Wagner mercenaries turn back from Moscow as chief leaves for Belarus - updates

Here's everything that happened during an extraordinary day in Russia

• Yevgeny Prigozhin, leader of Wagner Group ordered his mercenaries to halt their march 200km (120miles) from Moscow

• The group made their advances towards the Russian city, having seized control of Rostov-on-Don in southern Russia

• Charges against Prigozhin were dropped by President Putin after the coup was stood down

• Prigozhin will move to Belarus under a deal brokered by the Belarusian president to end today's armed mutiny

• Putin had said Russia's future was at stake, describing the actions of mutineers as a "stab in the back"

  Give Ukraine western fighter jets to fight Russians, urges Boris Johnson

• Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has responded to the unfolding situation, saying: "Russia's weakness is obvious."

• Britain's Ministry of Defence had described the Wagner armed rebellion as "the most significant challenge to the Russian state in recent times"

Sunak will 'stay in close contact' with world leaders about the extraordinary events

Back here, it is understood Rishi Sunak will stay in close contact with Western allies about the extraordinary events in Russia.

The Prime Minister spoke to US president Joe Biden, French president Emmanuel Macron and German chancellor Olaf Scholz on Saturday afternoon "to discuss the situation in Russia and reiterate their continuing support for Ukrainian sovereignty", Downing Street said.

"The leaders have agreed to stay in close contact in the coming days," a No 10 spokesperson said.

It followed a meeting of the Government's emergency Cobra committee chaired by Foreign Secretary James Cleverly, who also joined a call with fellow G7 foreign ministers to discuss the fast-moving situation.

The Prime Minister had urged all parties involved in the Russian infighting to protect civilian lives (AP)

Zelenskiy address the media after today's events

Volodymyr Zelenskiy, Ukrainian President, delivered his daily video address earlier.

He said today's events had showed “that the bosses of Russia do not control anything”.

The Kremlin, he said, “showed all Russian bandits, mercenaries, oligarchs” that it is easy to “capture Russian cities and, probably, arsenals with weapons.”

Ukraine president Volodymyr Zelensky addresses the press (zelenskiy_official/Instagram)

Wagner chief leaving Russia after calling off Moscow attack as Putin drops charges

Wagner chief Yevgeny Prigozhin has left Russia for Belarus as Vladimir Putin has dropped charges.

Reports in Russian media say charges against him and his Wagner forces will be dropped by Russian authorities to avoid "bloodshed".

Full story here.

A woman shows her mobile phone as she speaks with a member of the Wagner group in the city of Rostov-on-Don (AFP via Getty Images)

Crowds cheer Wagner soldiers as they leave Rostov

Footage is emerging on social media of crowds in Rostov cheering Wagner soldiers as they leave the city.

Clips have been shared widely on Twitter this evening.

Жители Ростова провожают вагнеровцев так, «как будто бы только что посетили крутой рок-концерт», передает RostovGazeta pic.twitter.com/MsWowcsx2U

— Тайга (@tayganews) June 24, 2023

Wagner troops are packing up in Rostov

Video footage of Wagner soldiers appearing to prepare to leave has been shared online.

Yevgeny Prigozhin has accepted Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko's proposal to stop Wagner Group's advance toward Moscow.

In a surprise development, the leader of the Wagner Group confirmed he will take further steps to de-escalate tensions.

RT's correspondent on the ground in Rostov-on-Don says the Wagnerites are already packing up and preparing to leave the city. https://t.co/A3R8ukIgEo pic.twitter.com/BPbYyoJliR

— Kevin Rothrock (@KevinRothrock) June 24, 2023

Vladimir Putin thanks Belarus President

Vladimir Putin has thanked Alexander Lukashenko, Belarus President, for negotiating with Yevgeny Prigozhin, who agreed to pull back his mercenaries.

Prigozhin made the decision after talking with Lukashenko.

Lukashenko's press statement reads: “Today at 9 pm, the presidents spoke on the phone again. Belarus president has informed the Russia president in great detail about the results of his negotiations with authorities of Wagner PMC.

"President of Russia supported and thanked his Belarus colleague for the work he did."

Members of Wagner group patrol the center of Rostov-on-Don (AFP via Getty Images)

Ukraine take back land controlled by Russia since 2014

Volodymyr Zelenskyy's troops made gains near the eastern city of Bakhmut - an area taken by the Wagner mercenary group - and in an area further south.

Deputy Defence Minister Hanna Maliar said an offensive was launched near a group of villages ringing the city.

"In all these areas, we have made advances," Ms Maliar wrote.

Oleksandr Tarnavskiy, commander of the Tavria, or southern, front, said Ukrainian forces had liberated an area near Krasnohorivka, west of the Russian-held regional centre of Donetsk.

He said the area had been under Russian control since separatist forces backed by Moscow took control of it in 2014.

(MYKOLA TYMCHENKO/EPA-EFE/REX/Shutterstock)

Mercenaries got within '200km of Moscow'

Wagner chief, Yevgeny Prigozhni confirmed today that his troops have been ordered to turn back after they got within 200km of Moscow.

He said: "In 24 hours, we got to within 200 km of Moscow. In this time we did not spill a single drop of our fighters' blood."

A member of Wagner group stands guard in Rostov-on-Don (AFP via Getty Images)

Russian troops were building defensive positions

Russian troops were building defensive positions on the outskirts of Moscow before Wagner boss Yevgeny Prigozhin ordered his fighters to return to their bases.

These defences were being put in place around 100km (62m) from the outskirts of the city.

Before Prigozhin's announcement, a convoy of mercenary fighters were drawing closer to Russia's capital, with one expert saying there was some evidence they were just 100km away.

'Panicked' Putin flees Moscow to bunker in 'secret palace' after Wagner coup

Vladimir Putin and his closest friends are understood to have fled Moscow to his secret bunker after the Wagner mercenary coup.

The Russian capital remains under a terror alert tonight after Wagner group troops stormed barricades and seized control of other cities, like Rostov-on-Don.

But Putin, who has effectively been in charge of Russian politics since 1999, is supposedly in his mansion in the Valdai area of the nation.

Two Russian presidential jets have flown from Moscow in the direction of St Petersburg. They are believed to have carried top Kremlin officials including the president.

Read more about this here.

Yevgeny Prigozhin, left, is pictured with Russian President Vladimir Putin (AP)

Yevgeny Prigozhin's full message transcribed

Yevgeny Prigozhin left an audio message, which Mirror and other organisations have heard and transcribed.

"They wanted to disband Wagner. We set out on June 23 for the "March of Justice". In a day we marched just short of 200 km from Moscow. During this time, we have not shed a single drop of the blood of our fighters. Now is the moment when blood can be shed.

"Realising all the responsibility for the fact that Russian blood will be shed, we are turning our columns around and leaving in the opposite direction, to our field camps, according to the plan."

Prigozhin just now: "They wanted to disband Wagner. We set out on June 23 for the "March of Justice". In a day we marched just short of 200 km from Moscow. During this time, we have not shed a single drop of the blood of our fighters. Now is the moment when blood can be shed.…

— Mary Ilyushina (@maryilyushina) June 24, 2023

Wagner chief confirms troops have turned back to 'field camps'

"We left on June 23 for the march of justice," Prigozhin says in his audio messaged.

"In a day we travelled, not reaching 200 km, to Moscow.

"During this time, we have not shed a single drop of the blood of our fighters.

"Now the moment has come when blood could be shed, therefore, realising all the responsibility for the fact that Russian blood will be shed on one of the sides, we turn our columns around and return in the opposite direction to the field camps, according to the plan."

Wagner troops agree to stop march on Moscow to 'avoid shedding Russian blood'

Yevgeny Prigozhin has accepted Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko's proposal to stop Wagner Group's advance toward Moscow.

In a surprise development, the leader of the Wagner Group confirmed he will take further steps to de-escalate tensions.

Read more here.

(Yevgeny Prigozhin/east2west news)

What is Russian media saying?

There have been some special news bulletins in Russia today, which largely featured President Putin’s address to the nation.

But normal weekend schedules have mostly remained in place on Russian state TV channels.

Rolling news channel Rossiya 24 has even found time to air a half-hour film paying tribute to Putin’s late friend Silvio Berlusconi.

More information emerges about Russian presidential jets

A second Russian presidential jet - an Il-96-300PU with registration number RA-96021 - was noticed flying from Moscow in the direction of St Petersburg.

Like the earlier aircraft, this one carries top Kremlin officials including the president.

It also switched off its transponder to prevent tracking the route.

Latest from the White House

President Biden and Vice President Harris have been briefed by their national security team about the latest developments.

It is reported that briefing also included key senior advisors

The president and vice president will continue to be briefed throughout the day, the White House said.

What is a mercenary?

Mercenaries are people who are hired to fight for money - they are not part of an official military.

According to the UN, it is illegal under international law to use mercenaries in armed conflict.

Mercenary forces are illegal in Russia but they have been instrumental in Russia's war in Ukraine.

(AFP via Getty Images)

Putin ally 'flees Belarus' as Wagner group issues chilling message

One of Vladimir Putin's closest allies, and the Belarus President, Alexander Lukashenko has allegedly fled the country after rumours of an imminent coup.

The 68-year-old's plane was seen on a tracker over Turkey hours after Wagner Group mercenaries stormed a Russian city and threatened Moscow.

This comes after the group's Telegram channel issued a chilling message, stating: "We're starting."

For more about this, read this article.

Wagner is 'no friend to the West' in fight for Moscow, expert warns

Dr Colin Alexander, who is an expert in political communications from Nottingham Trent University, has tonight warned the Wagner Group "is no friend to the West".

The lecturer said: "It should be made clear at this point that Wagner is no friend of the West and a successful coup should not be viewed as a positive development.

"If the ambition is for Russia to finally become a member of the community of liberal and democratic nations then that won't be achieved through a Yevgeny Prigozhin led Moscow administration.

"It will certainly weaken Moscow within international relations though and maybe that is good enough for some."

To read more of his analysis, click here.

A woman shows her mobile phone as she speaks with a member of the Wagner group in the city of Rostov-on-Don (AFP via Getty Images)

Large outdoor events in Moscow suspended for a week

Large outdoor events have been suspended in Moscow for one week.

Authorities have tonight confirmed the region has axed all mass outdoor gatherings until 1 July, the authorities announced.

It follows the mayor of the city telling everyone to refrain from travelling around the capital.

A member of Wagner group stands guard in Rostov-on-Don (AFP via Getty Images)

Moment Wagner coup forces smash through pro-Putin barricade in fight for Moscow

Video footage has shown trucks full of Wagner mercenaries smashing through barricades which had been hoped to slow their march on Moscow.

Group chief Yevgeny Prigozhin shocked the world last night when he announced he was launching an armed rebellion against his country's military leadership.

To read more, click here.

Wagner group breaks through the barricade (WILL STEWART)

Moscow mayor tells people to stay at home as rebel mercenaries move towards city

Moscow's mayor has told people to stay at home as rebel mercenaries move towards the city.

"The situation is difficult," Moscow mayor Sobyanin said.

He asked Muscovites to "refrain from travelling around the city as much as possible".

"City services are on high alert," he said.

Dramatic photographs emerge after Putin's forces blitz oil depot

Dramatic photographs have emerged after Vladimir Putin's forces blitzed an oil depot.

Mass events have been cancelled Saturday in some regions of Russia.

Those events included high school graduation parties. Russia’s Education Ministry said such parties were being postponed until July 1 in Moscow, the region around the capital and “a number of other regions where additional anti-terrorist measures have been introduced.”

The governor of the Kaluga region, just south of the Moscow region, said that movement on roads in areas on its western, southern and eastern borders had been restricted. Vladislav Shapsha wrote on Telegram that people should “refrain from traveling by private vehicle on these roads unless absolutely necessary.”

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.

Vladimir Putin's forces have attempted to thwart the Wagner mercenary group as it approaches Moscow (Anadolu Agency via Getty Images)

Canada continues to monitor the situation closely

Canada's incident response group will meet to discuss the latest developments in Russia, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said.

Mutinous Russian mercenaries seized a southern city overnight and have since barrelled towards Moscow.

“We’re in contact with our allies and will continue to monitor the situation closely,” Trudeau wrote on Twitter today.

Justin Trudeau has been Prime Minister of Canada since 2015 (AFP via Getty Images)

Russia’s foreign ministry warning to Western countries

Russia’s foreign ministry said in a statement today that it has warned Western countries against using the Wagner mercenary group’s mutiny "to achieve their Russophobic goals," according to a press agency.

The ministry’s social media channels still remain active. On Twitter, it recently shared a post by Belarus’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs which stated its support of Russia and called the war in Ukraine a “battle for the future of the Slavic world”.

“We cannot remain aloof from the events happening in the south of Russia”, the post said.

The Russian foreign ministry also shared a video from the Russian embassy of Ambassador Andrei Kelin discussing frozen assets in the UK.

President Vladimir #Putin had phone conversations with the Presidents of Belarus, Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan.

The Russian leader informed his counterparts on the situation in the country.

https://t.co/NixzIt240I pic.twitter.com/27ikvUzpM2

— MFA Russia (@mfa_russia) June 24, 2023

Rishi Sunak speaks out on the developments in Russia

With the UK government calling together its emergency committee, Cobra, Rishi Sunak prepares to speak to international allies on the telephone later.

He has urged all sides in Russia to "be responsible and to protect civilians", according to the BBC.

Mercenaries from the Wagner group have seized military sites from Russia and Vladimir Putin has vowed to "punish" those involved in the move against his government.

Foreign Secretary James Cleverly will chair Cobra.

Rishi Sunak is to talk to the UK's international partners (PA)

Warlord Ramzan Kadyrov says it's key to 'rally around' Putin

The prospect of civil war has deepened as Chechen fighters loyal to warlord Ramzan Kadyrov have raced towards Rostov-on-Don - the new stronghold of Yevgeny Prigozhin and his Wagner mercenary army.

Mr Kadyrov said it was vital to “rally around” Putin and defeat the Wagner insurrection.

“The fighters of the Ministry of Defence and the Russian National Guard in the Chechen Republic have already left for the zones of tension,” he said.

Reports said the Chechen forces were less than five miles from Rostov.

Who is Yevgeny Prigozhin?

Once one of Putin's most trusted allies, Yevgeny Prigozhin has thrust himself into the global spotlight in recent months with Russia's war in Ukraine.

The former hotdog vendor, who benefitted from having the Russian president as a powerful patron, has now moved into his most dangerous role yet: preaching open rebellion against his country's military leadership.

To read more about Yevgeny Prigozhin, Wagner mercenary chief leading fight against Putin's regime, click here.

Yevgeny Prigozhin, the owner of the Wagner Group military company, addresses Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy (AP)

Wagner coup less than four hours away from Moscow

Wagner forces have been spotted in Lipetsk region - less than four hours to the outskirts of Moscow.

The column of Yevgeny Prigozhin’s coup armed force is heading north for a showdown with troops still-loyal to dictator Vladimir Putin amid rumours he has absconded from the capital.

The Wagner soldiers were some 200 miles from Moscow - facing an evening or nighttime showdown with Russian regular forces.

People are seen around Red Square in Moscow amid escalating tensions (Anadolu Agency via Getty Images)