According to RIA Novosti, the move is in line with the deal Wagner’s chief Prigozhin and the Kremlin struck last month before Wagner’s forces put down their short-lived rebellion. After mediation by Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko, the Wagner Army halted its march on Moscow in exchange for a safe-conduct to Belarus and the dropping of charges against Prigozhin for mutiny.
Putin said after the failed uprising ended that Wagner would be dissolved in Russia and the mercenaries could sign contracts with the defense ministry, leave for Belarus or return home. It is not known how many Wagner mercenaries answered that call. Nor is it known whether or how many Wagnerians left for Belarus.
However, now Moscow seems to have mastered the group’s heavy weapons. The day before yesterday the Department of Defense released a video showing officials inspecting some of the heavy military equipment allegedly belonging to Wagner.
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There is still great uncertainty about Prigozhin’s current status or whereabouts. President Lukashenko initially said Prigozhin traveled to Minsk on June 27, but the Kremlin revealed on Monday that the warlord had met Putin in the Kremlin on June 29, five days after his mercenary fighters marched on Moscow. According to The Guardian, flight logs from Prigozhin’s private jet indicate he flew several times between Moscow and St. Petersburg, where local news channels also spotted him.
Kremlin spokesman Dmitri Peskov told reporters last week that the deal that saw Prigozhin move to Belarus remained “relevant”.
Incidentally, thousands of Wagner fighters are said to still be stationed at a Wagner camp in the Russian-occupied areas of eastern Ukraine. Several commanders said in interviews this week that they had no plans to sign contracts with the Department of Defense.
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