covering major international stories. He has won some of journalism’s highest honors, including awards.
https://www.cbsnews.com/news/russia-wagner-ukraine-prigozhin-rebellion-putin-state-tv-shows-shoigu/ Russia seeks to show Prigozhin’s Wagner ‘treason’ with Shoigu’s return to Ukrainian war commander