Dmitry Utkin and Yevgeny Prigozhin created the Wagner Group, a private mercenary organization primarily composed of Russian military veterans.
This group has played a significant role in President Vladimir Putin’s war against Ukraine.
However, recent developments suggest internal conflicts within the group, leading to a failed mutiny and reports of Moscow disbanding Wagner.
Despite this, a satellite image has emerged, indicating that the group may be constructing a secret base in Belarus.
According to BBC News, the mutiny was initiated by Prigozhin on June 24 after Russian military forces bombed Wagner troops stationed in Ukraine.
European satellite imagery appears to show Wagner building up military base in Belarus after Russia mutiny https://t.co/a8sAU6mTLm— Fox News (@FoxNews) June 30, 2023
“The head of the Wagner mercenary group Yevgeny Prigozhin is back in Russia, according to the Belarusian leader Alexander Lukashenko. Prigozhin had agreed with the Kremlin that he would go into exile in Belarus, after leading Wagner troops in a failed mutiny in June.” BBC reported.
The dispute intensified when Prigozhin refused to sign a contract that would have placed the mercenary group under Kremlin command.
He openly criticized Russia’s defense minister, Sergei Shoigu, accusing him of incompetence.
Prigozhin clarified in a video statement released on June 26 via Telegram that the goal of the Wagner Group was to protest, not to overthrow the government. He sought to protect his troops from poor leadership and harmful orders.
Subsequently, the Wagner Group took control of Rostov-on-Don in Russia and began advancing towards Moscow to challenge the military leaders.
Alexander Lukashenko, the leader of Belarus, intervened and offered to mediate negotiations between Prigozhin and Putin, which halted the group’s advance. Initially, NBC News reported that Russian authorities had likely detained Prigozhin, but later updates indicate that he was allowed to relocate to Belarus as an exile. His loyal troops were also given the option to move to Belarus, while the remaining members were integrated into Putin’s army.
As part of the agreement, all criminal charges against Prigozhin were dropped by the Russian government.
The current status and future plans of Prigozhin’s troops remain unclear, with limited information available.
The satellite images of a potential base being built in Belarus raise questions about the group’s intentions. It is uncertain whether they are supporting Russian efforts or pursuing their own agenda.
