The mercenaries, who are part of the Wagner private army, had advanced 200 km towards Moscow in the last 24 hours and were on a "march for justice" to remove corrupt and incompetent Russian commanders blamed for botching the war in Ukraine.
Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko brokered a deal to halt further movement of Wagner fighters across Russia in return for guarantees of safety for the rebels.
Russian President Putin said Russia's very existence was under threat and those who took the path of betrayal, blackmail, and terrorist methods would suffer inevitable punishment.
LONDON DAILY ARCHIVE
Russian Mercenaries Led by Yevgeny Prigozhin Halt March Towards Moscow to Avoid Spilling Blood
Russian mercenaries led by Yevgeny Prigozhin, a former ally of President Vladimir Putin, have stopped their march towards Moscow to avoid spilling blood.
24 June 2023 · 20:25 UTC
