Russia's Wagner mercenary rebellion against Putin is over

Russia's Wagner mercenary rebellion against Putin is over

During the war between Russia and Ukraine, there was a rebellion of betrayal within the Russian power base, but the problems have been resolved by now, according to international media.

This rebellion originates from a group of private mercenaries called 'Wagner' who were employed to occupy Ukrainian territories on behalf of Russia. They had started a temporary rebellion over a disagreement with Putin. A revolt erupted after Putin announced in early June that the service was no longer needed despite their heavy sacrifices and occupation of Ukrainian territory, and suspicions that the government was behind the killings of some of the mercenaries.

The problem was confirmed when Putin publicly announced two days ago that there was a problem with them. But Belarus intervened and the problem has now been resolved and the Wagner chief has agreed to abandon the rebellion.

It is quite a strange situation for a major power country to use a private mercenary army instead of an army representing the government during a war.

According to foreign affairs expert John P. Ruel, the use of private armies increased rapidly after the Cold War. America has launched a private army in the fight against terrorism. According to the Los Angeles Times, the US deployed 1,60,000 private military soldiers during the 2007 Iraq War. A similar situation was seen in Afghanistan. There, more soldiers hired by private contractors lost their lives than US government soldiers. In 2007, a company called Blackwater sent its fighters into the battlefield on behalf of America to fight the Islamic State.

Russia had deployed a private mercenary army against a backdrop of declining military power. On January 13, 2023, Russia, which was constantly being pushed back in the war, claimed that it had captured the Soledar region of Ukraine. The capture was not carried out by the Russian army, but by private military fighters.

This is when Wagner began to lead the Russian army during the Ukrainian war.

According to the British Ministry of Defence, about 50,000 fighters of Russia's private military Wagner Group were fighting in the Ukraine war.The Wagner Group is under the leadership of Yevgeny Prigogine.

Wagner takes full credit for winning Ukraine's Soledar region in January 2023, but he also accuses Russia's Defense Ministry of trying to take away Soledar's victory.

In February, Wagner leader Prigogine accused Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu of trying to kill Wagner by not sending weapons to his fighters.

On May 5, the leader of Wagner threatened Russia that if they did not supply them with more weapons, their fighters would be withdrawn from Bakmut. Posting a video, he had said - Lack of weapons drove thousands of my militants to death. While giving this information, he was standing among the dead bodies.

On May 24, Wagner leader Yevgeny Prigogine said of Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu that he was incapable of winning the war.

The Wagner leader claimed that Russia's Defense Ministry had planted landmines to kill his fighters who were leaving after the Bakmut victory on June 5.

  On June 11, Russia's Ministry of Defense issued a decree ordering all private combat units fighting the war to join the Russian army. The owner of Wagner had said that they would not enter into any such agreement with the Ministry of Defence.

  On June 23, Wagner's leader accused the Russian army of attacking the training camp of Wagner's fighters. He said that he will take revenge for this attack. The very next day, June 24, word came that Wagner had entered the Russian border and captured the army headquarters at Rostov.

Putin addressed the nation on the issue as they accused the Russian government of whining.

After this, Moscow was put on high alert and the M-4 road system leading to it was blocked. Russia's security service, the FSB, has said it is declaring a rebellion against Russia.

Later on Saturday, Wagner proudly displayed pictures of armored vehicles in the city of Rostov.

  Within a remarkable day and a half, Russia faced the real threat of an armed insurgency, and the crisis was defused by an emergency deal with Belarus, with President Vladimir Putin vowing to punish Wagner militants moving toward Moscow.

  Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko mediated and resolved the issue and the head of the Wagner Group agreed to move from Russia to neighboring Belarus. They have agreed to withdraw their troops towards the capital.

Russia has also announced that the criminal charges against him will be dropped. According to the agreement, the Wagner fighters will not face any legal action for their part in the insurgency and will instead sign a further agreement with Russia's Defense Ministry on the paramilitary force.

But much remains uncertain, with experts warning that the unexpected surge may not disappear quickly without consequences.