Wagner forces were hailed as heroes as they left Rostov yesterday, pictures on social media show. They are now expected to return to the front in Ukraine – while Prigozhin will be in Belarus. Footage shared on Russian social media shows people applauding and taking pictures with Wagner forces in Rostov-on-Don as they appear to leave the Russian city. The city was captured by the private army last Friday night after a rebellion against the Russian Defense Forces was declared. The head of the paramilitary Wagner Group Yevgeny Prigozhin is seen riding in one of the vehicles. It is unclear where he is going, but several reports claim that he has left Russia for Belarus. The regional governor of Rostov, Vasiliy Golubev, writes on Telegram that the Wagner forces are retreating towards their field bases in Ukraine. The Wagner Group halted its advance towards Moscow and turned back on Saturday evening. – We are turning our columns and returning to our camps, Prigozhin suddenly announced at 19:00 Swedish time. Approaching Moscow Prigozhin said that his mercenaries were only 20 miles from Moscow, but that he decided to turn them around to avoid “spilling Russian blood”. At the same time, Belarus leader Aleksandr Lukashenko announced that he has been negotiating on behalf of Russian President Vladimir Putin on Saturday – and that an agreement has been reached with the private army chief. A little later, the Kremlin stated that the investigation into the criminal suspicions against Prigozhin was closed. The decision means impunity for both Prigozhin and the soldiers who participated in the uprising. Prigozhin did not say whether his demands – the Wagner leader’s main criticism has been directed at Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu – have been met. Ukrainian offensives at Bachmut On Saturday evening, Ukraine began new offensives in the east, stated the country’s Deputy Defense Minister Ganna Maljar. According to Maljar, the Ukrainian forces have attacked the Russian defense lines at the town of Bachmut and several nearby towns. “There has been progress in all directions,” she says. During Saturday, experts talked about the significance of the armed rebellion for the fighting in Ukraine. Lieutenant Colonel Johan Huovinen said that the next 24-48 hours will be important for Kiev. – Ukraine is now in a strategic decision-making situation. Should you put in the push with your units where you perceive that you are having success or should you wait for the development to see how this ends, he says to TV4 Nyheterna.
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