Russia’s notorious mercenary organization known as the Wagner Group once again made global headlines after its leader, Yevgeny Prigozhin led a mutiny against the Kremlin over the weekend in apparent retaliation for the treatment of his contract fighters.
While the mutiny came to an end before Prigozhin reached Moscow due to an ambiguous deal struck by Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko – who granted safe haven to the Wagner leader and his forces – it remains unclear what will happen to the mercenary troops doing Russian President Vladimir Putin’s bidding in places like Africa and the Middle East.
Putin allegedly agreed to drop the criminal case against Prigozhin by Moscow’s Federal Security Services (FSB), first opened Saturday morning, in exchange for his exile from Russia.
Yevgeny Prigozhin, the owner of the Wagner Group military company, looks out from a military vehicle in Rostov-on-Don, Russia, June 24, 2023. (AP Photo)