Prigozhin Calls Off March on Moscow

Private Wagner army stopped just 120 miles from Russia capital

Russian mercenary commander Yevgeny Prigozhin, head of Wagner Group, has ordered his troops to halt their move towards Moscow to avoid shedding Russian blood. Prigozhin's initial march on Moscow posed a significant challenge to President Putin's leadership, with checkpoints erected around Moscow and Red Square temporarily closed.

The private Wagner army stopped only 200 kilometers (120 miles) from the capital, retreating after negotiations with Belarusian President Lukashenko. The proposed settlement contained security guarantees for Wagner troops, though further details have not been provided. The Belarusian president says he negotiated with the head of the Wagner group stop the movements of his troops in Russia and to avoid any further escalation.

This initial rebellion comes 16 months into the full-scale Russian invasion of Ukraine, causing significant loss of life and destruction. Ukrainian officials hope that this internal Russian conflict will create opportunities for Ukraine to reclaim territory. However, the apparent negotiations on this confrontation now will be closely followed.