'Failed' Russian military coup: In a major development, Wagner boss Yevgeny Prigozhin, for the first time since his private army group attempted a military coup, has broken his silence and claimed that two factors played into his decision to turn around his march on Moscow.
As stated earlier, Prigozhin, in the latest audio released on Telegram, said he wanted to "avoid Russian bloodshed" and added the march was a demonstration of "protest" and "not intended to overturn power" in the country.
"Overnight, we have walked 780 kilometres (about 484 miles). Two hundred-something kilometres (about 125 miles) were left to Moscow," CNN quoted Prigozhin as saying in the latest audio released on Telegram.
“Not a single soldier on the ground was killed. We regret that we were forced to strike on aircraft," he said. "...but these aircraft dropped bombs and launched missile strikes."
Prigozhin dubs Russian defence minister's action as "unprofessional"
According to Wagner's boss, his main intention was to prevent the "destruction" of the private military company. Without naming the Russian defence minister Sergei Shoigu, he raised grave questions over his "unprofessional actions" during the ongoing war against Ukraine. He claimed that Shoigu made a huge number of mistakes in the so-called "special military operation".
Wagner's mutiny that called off within 24 hours
It is worth mentioning Russia witnessed a series of dramatic events on Saturday after Prigozhin called for mutiny-- in the latest event that demonstrated a feud between the country's official and private armies publically. Subsequently, multiple videos showed Wagner fighters capturing the city of Rostov before racing north in convoy, transporting tanks and armoured trucks and smashing through barricades set up to stop them. Later, multiple media reports also claimed oil depots and crucial buildings were blown by the private armed group.
Wagner chief Prigozhin reveals why he negotiated on Belarus President brokered deal
Subsequently, the head of the private paramilitary group announced to halt his operation against Putin after striking an apparent deal brokered by Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko. Although Prigozhin, a top and trustworthy ally of President Putin, asserted his decision came in order to avoid "bloodshed", in the latest audio, he said, "At this time, Lukashenko extended his hand and offered to find solutions for the further work of Wagner PMC in legal jurisdiction".
Russian defence minister reacted to recent coup attempt
Earlier today, Shoigu made his first public appearance after Prigozhin called for mutiny-- in the latest event that demonstrated a feud between the country's top defence officials and private armies publically. Citing the Russian Defence Ministry, the RIA News agency reported that he clarified that he would remain the defence minister, irrespective of what happened in the past two days.
During his visit to the war region on Monday, he said commanders of the Western Group of Forces have been tasked with continuing active reconnaissance "in order to reveal the "enemy's plans" in advance and prevent their implementation on the distant approaches to the line of contact."
The minister paid special attention to the organization of comprehensive support for the troops involved in the special military operation and the creation of conditions for the safe deployment of personnel. Besides, the defence minister noted the effectiveness of the West grouping in identifying and destroying military equipment and concentrations of enemy personnel.
