What is happening in Russia? On June 24, Wagner Group leader Yevgeniy Prigozhin announced his dissatisfaction with the way Russian Minister of Defense Sergei Shoigu was running the war in Ukraine, declared the reasons the Kremlin gave for launching the large invasion of Ukraine as lies, and announced his “march of justice.” Having easily taken the city of Rostov-on-Don, Wagner troops then headed quickly to Moscow, with little opposition, only to turn back when they were 200 kilometers from the capital.
It appears that Belarusian dictator Alyaksandr Lukashenka negotiated a sort of truce between Prigozhin and the ministry of defense. The terms of the deal may involve security guarantees for Prigozhin in Belarus and will likely see Wagner troops folded into Russian regular forces. There are now reports that Prigozhin is in Belarus and that General Surovikin has been arrested for having some prior knowledge of Prigozhin’s intentions.
How this plays out is still quite open. But it is already clear that Putin’s weakness and Prigozhin’s brazen criticism leave the current Kremlin regime at its weakest point in decades as it continues Russia’s costly war on Ukraine. What might Putin do to reassert his authority? What is the future of Prigozhin and Wagner and how much will Russia’s war on Ukraine change? Is this the beginning of the end for Putin?
The Atlantic Council’s Eurasia Center gathers a panel of experts to discuss.
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