military officials or says his fighters will march on the capital. in response, vladimir putin says russia is facing a battle for its future in the face of what he called an "armed mutiny". hello, i'm yalda hakim. officials in moscow are taking emergency measures as a convoy of wagner mercenaries appears to be heading for the russian capital. the city's mayor says anti—terrorism rules are being imposed. he's urged people to avoid travelling. earlier vladimir putin said russia is facing a battle for its future as fighting broke out between wagner mercenaries and the russian military in the city of voronezh. look at these latest pictures from moscow, where the city is bracing itself for a tense night with heavy military deployed across town and checkpoints to filter through who comes in and out of the city. the head of the wagner mercenary group, yevgeny prigozhin,

says his fighters have taken over rostov—on—don. tanks were seen in the city earlier today, which is the military command centre for the russian army's war in ukraine. wagner troops also appear to have been taking action in the voronezh region, which lies half way between rostov and moscow, over 600 kilometres north on the m4 highway. there are reports of fighting between russian troops and wagner mercenaries in and around the city of voronezh. an arms dump in the city has been set on fire. voronzeh is a key city on route to moscow, just 8 hours from the capital, where security has been tightened. amoured vehicles have been seen on the streets. there have also been sightings of wagner mercenary troops in the nearby city of lipetsk. the governor has confirmed wagner troops are in the region, and ordered everyone in the city to remain indoors for their own safety. our russia editor, steve rosenberg reports from moscow. in rostov, this was no ordinary saturday.

a city of a million people had woken to this. the sight of armed men and armour on the streets and tanks outside key buildings. in control here, the mercenary group wagner. closely linked to the state, they'd fought for russia in ukraine, but this was mutiny. their leader, yevgeny prigozhin, had gone rogue. his feud with russia's military leadership over how the war is being fought had boiled over. at a military hq, he told russian generals, "we've come for the defence minister and the chief of the general staff. "if we don't get them, i'll blockade the city "and head to moscow." "this was treachery," said the kremlin. a stab in the back of russia.

translation: our actions to defend the fatherland from this _ threat will be harsh. everyone who consciously chose the path of treason and plan the armed uprising has embraced blackmail and terrorist methods. they will be inevitably punished before the law and our people. this is a huge headache now for the kremlin. not only is russia fighting a war in ukraine which hasn't gone to plan, it's now having to deal with an armed mutiny at home. and although mr prigozhin�*s criticism is directed mainly at the defence ministry, not the president, what is happening now is putting vladimir putin under enormous pressure. there are reports of wagner convoys heading north of rostov towards moscow. bbc verified geolocated these images in voronezh region. security has been tightened in the russian capital. it feels like the kremlin has been taken by surprise. i think it's a great embarrassment for the kremlin. prigozhin was putin's project.

he wasn't anybody else's because he made prigozhin, he allowed prigozhin to exist. so he made it happen, and suddenly prigozhin goes against him. and what do muscovites make of the drama? some don't notice it. others seem confused. "before they told us wagner was good," svetlana says. "they gave them medals. "they were positive heroes. "now, suddenly, they're villains? "that's hard for me to get used to." meanwhile, these images appear to show that south of moscow, with trenches and barricades, they're trying to slow wagner's journey to the capital. earlier i spoke to steve rosenberg who told me more about the mood in moscow. in fact, if you go onto the streets, it is a pretty typical saturday afternoon here.

people relaxing, a lot of people i spoke to said, well, we haven't seen any tanks so we won't worry. other people have heard the news, the mutiny in rostov, the reports of the wagner convoy heading towards moscow and are a little bit nervous. remember, this is a city which has seen many dramatic events before. one man said, "look, we survived 1991, the collapse of the soviet union, dramatic events there, there were tanks on the streets of moscow. "we survived 1993," he told me. again, very dramatic events when the tanks were firing at the russian white house. he said we'll survive whatever comes today. steve, when you think about russian history, we have seen these characters emerge, and we were talking about these characters are emerging who want to save the autocrat from the autocracy and in the end the whole

system eventually collapses or decays. it isa it is a watershed moment, a dangerous moment for putin, a man who has been in powerfor 23 years and when you are in for that long you think you are invincible and can survive anything. one of the problems he has, i think back 16 months to when president putin announced the start of the full—scale invasion of ukraine, what he calls the special military operation, one of the justifications he gave back then for doing this was to make russians safer, to boost national security for russia. look at what has happened since then. drone attacks over the kremlin, other parts of the country, intensive shelling of russian regions bordering ukraine, saboteur

groups coming across from ukraine into russia and now an armed rebellion, armed mercenaries making their way to moscow, demanding the removal of the defence minister, which vladimir putin appointed. has it made russian lives safer? we don't see greater security, we see greater insecurity over the last few months. that's a problem for the kremlin. ., ., , , ., kremlin. you give a sense of the resilience _ kremlin. you give a sense of the resilience of _ kremlin. you give a sense of the resilience of muscovites - kremlin. you give a sense of the resilience of muscovites in - kremlin. you give a sense of the resilience of muscovites in the l resilience of muscovites in the russian people saying we have survived things like this and will survived things like this and will survive whatever comes now, but are they having a moment of reflection and powers thinking how did we get here? i and powers thinking how did we get here? ~ , ., , ., here? i think it is too early to tell. public— here? i think it is too early to tell. public opinion _ here? i think it is too early to tell. public opinion is - here? i think it is too early to i tell. public opinion is something which can change quite slowly. it will be very interesting to gauge any change in public opinion over the next few days or weeks. so far i

have not detected that and even when i was in a region a few months ago which was being shelled in people's lives were less secure, people were not joining lives were less secure, people were notjoining the dots and blaming the invasion of ukraine for their growing insecurity. a£111" growing insecurity. our correspondent - growing insecurity. our correspondent beaten i growing insecurity. our correspondent beaten to me earlier. speaking to me earlier. leaders across the world have been watching and monitoring the situation. us president biden said in a statement he spoke by phone with western leaders on the russian crisis — including french president emmanuel macron, german chancellor olaf scholz and the uk prime minister rishi sunak. the leaders discussed the situation in russia, and they affirmed their unwavering support for ukraine. with western leaders on the russian crisis — including french president emmanuel macron, german chancellor olaf scholz and the uk prime minister rishi sunak. the leaders discussed the situation in russia, and they affirmed their unwavering support for ukraine. turkish president recep tayyip

erdogan offered to help seek a "peaceful resolution" to the armed rebellion, in a phone call with putin, his office said. ukrainian president volodymyr zelensky says that everyone who "chooses the path of evil destroys himself", before adding that the wagner mutiny showed russia's "full—scale weakness." as of this moment, government ministers in poland, ukraine's neighbour, convened in the national security bureau with the country's president, discussing developments in russia — that's according to a government spokesperson. speaking to the bbc, the polish government described the situation as �*uncertain and dynamic�*. let's head now to poland to our next guest, we're joined by radoslav sikorski, chair of the eu parliaments' us delegation and a former polish minister of foreign affairs and defence. thank you forjoining us here on the programme. always good to get your assessment on these things butjust give us a sense of what your government and the national security bureau have been discussing, what are they looking out for, what are their main concerns? that are they looking out for, what are their main concerns?— are they looking out for, what are their main concerns? that i do not know because _ their main concerns? that i do not know because these _ their main concerns? that i do not know because these meetings - their main concerns? that i do not know because these meetings of l their main concerns? that i do not i know because these meetings of the

ruling coalition government and the present but of course poland is a neighbour of both russia and ukraine, so this is very important for us. this is clearly going to affect the war in ukraine because wagner and the russian army were attacking ukraine, now they are attacking ukraine, now they are attacking each other. ukraine seems to have gone on the offensive so there is a lot of new dynamics here. in the last half—hour we have heard ukraine announced new offences on the eastern front because when this continues nyakane's counter offence continues nya kane's counter offence is continues nyakane's counter offence is continuing. continues nyakane's counter offence is continuing-— is continuing. indeed. if i was ukrainian _ is continuing. indeed. if i was ukrainian that _ is continuing. indeed. if i was ukrainian that is _ is continuing. indeed. if i was ukrainian that is exactly - is continuing. indeed. if i was ukrainian that is exactly what| is continuing. indeed. if i was| ukrainian that is exactly what i would be doing, trying to take advantage of the confusion in russia, wagner seems to be in charge in some way of rostov and the

command of the southern military district which is in charge of the war in ukraine. there must be confusion there. something to be exploited. confusion there. something to be exloited. ., , ., ., ., ., exploited. confusion and also a distraction _ exploited. confusion and also a distraction because _ exploited. confusion and also a distraction because of- exploited. confusion and also a distraction because of course . exploited. confusion and also a distraction because of course if| distraction because of course if prigozhin is cis saying, we don't know, the speculation in terms of the number of wagner forces who are with mr prigozhin at this stage, but it is, if russia is going to want to push that is going to have to look at how many troops it has in ukraine and perhaps take troops from there. there are some reports to that effect already but we don't how reliable they are. russia has committed, it looks like, everything it has got to ukraine. but it is an extraordinary act of bravery and stunning actually from mr prigozhin

to try to do this. you have to admire the boldness of the military manoeuvre but the fact that you can just drive with tanks and apc across russia for hundreds of kilometres, is astonishing. that is not good from mr putin's authority. the ruestion from mr putin's authority. the question is — from mr putin's authority. the question is how _ from mr putin's authority. the question is how does he come back from this regardless of what happens to mr prigozhin?— to mr prigozhin? remember that if the coun fails _ to mr prigozhin? remember that if the coup fails and _ to mr prigozhin? remember that if the coup fails and i _ to mr prigozhin? remember that if the coup fails and i think— to mr prigozhin? remember that if the coup fails and i think it - to mr prigozhin? remember that if the coup fails and i think it is - the coup fails and i think it is safe to say that it is a coup, i think prigozhin must be having some support from inside the power structures. then that will provide vladimir putin with a pretext for a purgejust vladimir putin with a pretext for a purge just like president erdogan did act purge after his coup or even in history in 19114 after a coup

against hitler, 5000 people were killed. so if this attempt fails i think russia will come even more authoritarian. it think russia will come even more authoritarian.— authoritarian. it is interesting throughout — authoritarian. it is interesting throughout the _ authoritarian. it is interesting throughout the day _ authoritarian. it is interesting throughout the day we - authoritarian. it is interesting throughout the day we have l authoritarian. it is interesting - throughout the day we have described this as a rebellion because of course it is uncertain at this point what the army is going to do, especially if they do arrive at the doorstep of moscow the capital, what does the army do? that's a big question. does the army do? that's a big ruestion. , ., ., , ., question. historical parallels, and marshall was _ question. historical parallels, and marshall was sent _ question. historical parallels, and marshall was sent to _ question. historical parallels, and marshall was sent to king - question. historical parallels, and marshall was sent to king louis i marshall was sent to king louis against napoleon to give the order should napoleon but his soldiers would not do it and join the usurper, hence waterloo 100 days later. so the wagner people have been fighting side by side with the

army, taking casualties, soldiers have a sense of solidarity for fellow veterans. this thing can turn on the first skirmish, on a completely unpredictable chain of events. i completely unpredictable chain of events. ~ , , ., . events. i will keep you there. we have 'ust events. i will keep you there. we have just heard _ events. i will keep you there. we have just heard that _ events. i will keep you there. we have just heard that president. have just heard that president zelensky says vladimir putin is very scared and probably hiding amid mutiny. you have been watching vladimir putin for a long time. when we have seen and we have not seen the scheme of crisis to his or threat to his power in the last 20 years, but when there has been some semblance of crisis, he does go quiet for a while.— semblance of crisis, he does go quiet for a while. last time in 2011 if ou quiet for a while. last time in 2011 if you remember, _ quiet for a while. last time in 2011 if you remember, there _ quiet for a while. last time in 2011 if you remember, there were - quiet for a while. last time in 2011| if you remember, there were huge crowds in moscow and saint petersburg against him returning to

the kremlin as president and it was then that he took his anti—western turn and when he started rebuilding the russian empire. after more than 20 years in power every leader becomes somewhat removed from reality, politicians do the ultimate danger, namely they start believing in their own propaganda. and his power relies ultimately on a fairly narrow circle of people who cannot be satisfied in the way that this war has gone. she probably doesn't know who to trust.— know who to trust. another line cominu know who to trust. another line coming in _ know who to trust. another line coming in here _ know who to trust. another line coming in here i— know who to trust. another line coming in here i will— know who to trust. another line coming in here i will put - know who to trust. another line coming in here i will put to - know who to trust. another line coming in here i will put to you | know who to trust. another line l coming in here i will put to you to get your assessment on this, such a big developing situation, we have line after line but belarus's president office says russian mercenary leader prigozhin has agreed to stop movement of wagner fighters around russia, again we are

trying to verify this information but it gives you a sense how fluid the situation is. yes, i think there are splits inside the russian elite, i don't think prigozhin could have done it without some insider help. and the fact that the kremlin seems to have been surprised means that the operation was prepared in operational secrecy which is also a failure by the kremlin. lukashenko himself is in trouble from both putin and his own society. so it is a very high—stakes game. we are hearing prigozhin has agreed to ds click the situation. we are trying to verify this but the fact that he was trying to march on moscow is quite extraordinary. if

was trying to march on moscow is quite extraordinary.— was trying to march on moscow is quite extraordinary. if he stops and does not give _ quite extraordinary. if he stops and does not give up — quite extraordinary. if he stops and does not give up power _ quite extraordinary. if he stops and does not give up power he - quite extraordinary. if he stops and does not give up power he will - quite extraordinary. if he stops and does not give up power he will end| does not give up power he will end “p does not give up power he will end up dead. this will not be forgiven. and incredibly fluid and dangerous situation, great to get your analysis and speak to you. with more on this our security correspondent, frank gardner. let's look at the map, that area russia occupied in southern ukraine last year, the blue line is the m4 motorway, you can see this arrow shows where prigozhin and his wagner group popped across—the—board and took control of the russian southern city of rostov—on—don. that is significant because it is the headquarters of russian southern military command where they run the ukraine war from. military command where they run the ukraine warfrom. who is

military command where they run the ukraine war from. who is this guy? here he is in one of his very famous rants, wearing military uniform, he is not a career soldier, he is ex—convict, he got catering contracts for the kremlin, at one point known as putin's chef but he has been leading or at least figurehead leading his forces doing some of the fiercest fighting around bakhmut and around the donbas but what he has done is so down the gauntlet of a challenge, he has gone way beyond criticising individual figures like the defence minister sergei shoigu and the chief of general staff, sergei shoigu and the chief of generalstaff, he sergei shoigu and the chief of general staff, he has gone further than that. he has said the whole pretext for coming into ukraine and invading ukraine was based on a lie. that is going right against president putin's word and it has made him a traitor in the kremlin's eyes so against him of course the

other, his former patron, vladimir putin. this is him here giving his address earlier today. he is very angry, he has a controlled anger going on because in a way he has created a kind of frankenstein's monster. the wagner group has been useful to putin and he deployed them in africa and libya, in mali and syria, and of course in ukraine since 2014. they have been a useful tool for the kremlin to essentially do denial below operations. that now means that it is kind of embarrassing for president putin, almost as if he was the owner of a rottweiler that has turned around and bitten him. in the meantime on the ground various things going on, we have footage trying to verify, we can show you one bit when a helicopter flies can show you one bit when a helicopterflies inside can show you one bit when a helicopter flies inside russia can show you one bit when a helicopterflies inside russia but before that we are seeing a convoy of wagner equipment, that is a

battle tank and other armoured vehicles as they try to get north towards moscow but it appears they were stopped on the attack by it appears russian helicopters. some footage of all we know that it is a russian helicopter, we do not know which side it is, it is on until it is verified but you can see it coming from the left of screen here and if it actually moves, you will see it actually hit an oil depot which goes up in flames. all of this is extraordinary really because the war was supposed to be self—contained in ukraine, it was supposed to be a special military operation. you can see the helicopter moving and there it hits this oil depot which goes up in a great ball of orange flame. this is inside russia. this will be speaking a lot of russians. where does it go from here? moscow is in lockdown, let's look at some of the pictures from today. this is for many people

are familiar sight, you have got a seen basils cathedral here, the spassky tower, but it is empty. it is in lockdown and there are defences being dug in, extra police on patrol. there is no sense of panic we heard from steve rosenberg that many muscovites are going down doing a bit of shopping and sunbathing. nevertheless this war that president putin started in ukraine last year in february is bringing unforeseen consequences. where does it go from here? so far, we have not seen any major defections from the fsb, the state security service, the successor to the kgb, nor the armed forces. they are not flocking to prigozhin's side tojoin his forces are not flocking to prigozhin's side to join his forces so that probably means his mutiny is doomed and it is going to have to be negotiations. i would not like to put a lot of money

on yevgeny prigozhin's chances of living to the end of this year or at least staying a free man at liberty. his days are probably numbered in his current role. studio: thank you so much. some breaking development news coming from the belarusian leader. let's bring you up—to—date. belarus says that the belarus leader has, acting in agreement with president putin, spoken to the wagner chief yevgeny prigozhin and he has agreed to de—escalate the situation. quite a development that has come in about 24—hour is after this whole crisis emerged. let me bring in our correspondent. this is quite an important moment here. if correspondent. this is quite an important moment here.- important moment here. if the izrelarusian _ important moment here. if the belarusian leaders _ important moment here. if the belarusian leaders press - important moment here. if ii�*uéi belarusian leaders press statement is to be believed, he again

prigozhin has agreed to stop. the movement of his fighters towards the russian capital. to quote the state militia, apparently yevgeny prigozhin to stop the movement of his forces. according to the statement, negotiations were taking place were taking place throughout the day so it remains to be seen how yevgeny prigozhin responds to this. coming from minsk the belarusian capital and of course bella belarus is a key ally of vladimir putin, perhaps the most loyal among the former soviet republics. it is significant as well because vladimir putin apparently has been unable to

talk to prigozhin himself in person and it has to be done by alexander lukashenko. and it has to be done by alexander lukashenko-_ lukashenko. that's a really extraordinary _ lukashenko. that's a really extraordinary point. - lukashenko. that's a really extraordinary point. the i lukashenko. that's a really. extraordinary point. the fact lukashenko. that's a really i extraordinary point. the fact that vladimir putin created prigozhin and now the belarusian leader has to intervene to mediate between these two sites. it it intervene to mediate between these two sites. in . , . intervene to mediate between these two sites. in ., , ., ., two sites. it it all started with a meetin: two sites. it it all started with a meeting at _ two sites. it it all started with a meeting at one _ two sites. it it all started with a meeting at one of _ two sites. it it all started with a meeting at one of prigozhin's . meeting at one of prigozhin's restaurants in st petersburg when he met vladimir putin and now they do not talk to each other apparently. quite an externally moment. just to bring the audiences up—to—date with this developing breaking bit of news, we belarus, the belarusian leader alexander lukashenko's office leader alexander lu kashenko's office has leader alexander lukashenko's office has said that he is acting in agreement with president putin and he has spoken to the wagner chief, yevgeny prigozhin and he has apparently agreed to de—escalate the

situation. after these dramatic events over the last day, where you are looking at this video of yevgeny prigozhin, these images of him holding court with defence ministry officials, when he arrived and now this where we are being told that the wagner leader has agreed to stop the wagner leader has agreed to stop the mercenary convoy that was heading to moscow, that is according to belarus, we will bring you up—to—date but you can continue to follow our coverage on bbc website. a bit of developing news and we will bring our audiences up—to—date that belarus's leader alexander lukashenko has said he is acting in agreement with vladimir putin and

said that he has spoken to the wagner chief yevgeny prigozhin and that he has agreed to de—escalate the situation and stopped the convoy that was marching, heading towards moscow. let's bring in my colleague who has been following all of these developments throughout the day. this is from what we can see a bit of a de—escalation but still these tensions do not disappear. thea;r of a de-escalation but still these tensions do not disappear. they do not hand what _ tensions do not disappear. they do not hand what i _ tensions do not disappear. they do not hand what i would _ tensions do not disappear. they do not hand what i would be _ tensions do not disappear. they do not hand what i would be keen i tensions do not disappear. they do not hand what i would be keen to l not hand what i would be keen to hear now is statement by prigozhin himself that is it really true he has accepted the deal and that he is suspending the movement of his forces towards moscow? what he said early today in the morning was really belligerent, he did say that he was intent on speaking to the defence minister and if this is indeed a step to de—escalate i would

be curious, very keen to know what is the deal, what he has been promised instead. what was that convinced him to halt the movement of his fighters. absolutely, just a few hours ago he put out the statements, these videos challenging president putin and saying he is mistaken to say that they are not the patriarch men who have fought for the country and that no one could stop them from heading towards moscow and now this. last night he said that he is not going to stop until he has restored justice as he said in the russian army. he said he was going to deal with the military commanders who bring evil to russia, his words. if he agrees to de—escalate he will need to worry about his own standing, his own reputation about the people that he is leaving, the people who are

literally fighting for wagner. a lot depends on how he is able to lead this experienced and violent force. whatever happens, the fact they have stopped now it does not go away, punishments being promised do not go away. punishments being promised do not go awa . .,. , punishments being promised do not go awa . .. , , ., punishments being promised do not go awa . , , ., , away. exactly, the question is if ou away. exactly, the question is if you agree _ away. exactly, the question is if you agree to — away. exactly, the question is if you agree to de-escalate i away. exactly, the question is if you agree to de-escalate what i away. exactly, the question is if i you agree to de-escalate what are you agree to de—escalate what are you agree to de—escalate what are you going to do next? you are not going to sit down and see we're not going to sit down and see we're not going to sit down and see we're not going to speak to defence minister any more. the fact is that yevgeny prigozhin has crossed a lot of lines in the eyes of the kremlin and i would be really surprised if both yevgeny prigozhin things away to

coexist, it seems to me it is a situation where it is one of the other. they will not be able to work together any more. irate other. they will not be able to work together any more.— other. they will not be able to work together any more. we are following all of these developments _ together any more. we are following all of these developments on - together any more. we are following all of these developments on the i all of these developments on the website. it is at the usual place. it has been updated with this latest news that belarus says yevgeny prigozhin has agreed to de—escalate the situation according to the president of belarus. you are watching bbc news and you can follow these developments on the website. this is bbc news. the headlines: moscow imposes emergency security measures as a convoy of wagner mercinary fighters appears to be heading for the russian capital. after launching a rebellion against the russian military — the convoy of wagner fighters

is reportedly a few hundred kilometres south of moscow. in response, vladimir putin says russia is facing a battle for its future, in the face of what he called an "armed mutiny". we had been reporting unsigned those are the headlines, but there is a development to them. that is belarus and its president, according to the statement, says yevgeny prigozhin has agreed to de—escalate. we are monitoring the situation closely and are trying to get a better sense of what is being said by the office. we understand, according to what we are hearing, that the president of belarus has broken some deal between vladimir putin and yevgeny

prigozhin. michael o'hanlonjoins vladimir putin and yevgeny prigozhin. michael o'hanlon joins us now. lots of developments in the last hour also. the later is we are hearing is that belarus's leader has broken some deal, and yevgeny prigozhin has agreed to stop this convoy from heading to moscow. weill. convoy from heading to moscow. well, it makes sense — convoy from heading to moscow. well, it makes sense that _ convoy from heading to moscow. well, it makes sense that he _ convoy from heading to moscow. -ii it makes sense that he could broker this deal because what prigozhin is doing, although we might have so emotional hope it will change it, is risky from his point of view, and frankly from our western point of view. civil war and a new colour on state has always been one of the worst—case scenarios in international nations, and the idea could have been in an ongoing state war work russia as a materials has

to be about the worst—case nightmare that vladimir putin or prigozhin could face. why would he want to take his chances defeating the russian military in the heart of russian military in the heart of russia when russia still has air power, nuclearweapons? most of russia when russia still has air power, nuclear weapons? most of the loyalty as wealth. i can sympathise with what he is thinking in that he realises putin has dragged his country into it, but prigozhin was part of the problem, the idea he will poll a rabbit out of the hat is just a dream. the only question is, what terms is he being offered? what assurance does he have the terms will be honoured? and what prospects does he have for staying alive, not politically but personally as wealth. these are the real question is if the reporting is to be

believed.— is if the reporting is to be believed. ., ., ., ., . believed. dramatic situation. we have a development _ believed. dramatic situation. we have a development on - believed. dramatic situation. we have a development on what i believed. dramatic situation. we have a development on what we | believed. dramatic situation. we i have a development on what we been reporting. that is prigozhin has put out an order message and has said to avoid bloodshed we are returning our convoys to basis. prigozhin himself has confirmed this news that came out of belarus that the leader has broken some deal between vladimir putin and yevgeny prigozhin, the leader of the wagner mysteries. prigozhin has confirmed in an audio message and i said we are returning our convoys. i will keep you there because i have my colleague here who's been listening to the audio message. you'vejust who's been listening to the audio message. you've just been listening to it on your phone. tell us about what you've heard.— to it on your phone. tell us about what you've heard. yevgeny prigozhin 'ust said his what you've heard. yevgeny prigozhin just said his forces _ what you've heard. yevgeny prigozhin just said his forces are _ what you've heard. yevgeny prigozhin just said his forces are 200 _ just said his forces are 200 kilometres away from moscow and now

they are being pulled back, and that they are being pulled back, and that they are being pulled back, and that they are beginning a move in the opposite direction, presumably towards ukraine, that is my assumption. yevgeny prigozhin says they are going to be stationed at their base camps. and it is interesting that it was base camps that according to prigozhin were attacked by russian forces yesterday, so now they are returning where they came from. thea;r yesterday, so now they are returning where they came from.— yesterday, so now they are returning where they came from. they are 200 aualities where they came from. they are 200 qualities from _ where they came from. they are 200 qualities from moscow, _ where they came from. they are 200 qualities from moscow, what - where they came from. they are 200 qualities from moscow, what we i where they came from. they are 200| qualities from moscow, what we know so far. they are returning to rostov? ., , ., rostov? either the or somewhere in ukraine, rostov? either the or somewhere in ukraine. that _ rostov? either the or somewhere in ukraine, that is _ rostov? either the or somewhere in ukraine, that is my _ rostov? either the or somewhere in ukraine, that is my assumption, i ukraine, that is my assumption, based on the fact that in one of his messages yesterday, he said his

forces had crossed the border with russia, presumably suggesting they had crossed the border from russia, presumably suggesting they had crossed the borderfrom ukraine. it is reasonable to assume this is where they are going back now. yet again, we are best advised to take anything yevgeny prigozhin says with anything yevgeny prigozhin says with a certain degree of scepticism. michael, to pick on the points there, you want to take all of this with a pinch of salt, the fact he is saying to avoid bloodshed we are are returning our convoys. this is a creature of the kremlin and they been accused of all sorts of brutality. the question is, what kind of deal was brokered for him to say we are pulling back even though we were 200 kilometres away from moscow. that sense messages they were able to get as close to moscow.

i had a hard time believing he had any hope of taking moscow, we saw in afghanistan where russia didn't put up afghanistan where russia didn't put up any resistance. putin still had the air power, nuclear weapons, lots of ways to stop it. it is in a specific geographic zone, creating a kill box for the russian military. i don't see how prigozhin thought he had a chance, and maybe somebody talked logic and sanity into him. that if he kept going further, he would undoubtedly be putting his own life at risk. i believe it still is at risk, although it may play out more slowly. the idea prigozhin could somehow engender a vast revolt against putin is really a fairy tale. i'm in, in the west we would

like to believe it, because we have been telling ourselves putin may have brought russia to the brink of collapse, but opinion polls don't show it. ijust don't see how prigozhin worked himself up into the state, except through an emotional reaction to what he saw to his own troops. irate reaction to what he saw to his own troo s. ~ . , reaction to what he saw to his own troo s. ~ ., , ., reaction to what he saw to his own troo s. . ., , ., ., ., troops. we have seen that emotion over the last _ troops. we have seen that emotion over the last few _ troops. we have seen that emotion over the last few weeks _ troops. we have seen that emotion over the last few weeks with i troops. we have seen that emotion over the last few weeks with these | over the last few weeks with these videos, these outbursts where he would use a vulgar language to attack the defence minister, to attack the defence minister, to attack the defence minister, to attack the head of the armed forces, to sort of say they were doing an appalling job, surrounded by the corpses of his own fighters. yes. corpses of his own fighters. yes, and maybe _ corpses of his own fighters. yes, and maybe putin _ corpses of his own fighters. yes, and maybe putin tolerated i corpses of his own fighters. yes and maybe putin tolerated outbursts because they were friends, and a deflected blame towards goal away from them and got ukrainians overconfident. you have to consider

the mind games that were going on, that the russians are trying to for us all. with prigozhin and putin, maybe they are in cahoots? i don't think so. maybe i first they were thinking if they created some kind of false overconfidence on the ukrainian side that could produce mistakes, i don't know. putin did tolerated for a while. he can't tolerated for a while. he can't tolerated when prigozhin says he has is own on the columns moving on to moscow. ~ . ., , ., ., moscow. michael, iwill update our audience, because _ moscow. michael, iwill update our audience, because we _ moscow. michael, iwill update our audience, because we have - moscow. michael, iwill update our audience, because we have more l audience, because we have more information about how this news came about. the belarus's president has apparently held talks with yevgeny prigozhin during which he agreed to stop his troops and de—escalate the situation. this is being reported by

the news channel. prigozhin accepted the news channel. prigozhin accepted the proposal to stop the movement of wagner movement, and further steps to to de—escalate it. it said it was proving possible to find an acceptable variant of the escalating the situation with security guarantees. i will bring you back in. tell us about the channel, saying the conversation had been agreed. it saying the conversation had been aareed. , ,, , saying the conversation had been aareed. , ,, ., saying the conversation had been aareed. , ., ,., agreed. it is russia's rolling state run tv channel. _ agreed. it is russia's rolling state run tv channel. thinking - agreed. it is russia's rolling state run tv channel. thinking about i agreed. it is russia's rolling state i run tv channel. thinking about what just happened, it seems both putin and ferguson have talked themselves into an impossible situation. —— prigozhin. he said he was trying to sort out the defence minister. it didn't happen, and now he says he is

pulling back. putin said he will punish whoever is behind this muted e. is he going to? that is a huge question, but there is no trust any more between vladimir putin and the leader of this private army, active within russia.— leader of this private army, active within russia. ~ . ., , ., , within russia. michael, this remains a hiuhl within russia. michael, this remains a highly critical— within russia. michael, this remains a highly critical and _ within russia. michael, this remains a highly critical and dangerous i a highly critical and dangerous moment. it a highly critical and dangerous moment. . , a highly critical and dangerous moment. ., , ., . a highly critical and dangerous moment. ., . ., , a highly critical and dangerous moment. ., . ., moment. it has got much worse than that for putin- _ moment. it has got much worse than that for putin. and _ moment. it has got much worse than that for putin. and frankly _ moment. it has got much worse than that for putin. and frankly for - that for putin. and frankly for russia in general. going into today, the worst—case scenario to me at least seem like russia might lose the ukraine war, in the sense that only holding onto a small fraction of the territory it has gained, but still being an intact country with an economy that i suffered but only 5% reduction in gdp, that has lost tens of thousands of lives and killed tens of thousands of ukrainians tragically. but from

putin's cynical point of view, he was still an ok place. he was at worst reclaiming a piece of a loss russian empire, and are best still having prospects for holding onto most of the land that he's gained in the last 16 months. that was where it was yesterday. from putin's point of view, this is a cynical person, not hopi like you or me. by his calculus, it wasn't terrible, he was disappointed he hadn't won the war quickly, but he was willing to pay a high cost for an historic russian mission. today he is fighting for his life. it appears he may be surviving it, but the stakes have dramatically expanded in 24 hours. so many questions, what does yevgeny prigozhin do next? does he continue in ukraine, fighting for putin, a

man whose power he has challenged? he was planning this march to moscow. it may sound sort of mad and farcical, but it was something he attempted to do, and his statement said they were 200 kilometres away from the capital. i suppose it is howard plays out. i from the capital. i suppose it is howard plays out.— from the capital. i suppose it is howard plays out. i can't imagine prirozhin howard plays out. i can't imagine prigozhin gets — howard plays out. i can't imagine prigozhin gets the _ howard plays out. i can't imagine prigozhin gets the role _ howard plays out. i can't imagine prigozhin gets the role he - howard plays out. i can't imagine prigozhin gets the role he had i prigozhin gets the role he had earlier. people have often said he was putin's top confidant, and maybe his main helper in some of the phases of the war in ukraine. you can't imagine that happening again. this is revealing a profound chosen between the two men. unless they are trying to pull some great trick over us, but i can't figure out how it would happen and how we would lower

our guard. it smacks of being true, which is crazy but true. putin won't be able to trust prigozhin again. he will have to be on the outside, i think, maybe not immediately, but soon enough. if i were him, i would be worrying for my life.— be worrying for my life. michael, for the last _ be worrying for my life. michael, for the last 20 _ be worrying for my life. michael, for the last 20 odd _ be worrying for my life. michael, for the last 20 odd years, - be worrying for my life. michael, for the last 20 odd years, when l be worrying for my life. michael, i for the last 20 odd years, when we have looked at vladimir putin's power and the institutions he's created and the way he has maintained his power and governed and ruled over his people, and these institutions, from afar, it did look like it came from a position of strength. what we saw 16 months ago in ukraine was a military that seemed incredibly powerful. i remember standing in ukraine and saying it is only a matter of when not if ukrainian forces collapse, and today we are seeing these

institutions, this apparatus putin created, a level of infighting. do you think it didn't come out of strength but out of some decay? decay is a good word because it may convey a sense of process over time. putin is under appreciated in the west in what he did to get russia's pride back, in the first decade of the 21st—century. we underestimate how they can still be grateful for what he did for their country. all that has been gradually slipping away in the second phase as his bitterness at the west, his anger, may be other things with his psychology that we don't understand. but just as psychology that we don't understand. butjust as pure hatred of his opponents, mostly abroad, but at home. they have intensified, leading to the great mistake which was very 24 last year. if you were reporting

last year it was only a matter of time, you were reflecting the wisdom of the cia. a lot of people agreed with it, and putin had some basis for thinking maybe his military was more capable than it turned out to be. it turns out to be his great mistake, and everything has intensified since it in terms of the decay of the russian economy and state. however, let's not get too carried away with the news. until today, russia was a country that despite the losses was still politically unified, were still holding together economically and was still tolerating this would—be dictator. putin had managed to marginalise his opponents. the questionnaires, will they continue to do so when, as you say, all of those things until today existed, but no doubt this has rattled some

corners, the military. would they not be thinking, we created this and now it is questioning our very existence?— now it is questioning our very existence? ., , ., . existence? that is an excellent question. _ existence? that is an excellent question. and _ existence? that is an excellent question, and maybe _ existence? that is an excellent question, and maybe i - existence? that is an excellent question, and maybe i am i existence? that is an excellent i question, and maybe i am showing existence? that is an excellent - question, and maybe i am showing my own limits intellectually. that is tomorrow's question, you are very good to ask it today. assuming this thing does calm down and prigozhin is marginalise, people will start to ask it. putin needed the wagner group to have any battlefield prospects. if it has revealed the potential for opponents to rise up against him, will he do a fundamental rethink and be more open to negotiations? that will be the big question. but i've also underestimated putin's work this to bite his lip and plough forward before. i won't presume it. it will before. i won't presume it. it will be a good debate as the dust settles

today. i wouldn't be surprised if he also feels like having shown that he is capable of thwarting a would—be attacker, even by the most powerful attacker, even by the most powerful attacker, no group is more powerful than wagner. if he couldn't do it, no one else will.— no one else will. fascinating caettin no one else will. fascinating getting your _ no one else will. fascinating getting your analysis. i no one else will. fascinating getting your analysis. thankj no one else will. fascinating i getting your analysis. thank you no one else will. fascinating - getting your analysis. thank you for joining us. i will bring our audience up—to—date. we have heard in the last few minutes this breaking news that the belarus's leader has spoken to yevgeny prigozhin, he was put out an audio message saying realising for responsible tea for the fact russian blood will be spilled on one of the two sides, we are turning our columns around and going in the opposite direction in line with the plan. but as reported by a news

agency. let's bring injohn simpson. an extraordinary day, and now we are getting this latest bit of news from yevgeny prigozhin who says we were 200 kilometres away from moscow and had decided to go back to our base camps to prevent any bloodshed. it is the most remarkable psychodrama, and it is going on in the heads of two people, possibly three if you include the belarus presidents. i think essentially we are talking about what is going in prigozhin's heads. this started because of his extraordinary emotions, spending day after day, night after night on the front seeing his own men, the wagner

people, being killed sometimes by russian soldiers. and all of this weld up in him, this anger against the defence minister, against the head of the armed forces. iie the defence minister, against the head of the armed forces. he decided head of the armed forces. he decided he was going — head of the armed forces. he decided he was going to _ head of the armed forces. he decided he was going to go — head of the armed forces. he decided he was going to go and _ head of the armed forces. he decided he was going to go and have _ head of the armed forces. he decided he was going to go and have it - head of the armed forces. he decided he was going to go and have it out i he was going to go and have it out with them. he said they had got to come to him. they didn't do that. he decided he was going to go to them, and then somehow or another he's been persuaded not to do it. what or how we simply do not know. for been persuaded not to do it. what or how we simply do not know.- how we simply do not know. for our audiences. — how we simply do not know. for our audiences, the _ how we simply do not know. for our audiences, the translated _ how we simply do not know. for our audiences, the translated version i how we simply do not know. for our audiences, the translated version ofj audiences, the translated version of this audio message, i will read it. yevgeny prigozhin says they wanted to disband the wagner on the 20 foot ofjune, and they went on a justice march. we were 200 kilometres away

from moscow. we did not spell a single drop of blood of our fighters. the moment has come blood can be spilled, therefore understanding the responsibility that russian blood will be spilled on one of the site, we are turning our columns around and leaving in the opposite direction to the field camps. this is also what the belarus press office has put out from the president's office, saying the leader of belarus has spoken to plethora putin and yevgeny prigozhin, and yevgeny prigozhin has agreed to pull back. all of this is extraordinary. we were talking to our correspondent he was saying this is a creature, a man who putin has created, and now you've got alexander lukashenko brokering some deal between the two men and

mediating. it deal between the two men and mediating-— mediating. it is extraordinary. alexander— mediating. it is extraordinary. alexander lukashenko, i mediating. it is extraordinary. i alexander lukashenko, frankly, isn't the sharpest knife in the box. he far less intelligent either than putin or prigozhin, and yet somehow he's produced an argument which we can only kind of gas at in the vaguest way in order to get prigozhin to turnaround. you have to remember that when these big moments come, they don't come often in russian political and perhaps military life, they do boil up suddenly, a dull sort of unexpected things happen. i was in moscow in 1981 when the kgb staged this extraordinary coup against

gorbachev, and then it all collapsed in three days, quite extraordinary. 1993, the last time there was any real major violence within the russian federation's borders. that also was an extraordinary occasion with the army opening fire on the headquarters of the mayor of the city. just extraordinary stuff. russian history tends to produce these sudden extraordinary moments, but the big question, of course, still is, why did prigozhin give the order to turn back? we will have to wait to know why that is. you order to turn back? we will have to wait to know why that is.— wait to know why that is. you talk about the written _ wait to know why that is. you talk about the written history, - wait to know why that is. you talk about the written history, 91, i wait to know why that is. you talk about the written history, 91, 93, | about the written history, 91, 93, putin himself went back and talked about 1917. throughout russian

history, it produces these extraordinary moments, but it produces these characters as wealth. yes, it certainly does. i think i used the word volcanic before. that certainly applies to prigozhin, not really to vladimir putin, more quiet, thoughtful man, you would have said, if he hadn't invaded ukraine so casually 16 months ago. but it is partly, i think, and these are big judgments which perhaps one shouldn't make, but it does have something to do with the internal passivity of russian society. going back to 1991, for instance, scarcely anybody rallied round the system that gorbachev had introduced,

scarcely anybody supported him against the kgb. they didn't support the kgb, but a against the kgb. they didn't support the kgb, buta number of against the kgb. they didn't support the kgb, but a number of people, and i remember this very well, a number of people who were out on the streets were in the low hundreds when the entire future of the country was being decided. and again, ithink country was being decided. and again, i think in this case, it is really being done by these big characters, and everybody else seems to be just a characters, and everybody else seems to bejust a passive characters, and everybody else seems to be just a passive onlooker. extraordinary times. john, thank you for your analysis. john will be back at the top of the hour. matthew will be taking over to bring you up—to—date on the situation, but just some developing news as we've been reporting. just some developing news as we've been reporting. the just some developing news as we've been reporting. the leader just some developing news as we've been reporting. the leader alexander lukashenko says he has spoken to yevgeny prigozhin about pulling

back, the escalating and then prigozhin has come out in an orgy message and confirm this, saying to avoid bloodshed —— audio message. wa nted wanted to disband the wagner. we went out on a justice march, and within a day, we work to hundred kilometres away and did not spell a single drop of blood. now the moment has come blood can be spilled, therefore understanding all the responsibility the fact russian blood can be spilled, we are turning our columns back. you are watching bbc news. you can get the very on our website. matthew will be here in the next few minutes. but for more on the geography, we can cross live to our reporter richard preston.

stock developments. this is a map, ukraine russia. we haven't had time to label them up. right here is belarus. it was used as a staging post for russian forces. alexander lukashenko and latimer putin have a strong relationship, very firm bond —— vladimir putin. they have continued to have a display to international leaders confirming it. that is the area. in the last day, we've seen this journey north by wagner mercenaries. this area in the red here, this is an area believed to be controlled by russian forces. you have crimea done at the bottom, and extent 2014 by russia. when that story broke, there was all this talk

about little green man, people in military uniforms. it is accepted many of those little green men went on to become wagner fighters. this is the area we are talking about. 100 kilometres from the border is rostov on don, an important city because russia has used it as a sub and headquarters for its war in ukraine. a staging post before it sends its fighters in. yevgeny prigozhin said he was able to take that city without a single shot being fired. we saw the photos come in and take the city about this time yesterday. they moved north to the city of voroneszh, which wasn't easy. we went from not a single shot to report russian air strikes as they headed north on the mfor. the key thing about the city of voroneszh is it is halfway to

moscow, 500 kilometres of voroneszh. we have heard today from the governor, who said there were wagner fighters in his territory in his area. he had seen them moving machinery in. we heard from the governor who said he was locking his residence down, restricting travel. we didn't have any reports of wagner fighters there, but the fight they were locking residence down suggest there was anxiety and nerves about there was anxiety and nerves about the mercenaries had ignore. the thing about here is it is 200 quality is from moscow. throughout the day, we saw the wagner tubes getting further north. there was this anxiety in moscow, restrictions being imposed on people's trouble. as we are hearing, yevgeny prigozhin

turning his troops back. we don't know in which direction, but he says he wants to do it to avoid spilling blood, that takes us full—circle back to alexander lukashenko, he was played a pivotal role. this is a rapidly developing story. you can stick with us on bbc news i get a much more on the bbc news website. there is a live page of him running with all the latest developments. live from london, this is bbc news. the leader of the wagner mercenary group, yevgeny prigozhin, tells his fighters to turn back, because of the risk of blood being spilt. his forces had been advancing on moscow. an agreement to de—escalate was reached after negotiations with belarus's pro—putin leader.

emergency security measures had been imposed around the russian capital amid fears the convoy could reach the city earlier vladimir putin said russia was facing a battle for its future calling the rebellion an �*armed mutiny�*. hello i�*m matthew amroliwala welcome to our continuing coverage of the unrest in russia. we start with that dramatic breaking news, in an extraordiantry day in russia. the leader of the wagner group, yevgeny prigozhin, has ordered his mercenaries, to turn around and return to their bases, to avoid bloodshed. a huge convoy had been heading towards moscow in what vladimir putin had described, as an attempted mutiny. progoshin said his troops had advanced 200 kilmotres towards the capital in the last 24 hours. in his nightly address,

volodymyr zelensky the ukrainian president, said in russia, that his counterpart was running scared. translation: the man from the kremlin is grossly _ translation: the man from the kremlin is grossly very _ translation: the man from the kremlin is grossly very afraid i translation: the man from the kremlin is grossly very afraid and | kremlin is grossly very afraid and probably hiding somewhere not showing himself. i�*m sure he is no longer in moscow. he knows what he is afraid of because he created this threat. for some analysis, let�*s now cross over to our world affairs editorjohn simpson. another dramatic twist. i think no one anticipated _ another dramatic twist. i think no one anticipated this. _ another dramatic twist. i think no one anticipated this. you - another dramatic twist. i think no one anticipated this. you have i another dramatic twist. i think no one anticipated this. you have to | one anticipated this. you have to wonder whatever argument the belarusian president can possibly have used to prigozhin to persuade him to change. bloodshed, he says he has been claiming one of the reasons why he was advancing on moscow, he has been complaining that russian

troops, the ordinary army of russia has been firing on his men, the wagner group men and killing them, thatis wagner group men and killing them, that is why he wanted to have it out with the defence minister, sergei shoigu and the head of the armed forces. face—to—face he said, unsurprisingly he did not go down to meet him and so he decided he was going to go and meet them. who knows. it is really difficult to say. maybe putin has promised that he will sack the two of them and thatis he will sack the two of them and that is a kind of victory for prigozhin, but as things stand, not knowing anything more than the basics that we know, i think that has to be quite a success for vladimir putin. his stock must rise

greatly as a result of this. yes. greatly as a result of this. yes, there is so _ greatly as a result of this. yes, there is so much _ greatly as a result of this. yes, there is so much we _ greatly as a result of this. yes, there is so much we don't i greatly as a result of this. yes, | there is so much we don't know greatly as a result of this. yes, there is so much we don't know that there is so much we don�*t know that perhaps we will get more detail in the coming hours. in terms of what prompted this return to base but when you think what has happened, the success in these last few moments, they are enormously damaging to him presumably? enormous damaue and damaging to him presumably? enormous damage and what — damaging to him presumably? enormous damage and what a _ damaging to him presumably? enormous damage and what a time _ damaging to him presumably? enormous damage and what a time for— damaging to him presumably? enormous damage and what a time for the - damage and what a time for the ukrainian forces to be able to see their enemy in such disarray. ukrainians have made it absolutely clear that they have still got large reserves they are planning to throw into their big counteroffensive, it has not done as much as ukraine was hoping up until now, but to this

point on it has weapons it has got from nato countries, it is able to move in and find the weak spots which it must have identified and attacked the russian army in a major way. and at this very moment, the small but much more effective wagner group is in open conflict with the russian army. it was, until about 30 minutes ago. now where we are is still uncertain. ukrainian counteroffensive will carry on and go ahead and as you say, putin has been badly damaged by the whole thing. been badly damaged by the whole thin. ,, ., been badly damaged by the whole thin. ,, ,, been badly damaged by the whole thinu. ,, y., ., been badly damaged by the whole thin. ,, i. ., ., ,, thing. stay with me, you are talking about the counteroffensive. - thing. stay with me, you are talking about the counteroffensive. ukraine announcing a new offensive on the

eastern front, their military saviour forces advance around bakhmut and further. i will come back to you but so much focus on what we have fared in the last have a reform prigozhin, iwant to what we have fared in the last have a reform prigozhin, i want to play in english translation of that message in russian, it was a voice message in russian, it was a voice message on his telegram so media channel. translation: , ., ., translation: they wanted to disband the wa . ner. translation: they wanted to disband the wagner. within _ translation: they wanted to disband the wagner. within a _ translation: they wanted to disband the wagner. within a day _ translation: they wanted to disband the wagner. within a day we _ translation: they wanted to disband the wagner. within a day we were i the wagner. within a day we were just 200 kilometres away from moscow. during that time we did not spill a single drop of blood of our fighters. now the moment has come when the blood can be spilled. therefore understanding the responsibility for the fact that russian blood will be spilt, on one of the sides, we are turning our columns back and leaving in the opposite direction according to the plan. as you said a

little earlier. _ according to the plan. as you said a little earlier, so _ according to the plan. as you said a little earlier, so much _ according to the plan. as you said a little earlier, so much of— according to the plan. as you said a little earlier, so much of his - according to the plan. as you said a little earlier, so much of his anger. little earlier, so much of his anger over recent days and weeks have been aimed at the defence minister, it had never quite got to prigozhin against putin directly, had it? it did not, but i think it was there all the time. the name of putin was hovering in the background. it really is very hard to think what president lukashenko of belarus can have offered to prigozhin. he must have offered to prigozhin. he must have offered to prigozhin. he must have offered it on putin�*s say so but it is not impossible, we will have to wait and see whether this actually happens, that both sergei shoigu the minister of defence and the head of the armed forces will now be sacked. it is hard to think

of anything else big enough really that would make prigozhinjust of anything else big enough really that would make prigozhin just say ok, no more blood to be spilled, i am out of here, we are going back to our positions. for am out of here, we are going back to our positions-— our positions. for now thank you. your assessment. _ with more on this our security correspondent, frank gardner. is it all overfor this man, yevgeny prigozhin? by saying he is turning back his troops is an admission of failure, he laid down his terms which was he was not going to budge until the defence minister, sergei shoigu and the chief of general staff, too, came to meet him in rostov—on—don, that has not happened. somejunior military happened. some junior military officials happened. somejunior military officials did come to see him but he did not get what he wanted. i would

say that that is one nil to president putin and that however that conversation went, the net result is that prigozhin is backing down. i would result is that prigozhin is backing down. iwould not result is that prigozhin is backing down. i would not want to put a lot of money on his political future right now but the fact is he probably expected people to rise up and join him, that did probably expected people to rise up andjoin him, that did not probably expected people to rise up and join him, that did not happen. i very much doubt he had the full 25,000 troops that he talked about at his disposal. wagner has those trips but they are scattered around different locations and the fsb state security services not with this man, it is with president putin. so prigozhin was heavily outnumbered, overreached himself, there will now be some negotiation but remember there is an arrest warrant for him, it is a tricky one because the wagner group has been useful to the kremlin. president

putin has been able to use them as an arms length doing the dirty work in places like mali, libya, mozambique as well as syria and the donbas. it is not really in russia�*s interest to dismantle one of the most effective fighting forces on russia�*s site but i cannot see how president putin could ever regain the trust of prigozhin. it is like an attack dog or a really tough dog that turns around and bites its owner. president putin was visibly angry and the address gave earlier today when he talked about betrayal and a stab in the back. he is not some who will forgive this. prigozhin�*s military and political future must now be over. itruihat prigozhin's military and political future must now be over. what does it say about — future must now be over. what does it say about russian _ future must now be over. what does it say about russian vulnerability, i it say about russian vulnerability, he was able to make the advances 200

kilometres and 24—hour. he was able to make the advances 200 kilometres and 24-hour.— kilometres and 24-hour. deeply embarrassing, _ kilometres and 24-hour. deeply embarrassing, he _ kilometres and 24-hour. deeply embarrassing, he was _ kilometres and 24-hour. deeply embarrassing, he was able i kilometres and 24-hour. deeply embarrassing, he was able to i kilometres and 24-hour. deeply i embarrassing, he was able to cross the border and take russian southern district military headquarters in rostov—on—don without a shot being fired. nobody opposed him. the fact is even though prigozhin looks like he is beaten in this, some of the things he has been saying must resonate with a lot of russians. he has been railing against what he called the fat cats in moscow, the oligarchs, the people who managed to dodge sending their sons to the front, all the while i am surrounded ljy front, all the while i am surrounded by dead bodies, you don�*t care about them, or uk about his youtube videos for your sons and daughters. these are his words. he has really been vitriolic about it. most importantly, he has challenged in the last 24 hours president putin�*s own narrative for starting this war and that narrative if you remember was that the kremlin has stuck to it

that russia had no choice but to invade ukraine because ukraine backed by nato was going to be a threat to russia. he said that is not true, this invasion was started in order to promote sergei shoigu to a marshal and enrich the pockets of the oligarchs, his words. not everybody watches the wagner telegram channel, they tend to watch the television instead. putin enjoyed a large degree of support but nevertheless the genie is out of the bottle and somebody who has fought for russia in the donbas and scored them their only real victory in the last eight months is saying these things. will he be forced to retract him? will he be put on television to say it has a terrible mistake i do not know. the next 24 will be interesting. for this mutiny the scene appears to be taken out of it. ., ,. ., ., ,

the scene appears to be taken out of it. fascinating to see how this -la s it. fascinating to see how this plays out- _ it. fascinating to see how this plays out- we _ it. fascinating to see how this plays out. we heard _ it. fascinating to see how this plays out. we heard earlier i it. fascinating to see how this. plays out. we heard earlier one ordinary russian in moscow saying they were utterly confused. these were a group of mercenaries being lauded and given medals and suddenly on television describing treason and betrayal. on television describing treason and betra al. .,, on television describing treason and betra al. ., , , ., , betrayal. those words primarily aimed at this _ betrayal. those words primarily aimed at this man, _ betrayal. those words primarily aimed at this man, because i betrayal. those words primarily i aimed at this man, because there is aimed at this man, because there is a personal connection, personal between him and president putin. they knew each other in saint petersburg so prigozhin was a lowlife criminal who served some time, a convict, he had done robbery on the streets of st petersburg, but then he started a burger still and worked up from that, a catering company and managed to get contracts for the kremlin and supply the armed forces and because russia is a huge country the numbers are big and he made a fortune for himself. putin liked him. prigozhin had a

restaurant on the river, a floating restaurant, putin came and had a party at that and he liked him and there was a great deal of cooperation between them. putin will be feeling personally betrayed, this is what he talks about the stabbing back by this man. i think prigozhin must be considering his future right now. 50 must be considering his future right now. must be considering his future right now, ., �* 4' ., must be considering his future right now. ., �* ~ ., , ., now. so we don't know but one thing we absolutely _ now. so we don't know but one thing we absolutely know— now. so we don't know but one thing we absolutely know is _ now. so we don't know but one thing we absolutely know is that _ now. so we don't know but one thing we absolutely know is that this - now. so we don't know but one thing we absolutely know is that this has i we absolutely know is that this has been the most externally distraction for russia in terms of what is basing on the battlefield. bier? for russia in terms of what is basing on the battlefield. very much so. it does not _ basing on the battlefield. very much so. it does not necessarily _ basing on the battlefield. very much so. it does not necessarily change i so. it does not necessarily change the time on the battlefield, because where we are on the battlefield todayis where we are on the battlefield today is exactly where we were two days ago. because the wagner group had largely been in russia in the last few days, not that actively engaged in the last few recent days. the big situation is that ukraine is trying very hard to find a weak spot

in russia's defences. russia has three successive layers of defence of trenches and tank traps and minefields. interlocking arcs of fire, waiting to hit ukraine's new challenger tanks that are going to be trying to drive south. those defences are still in place. a fair degree of bewilderment among the russian forces probably thinking what a net is going on back home? some will be wondering is this really what i want to lay my life down for when the wagner group we looked up to, they looked up to and respected seemed to have mutinied against the russian state and been called traitors. if putin is smart, he will be able to move on quickly from this and quite possibly send wagner back into the battlefield. we wait to see any sort of clue as to

how putin approaches some of those issues you have mapped out. thanks very much for now. we will come back to you. we will talk to a former army officer and commander of the nato rapid reaction battalion. thank you for being here in the programme. militarily for russia's what is your assessment in terms of the fracture that we see today? it terms of the fracture that we see toda ? , ~ . terms of the fracture that we see toda? y�* today? it is changing rapidly. but i think the ratchets _ today? it is changing rapidly. but i think the ratchets across _ today? it is changing rapidly. but i think the ratchets across the - think the ratchets across the battlefield, i'm sure those russian troops who are facing up in the donbas and zap erasure and elsewhere are fully aware as you have just said that the much vaunted wagner group, the most successful part of the russian army appeared to have mutinied and until a few minutes ago we thought that they were marching on moscow to take over power. just

as frank gardner has said i think there was an awful lot of stuff to come out over the next 24—48 to see exactly where that all means. the ukrainians have been sensibly very quiet. there are, there is information coming that they have tanks across dnipro and i'm sure they will have taken as much advantage of this bewilderment as they can. for the troops on the ground, the russian troops and commanders, confusion and turmoil really is the last thing you want when you are facing a determined and well—trained well motivated force like ukraine. if the wagner group do not get back pretty quickly, i think this whole episode is is really going to backfire massively and let's hope it does because what everybody in the world apart from the russians and putin want is peace

and the russians out of ukraine. let's hope this will be the start of the offensive and allow them, the ukraine forces to break through and keep the rest of the russians out. in terms of the earlier point you made, frank made the same point about the head of the army, the defence minister which has of course been the focus so much of his anchor. we wait to see if there are any changes there, whether that is part of the formula. we wait to see whether the wagner group returned to the battlefield, we don't know, we know they are returning to barracks but in terms of the impact this has on russian forces, tell me more because this is on so many different levels, psychological, even logistical with rostov having fallen. , ., ., ., , fallen. entirely and prigozhin has been very direct _ fallen. entirely and prigozhin has been very direct in _ fallen. entirely and prigozhin has been very direct in his _ fallen. entirely and prigozhin has been very direct in his criticism l fallen. entirely and prigozhin has| been very direct in his criticism of sergei shoigu the defence minister and valery gerasimov the ground commander if you like. with these

key leaders not agreeing and working together, with the lines of communication and logistic lines certainly being broke for the last 24—hour is, one can see how challenging it is for the troops on the front to have any coherent type of defence except the static defence that we have seen for awhile. what lukashenko, the belarusian prime president promised prigozhin? what has made him turn around because he looked to be making tremendous strides and really upsetting the complete equilibrium in the kremlin. so are the promises being done, deals being done? the bottom line is both putin and prigozhin are basically criminals, you would not trust them and inch and even, hopefully the advantage has been tipped very much in the favour of

the ukrainian forces. but we're going to have to see, i'm sure a lot will come out in the next few days. interesting that answer talking about the criminality because the us is to give sanctions to the wagner group forfear of siding is to give sanctions to the wagner group for fear of siding with putin. it gives you a sense of what they are grappling with, these sites because of course there will be many people around the world who potentially would like to see vladimir putin toppled but what potentially could come afterwards, that could be worse in terms of the things that he has said but in terms of the effect this has on the battlefield, a moment ago announcing a new offensive on the eastern front, ukraine, there will be worry too because there are red lines putin has laid down potentially if they are crossed, it is of course

worrying to know what a wounded putin would do. that worrying to know what a wounded putin would do.— putin would do. that is true and everybody _ putin would do. that is true and everybody in — putin would do. that is true and everybody in the _ putin would do. that is true and everybody in the last _ putin would do. that is true and everybody in the last 24-hour . putin would do. that is true and everybody in the last 24-hour is putin would do. that is true and i everybody in the last 24-hour is or everybody in the last 24—hour is or certainly since the prigozhin mutiny was very worried about the nuclear issue which i think talking about here. on that particular guys, the thought of someone like prigozhin in control of the red button is a real worry. but i still think checks and balances in place, i cannot believe that putin would use tactical nuclear weapons but i don't believe you could use them in ukraine either for a host of reasons, the fact the range and all the rest of the what has been reported a lot recently is the potential to turn these off erasure nuclear power station into some sort of nuclear device. —— zaporizhzhia. what we did here yesterday the us senate to set any

nuclear event in ukraine or blowing up nuclear event in ukraine or blowing up these upper asia nuclear power station could be viewed as an article five, i direct attack against nato which would bring nato into this battle more completely which is absolutely what putin does not want. so although this is all pretty horrific on the nuclear site, i would hope that because the nuclear issue has not moved putin forward in this conflict for 14 or 15 months, even if it looks like he is failing he will not reach for that nuclear button, i think that is still unlikely.— still unlikely. thank you for your time. pleasure. _ still unlikely. thank you for your time. pleasure. welcome - still unlikely. thank you for your time. pleasure. welcome to - still unlikely. thank you for your time. pleasure. welcome to thej time. pleasure. welcome to the programme _ time. pleasure. welcome to the programme. your _ time. pleasure. welcome to the programme. your thoughts - time. pleasure. welcome to the programme. your thoughts in i time. pleasure. welcome to the - programme. your thoughts in terms of

what we have seen in the last hour. the last hour has been the standout of prigozhin's march on moscow, a very significant development. but it hard to imagine this crisis ending with that. the president of russia has described what prigozhin has done as treason, the fsb has opened an investigation into the insurrection which prigozhin has created and of course prigozhin has 20 plus thousand very well motivated and armed troops to defend themselves. how does this play out, i'm not certain. prigozhin certainly will not submit to being controlled which seems to be where he was heading before yesterday. how does putin and the fsb at his government backed down from the steps they have taken? against prigozhin. what backed down from the steps they have taken? against prigozhin.— taken? against prigozhin. what are the scenarios _ taken? against prigozhin. what are the scenarios running _ taken? against prigozhin. what are the scenarios running through -

taken? against prigozhin. what are the scenarios running through your| the scenarios running through your head at the moment? potential scenarios. , _, head at the moment? potential scenarios. , , ., head at the moment? potential scenarios. , ., , scenarios. this could be a pause before an _ scenarios. this could be a pause before an actual— scenarios. this could be a pause before an actual clash _ scenarios. this could be a pause before an actual clash of- scenarios. this could be a pause before an actual clash of arms. l before an actual clash of arms. maybe putin is willing to somehow back away from the statements and maintain prigozhin in roughly the same circumstances he has existed for the past several years. maybe there are changes within the government which are persuasive, acceptable to prigozhin so he feels he will save face and feet and has to accept a certain amount of diminished prestige and power. these are the alternatives. what diminished prestige and power. these are the alternatives.— are the alternatives. what should the west be _ are the alternatives. what should the west be doing _ are the alternatives. what should the west be doing at _ are the alternatives. what should the west be doing at this - are the alternatives. what should the west be doing at this stage? | the west be doing at this stage? they should be watching carefully, saying nothing. do not give putin a pretext for claiming this is all a western coup that somehow prigozhin is our guy which of course he is not. but this speaks to weaknesses

in the putin regime. that by and large american intelligence and not western intelligence, british too, west analysis has not seen. it has been clear since last fall there were fissures imputing's and now those are open for all to see. if the stand—off continues it will be very clear communication putin is not who he was and if he has to offer major concessions to end it that's also an indication that he is not the strong man whose will impend it everything. i not the strong man whose will impend it everything-— it everything. i have about 45 seconds left, _ it everything. i have about 45 seconds left, in _ it everything. i have about 45 seconds left, in terms - it everything. i have about 45 seconds left, in terms of - it everything. i have about 45| seconds left, in terms of what it everything. i have about 45 - seconds left, in terms of what you anticipate now from ukraine? this is clearl a anticipate now from ukraine? this is clearly a major _ anticipate now from ukraine? this is clearly a major diversion _ anticipate now from ukraine? this is clearly a major diversion for - anticipate now from ukraine? this is clearly a major diversion for the - clearly a major diversion for the bad guys in the kremlin. this should provide ukraine at least a certain opening to strike, make a new push

on the counteroffensive. even before this, wagner troops are basically left ukraine which from a ukraine standpoint is a good thing. the ukrainian, i have been saying all along ukrainian counteroffensive would enjoy at least modest success at the end of the day, they would liberate at least several hundred square kilometres of territory. they are on track to do that. we square kilometres of territory. they are on track to do that.— are on track to do that. we have to leave it there _ are on track to do that. we have to leave it there but _ are on track to do that. we have to leave it there but thank _ are on track to do that. we have to leave it there but thank you - are on track to do that. we have to leave it there but thank you so - are on track to do that. we have to i leave it there but thank you so much forjoining us and giving us that analysis. thank you so much for your time. with these pictures as we continue to analyse that news from the head of the wagner group that they have turned back, told their troops to go back to the barracks to avoid bloodshed. you were watching bbc news. for more on the geography of these latest developments we can cross live now to our reporter rich preston who is in the newsroom. what's the latest? thank you, i really extraordinary day and over the last hour are so we

have heard the wagner leader yevgeny prigozhin say that he is going to turn his forces around, about 200 kilometres away from moscow, he says they are turning around heading away from the russian capital. this is the area we are talking about. ukraine here, russia, poland and celibacy. belarus appears to have key in all of this and it president seems to have played some sort of pivotal role in these negotiations. he ended vladimir putin have a strong connection, a strong bond and they have maintained that strong friendship throughout the war in ukraine whilst other international countries have condemned russia's activities and of course belarus used something of a staging post at the beginning of the conflict. an interesting role he has played there. this area in red at the bottom of ukraine is russian —controlled territory. down at the bottom crimea which of course russia

annexed in 2014. when that story broke we heard word of little green men on the streets of crimea, it is widely accepted many in the ranks of those little green men went on to become fighters in the wagner mercenary force. they are no strangers to this part of the world. this is a key part of the world, rostov—on—don about a hundred kilometres away from the ukrainian border and about this time last year we heard that wagner fighters were entering rostov—on—don and it's important to highlight the wagner leader was able to take that city without a single shot being fired. they then headed north to the city. it was not so easy to take voronezh and there were reports along this m4 road north bound to moscow, give kenny prigozhin said his fighters came under attack, he did not

provide any evidence for that, he said that's what happened, we saw some footage of explosions at an oil depot in their own age, but the key thing is as you can see it is halfway towards, 500 kilometres there and 500 kilometres to moscow, that was the fear through much of the day, for fighting that was the fear through much of the day, forfighting continuing onto the capital, we heard about them entering the city of lipetsk and the government there said he saw wagnerfighters coming in and the government there said he saw wagner fighters coming in with military equipment and later on in the day we had from the governor of kaluga saying he was locking down his residence to restrict people in the city around the fear of the wagner is fighters might be entering the region. kaluga is about 200 kilometres from moscow, where wagner fighters have been before they announced turning around that as we know now they have said they are turning around if that is indeed true. we will see what happens over

the coming hours, a lot of twists and turns on this still to come, you can stick with us here on bbc news and of course on the bbc news website and the thanks very much. the latest being reported by the reuters news agency that president lukashenko has spoken to vladimir putin on the phone for a second time this evening, informing vladimir putin of the outcome of those talks with the head of the wagner group. very clearly everything going through belarus in terms of trying to get to some sort of resolution but a second phone call taking place in the last few moments. this is bbc news. the headlines: after a day of crisis in russia — the leader of the wagner mercenary group tells his fighters to return to their bases to avoid the risk of bloodshed. translation: we are turning our columns back and leaving - in the opposite direction,

to the field camps, according to the plan. his fighters had been advancing on moscow — an agreement to de—escalate was reached after negotiations with belarus's pro—putin leader. earlier, vladimir putin said russia was facing a battle for its future — calling the rebellion an "armed mutiny". ukraine's president zelensky says the rebellion exposed the weakness of the russian government and says putin was running scared. we start with that dramatic breaking news in an extraordiantry day in russia. the leader of the wagner group — yevgeny prigozhin — has ordered his mercenaries to turn around and return to their bases to avoid bloodshed. a huge convoy had been heading towards moscow in what vladimir putin had described as an attempted mutiny.

progoshin said his troops had advanced 200km towards the capital in the last 2a hours. this is an english translation on what yevgeny prigozhin said in russian on a voice message on his telegram social media channel in the last hour. lets take a listen. they wanted to disband the wagner onjune 23. we went out on a justice march within a day. we were just 200km away from moscow. during that time, we did not spill a single drop of blood of ourfighters. now the moment has come when the blood can be spilt. therefore, understanding all the responsibility for the fact that russian blood will be spilt on one of the sides, we're turning our cones back and leaving in the opposite direction, to the field camps, according to the plan. in his nightly address, volodymyr zelensky, the ukrainian president, said that his counterpart in russia was running scared.

translation: the man from the kremlin is afraid and probably hiding somewhere, not showing himself. i am sure he is no longer in moscow, he knows what he is afraid of because he created this threat. well, what's the view of the situation on the ukrainian side? moscow was bracing itself from an attack on the convoy heading towards the capital. this was earlier today, russian military patrolling the streets, roadblocks set up just outside the city centre. that was after the head of the wagner nursery group, yevgeny prigozhin, said he had taken over the city. tanks were seenin had taken over the city. tanks were seen in the city early today, which

is the military command centre for the russian army in ukraine. wagner troops clash with russian soldiers in the voroneszh region, north of the m4 region. it is a key city on the m4 region. it is a key city on the route to moscow, just eight hours from the capital, but they are now turning back after those orders to avoid bloodshed. steve rosenberg has the background to the story. ta nks tanks were outside key buildings. in control here, the wagner group, closely linked to the state they fought for russia in ukraine, but this was mutiny. their leader had

gone rogue. his feud with russia's military leadership over how the war is being fought hard—boiled over. at a military hq he told russian generals we've come for the defence minister and the chief of the general staff. minister and the chief of the generalstaff. if minister and the chief of the general staff. if we don't get them, i will blockade the city and head to moscow. this was treachery, said the kremlin, a stab in the back of russia. translation: our actions to defend the fatherland from this threat will be harsh. everyone who chose the path of treason and plan the armed uprising has embraced blackmail and terrorist methods. they will be inevitably punished before the law and our people. this is a huge headache for the kremlin, not only is russia fighting a war in

ukraine which hasn't gone to plan, it is now having to deal with an armed mutiny at home. although his criticism is aimed at the defence ministry, what is happening now is putting vladimir putin under enormous pressure. there are reports of wagner convoys heading north of rostov towards moscow. bbc verified located these images. security has been tightened in the russian capital. it feels like the kremlin has been taken by surprise. t capital. it feels like the kremlin has been taken by surprise. i think it is a great — has been taken by surprise. i think it is a great embarrassment - has been taken by surprise. i think it is a great embarrassment for. has been taken by surprise. i think| it is a great embarrassment for the kremlin. prigozhin, it was his project, putin allowed him to exist. he made it happen and certainly prigozhin goes against him. and he made it happen and certainly prigozhin goes against him. and what the muscovites _ prigozhin goes against him. and what the muscovites make _ prigozhin goes against him. and what the muscovites make of— prigozhin goes against him. and what the muscovites make of the _ prigozhin goes against him. and what the muscovites make of the drama? i the muscovites make of the drama? some don't notice it, others seem

confused. translation:- some don't notice it, others seem confused. translation: before they told as wagner— confused. translation: before they told as wagner was _ confused. translation: before they told as wagner was good, _ confused. translation: before they told as wagner was good, they - confused. translation: before they told as wagner was good, they gave i told as wagner was good, they gave their medals, they were heroes. now they are billing to? that their medals, they were heroes. now they are billing to?— they are billing to? that is hard for me to _ they are billing to? that is hard for me to get — they are billing to? that is hard for me to get used _ they are billing to? that is hard for me to get used to. - what are your headline thoughts? here is the thing, head of the terrorist state is fighting with the head of the terrorist organisation. prigozhin, who is a war criminal similar to prigozhin, who is a war criminal similarto putin, putin prigozhin, who is a war criminal similar to putin, putin personally gave the role to prigozhin. this is an act of humiliation. could you

imagine another part of the story that putin hired a midwife who is another dictator to broker the deal with his crony, prigozhin. it is a mess and humiliation. i believe this will have a dreadful complication for putin and for his power. t will for putin and for his power. i will come back _ for putin and for his power. i will come back to — for putin and for his power. i will come back to the _ for putin and for his power. i will come back to the last _ for putin and for his power. i will come back to the last thoughts, but we were playing a little earlier just our report from the front line, the counteroffensive. it is hard, hard fighting for ukrainian troops. psychologically, how much is this a boost what has happened today? frankly speaking, i skip these emotions. we have to focus on the battlefield, what is happening. no doubt this kind of riots or unrest

provoked by prigozhin and putin distracted the establishment from the military aggression in ukraine. it is a kind of additional benefit, but no more. it is important to be very cautious and to be very clear and understand ukraine needs help, the only chance for ukraine to prevail is support ukraine military. just a quick word about the wagner group, people watching today's developments. you will know that they have spearheaded so much of the fighting, they are a very effective fighting, they are a very effective fighting force. you would acknowledge that, wouldn't you? that is true, that acknowledge that, wouldn't you? that is true. that is — acknowledge that, wouldn't you? trust is true, that is quite powerful part of the russian state. one can say this is a mercenary group, that is not true. this is the part of

putin's machine, and he personally created it. these guys are quite professional and students of war. once again, putin, prigozhin, they are from the same government, they walk. fighting against putin is similar as fighting against prigozhin, because he got his orders from putin to invade into ukraine and fight against ukrainian military. and fight against ukrainian milita . ., ,., and fight against ukrainian milita . ., ., military. the advisor to your defence minister _ military. the advisor to your defence minister was - military. the advisor to your| defence minister was talking military. the advisor to your i defence minister was talking to military. the advisor to your - defence minister was talking to the bbc earlier, and i will read you the quote. we are, little by little, running out of popcorn watching events at an unprecedented speed. perhaps that is the dark humour you would expect after a year of war, but there is a worry, a wounded putin is an even more dangerous to phone. he

putin is an even more dangerous to hone. , ., putin is an even more dangerous to hone. , . ., , putin is an even more dangerous to hone. , . .,, ., , phone. he is, and he was always dangerous- _ phone. he is, and he was always dangerous- i— phone. he is, and he was always dangerous. i know— phone. he is, and he was always dangerous. i know the _ phone. he is, and he was always dangerous. i know the narrative, let's not cross the road lined with putin. he crossed the red line, and it was he who violated the international law and it is he who commits war crimes and crimes against humanity in ukraine. i am notafun —— against humanity in ukraine. i am not a fun —— fine of this. this is a war and not a fun —— fine of this. this is a warand ukraine not a fun —— fine of this. this is a war and ukraine needs to prevail. it is a hard toil with ups and downs, and the thing is putin's regime is in the decline and it has cut it has severely eroded the legitimacy of putin. it is for the long haul. this is the war of attrition. t5 putin. it is for the long haul. this is the war of attrition.— is the war of attrition. is this the moment for _ is the war of attrition. is this the moment for the _ is the war of attrition. is this the moment for the west, _ is the war of attrition. is this the moment for the west, perhaps, | is the war of attrition. is this the l moment for the west, perhaps, to

accelerate the various military support, all the things your president has been asking for at different stages, frustrated it hasn't happened as quickly? is this the moment the west should think, it is time to really accelerate the response question these moments started on the 24th of february. they started in 2013 when i was a prime minister, and when putin illegally and the crimea. it is our joint fight, the fight of the free world and the free ukrainian people, to fight for democracy, freedom and independence. i strongly believe we as the free world will prevail and win this war.— as the free world will prevail and win this war. and in terms of what ou win this war. and in terms of what you would — win this war. and in terms of what you would now — win this war. and in terms of what you would now anticipate - win this war. and in terms of what you would now anticipate on - win this war. and in terms of what you would now anticipate on the i you would now anticipate on the battlefield from ukrainian side, you spoke about the red lines putin has talked about. what are you anticipating now from the ukrainian

side? t anticipating now from the ukrainian side? ., ., ., ., ., side? i want to mention once again, this is the war. _ side? i want to mention once again, this is the war, bloody _ side? i want to mention once again, this is the war, bloody one. - side? i want to mention once again, this is the war, bloody one. it - side? i want to mention once again, this is the war, bloody one. it is - this is the war, bloody one. it is notjust this is the war, bloody one. it is not just about this, it is this is the war, bloody one. it is notjust about this, it is a hard toil, and i believe ukrainian military will fend off russian forces and we will occupy ukrainian territory, but it will take time and enormousjoint efforts. efforts territory, but it will take time and enormous joint efforts. efforts of the ukrainian people and the entire global community, to restore the integrity of ukraine. it is global community, to restore the integrity of ukraine.— integrity of ukraine. it is for the lona integrity of ukraine. it is for the long haul- _ integrity of ukraine. it is for the long haul. you _ integrity of ukraine. it is for the long haul. you said _ integrity of ukraine. it is for the long haul. you said in _ integrity of ukraine. it is for the long haul. you said in one - integrity of ukraine. it is for the long haul. you said in one of. integrity of ukraine. it is for the i long haul. you said in one of your earlier answers you thought putin was damaged, his leadership, his authority. in a sense, you could be right, but we have to wait—and—see how it plays out. everyone else watching around the world, world leaders, to see the details of what this deal was and what happens now in the coming days.— in the coming days. well, anyway, could ou in the coming days. well, anyway, could you imagine _ in the coming days. well, anyway, could you imagine anyone - in the coming days. well, anyway, could you imagine anyone who - in the coming days. well, anyway, i

could you imagine anyone who could expect this kind of events to happen and to roll out of russia? even if you days ago. so, this is the sign that putin's in first over the russian power is declining. he is farfrom abdicating the russian power is declining. he is far from abdicating the throne, he still poses a threat to democracy and to every normal human being. but ukraine and the west did a lot in order to defend this democracy and human values. i am not in the position to underestimate putin and his resume. i ask everyone to be realistic, so we have to move forward, to move forward in our fight to defend the freedom of the ukrainian people and to defend the international order.— international order. thank you so

much for your— international order. thank you so much for your time, _ international order. thank you so much for your time, speaking - international order. thank you so | much for your time, speaking live from gear on bbc news. we are gratefulfor from gear on bbc news. we are grateful for your from gear on bbc news. we are gratefulfor your time. thank you —— from kyiv. just a line from vladimir putin thanking belarus's leader for securing the deal, securing the turnaround with troops returned to their barracks. vladimir putin has spoken twice now to alexander lukashenko, but thanking belarus's leaderfor lukashenko, but thanking belarus's leader for orchestrating that deal. they are very close allies, so a lot of the detail will have been passed through the kremlin to immense, but thanks to vladimir putin in terms of what has transpired. let's go live to chatham house. james, welcome to the programme. your thoughts on recent of elements?—

recent of elements? well, quite a da . it recent of elements? well, quite a day- it has — recent of elements? well, quite a day. it has been _ recent of elements? well, quite a day. it has been a _ recent of elements? well, quite a day. it has been a mutiny, - recent of elements? well, quite a day. it has been a mutiny, and - recent of elements? well, quite a | day. it has been a mutiny, and that appears to have been quelled or at least a flash in the pan. ukraine will continue to needle russia, to push them to cause these chain reactions, whether it is a drone attack, assassination, some form of attack, assassination, some form of attack into russian territory. and now we see this. i agree with the former ukrainian prime minister that ukraine will focus and profit from it, using a base and will attempt to continue to sow confusion amongst the russian ranks, especially along the russian ranks, especially along the front line. h the russian ranks, especially along the front line.— the front line. i will come back to that, but there _ the front line. i will come back to that, but there is _ the front line. i will come back to that, but there is so _ the front line. i will come back to that, but there is so much - the front line. i will come back to that, but there is so much to - the front line. i will come back to i that, but there is so much to learn about the nature of the deal that has been done here, if there is any deal, but it was a dramatic turnaround. one moment they were making progress to moscow, then the

order to return to barracks. we need to find out what the detail of the deal was, and i suppose the implications of that. dealwas, and i suppose the implications of that.- dealwas, and i suppose the implications of that. yes, and we 'ust don't implications of that. yes, and we just don't know. _ implications of that. yes, and we just don't know. we _ implications of that. yes, and we just don't know. we can - implications of that. yes, and we just don't know. we can only - just don't know. we can only speculate. forwant just don't know. we can only speculate. for want of speculation, it is feasible that despite the macho statement that he was prepared to fight, perhaps that was the case and he must have realised, emotionally unstable as he is, he couldn't take moscow and didn't have the support. you may have hoped there would be a chain reaction which would benefit him, that people would fall away, but that clearly hasn't happened. that is because he is not liked or respected by senior ministers in the russian government. they regard him as uncultured, and something of a peasant, not the person they would wish to lead them.

which is even if they don't want the water continue. the fact is, right now, vladimir putin is a better bet than yevgeny prigozhin. 50. now, vladimir putin is a better bet than yevgeny prigozhin. so, weakness on his side are — than yevgeny prigozhin. so, weakness on his side are not _ than yevgeny prigozhin. so, weakness on his side are not enough _ on his side are not enough service. what does it tell us about the weakness?— what does it tell us about the weakness? , , ., , what does it tell us about the weakness? , , ., weakness? this is the worst day of his 23 years _ weakness? this is the worst day of his 23 years so _ weakness? this is the worst day of his 23 years so far. _ weakness? this is the worst day of his 23 years so far. he's _ weakness? this is the worst day of his 23 years so far. he's had - his 23 years so far. he's had difficult days in the past, he's had terrorist attacks inside russia, he's had protests, he's been forced away from the presidency in some respects between 2008 in 2012. however, this is getting increasingly difficult. he is losing this war. it is not a state ukraine is finding it easy to win, especially as it goes on the offensive, but this is not what vladimir putin expected so far into

his presidency. he would have thought it would all be over and russia would have achieved a victory and ukraine would have been east of the divide, where they all be, according to him. it hasn't turned out like that. it will get more difficult as russia is either shrinking economic pie, choosing whether to fund the or his people in the light of an election, if it happens. i suspect it won't. of course people will get poorer and poorer, which they have done since 2013. ~ ., ., poorer, which they have done since 2013. . ., ., _, poorer, which they have done since 2013. . ., ., y ., ~ 2013. what do you think the implications _ 2013. what do you think the implications are _ 2013. what do you think the implications are on - 2013. what do you think the implications are on the - 2013. what do you think the - implications are on the battlefield in the counteroffensive the ukrainians have started only a few weeks ago? we don't even know if the wagner group plans to return to the fighting in ukraine at this stage. no, we don't, although he has hinted

as muchjust minutes no, we don't, although he has hinted as much just minutes ago. no, we don't, although he has hinted as muchjust minutes ago. what no, we don't, although he has hinted as much just minutes ago. what the russians were trying to do was contract the front line, to make it shorter and easier to defend. put more men in place. that remains to be the case, that is why fighting has been difficult for the ukrainians. whilst news for russians is difficult to come by, chinese whispers, dissent amongst the ranks is absolutely there. for sure, it is a difficult time, nervous time for russia, who were ensure her there leader would be in the days and weeks to come. that is not good for a country which is already under severe pressure. for ukraine, by contrast, this is a boost. i know the former prime minister didn't wish to concede that point, but they

will take some solace from it. they operate under a free media environment, and which will give them impetus to move forward. we have to leave it there, but thank you for your time. that look at the man, yevgeny prigozhin and the group he leads, known as the wagner group. our security because the net has more details. yevgeny prigozhin this morning, boasting his wagner group have taken it without firing a shot. but who is this man challenging russia and now the president? he began as a criminalfrom st the president? he began as a criminal from st petersburg. the president? he began as a criminalfrom st petersburg. after leaving jail he began selling hotdogs, but then graduated to running expensive restaurants. he caught the attention of russia's

leader, leading him to be known as putin's chef. he catered to world's leaders, but became rich from lucrative military contracts. then in the last decade he branched out, written operations around the world. it led to the fbi putting him on their most wanted list for allegedly interfering with the 2016 election interfering with the 2016 election in america. prigozhin became head of wagner, and often brutal private mercenary group working to the kremlin's agenda. it has been operating across the middle east and africa, including syria, libya and mali, allowing putin to project power without being involved. it is in the last year in ukraine that it has really come to the four. his forces have played a major role in the bloody combat. some of them came

from prisons. this is him recruiting them in return for an early release. but battles like the one in bakhmut have led to growing tensions between prigozhin and the regular russian military leadership. he's angrily accused its leaders like the defence minister and the military chief of using his men as cannon fodder and denying them vital supplies. in recent weeks, he had been growing more outspoken, increasingly seeming to challenge notjust the military, but also governor putin, bringing what had been a simmering crisis to the boil —— vladimir putin. there's talk more to bbc russia monitoring editor. there are so many unanswered questions. editor. there are so many unanswered cuestions. ., �*

editor. there are so many unanswered cuestions. . �* , questions. there are. i've been watchin: questions. there are. i've been watching russia _ questions. there are. i've been watching russia for _ questions. there are. i've been watching russia for 20 - questions. there are. i've been watching russia for 20 years, i questions. there are. i've been i watching russia for 20 years, and one thing i've learnt is that very often things on what they seem to be. there's wild speculation going on right now that this could be part of some plots, and this happens very often in russia. but there are some questions that are difficult to answer. for example, this huge convoy of wagner fighters who was reportedly on the way to moscow, would then lessen and one day, it covered a distance of about five miles from the vicinity of rostov towards moscow. we've not seen many pictures of that convoy which would give us a clear idea of how many vehicles there were, how many people were in it. also, the ease and speed at which wagner has been able to take rostov and possibly voroneszh

without any meaningful resistance from security services or the military, that also amazing. what do you read into it? well, it is quite possible that wagner has overestimated its abilities and yevgeny prigozhin has backed down. but possibly a lot of commentators in russia saying it could be part of some mind games by putin and prigozhin because they say, these commentators, that we are dealing with two masters of manipulation, disinformation. that gives us an idea of the environment that exists in russia right now in the absence of truly independent media. this vacuum is filled by speculation. just 30 seconds, if you would. where

has vladimir putin actually being today because rock is he still in moscow? we today because rock is he still in moscow? ~ ., �* ~ ., today because rock is he still in moscow? ., �* ~ ., ., , moscow? we don't know, and in times of crisis, moscow? we don't know, and in times of crisis. he — moscow? we don't know, and in times of crisis. he was _ moscow? we don't know, and in times of crisis, he was outside _ moscow? we don't know, and in times of crisis, he was outside of _ moscow? we don't know, and in times of crisis, he was outside of moscow, i of crisis, he was outside of moscow, but his whereabouts are usually shrouded in secrecy.— but his whereabouts are usually shrouded in secrecy. vitaliy, thank ou. we shrouded in secrecy. vitaliy, thank you- we will _ shrouded in secrecy. vitaliy, thank you. we will talk _ shrouded in secrecy. vitaliy, thank you. we will talk again _ shrouded in secrecy. vitaliy, thank you. we will talk again in - shrouded in secrecy. vitaliy, thank you. we will talk again in the - shrouded in secrecy. vitaliy, thank you. we will talk again in the next| you. we will talk again in the next couple of moments, but some of the latest developments. there was the second focal between belarus's president and vladimir putin, with putin thanking alexander lukashenko —— second phone call. you are watching bbc news. let's get more on the geography of the latest developments. that cross back to the newsroom. thank you. this is the area we are talking about, quite the drama over the last day. in

particular, over the last couple of hours when we hear these reports coming out that the wagner fighters heading north towards moscow are doing an about turn. it appears the leader of belarus, alexander lukashenko, has played some pivotal role. we've got russia, ukraine and belarus to the north. if we cast our minds back to the start of the invasion, belarus was a crucial country in the start of the invasion. it is where a lot of the russian fighters began theirjourney into ukraine. and the links between alexander lukashenko and vladimir putin are well documented, they are good friends, have a strong bond and lukashenko is one of the world leaders who are stirred by putin during the invasion. what we look at ukraine, we have the red territory, the russian —controlled aria. crimea is down here, which russia annexed in 2014. when that happens, we heard

reports of little green men on the streets, these men in military uniforms. it is widely accepted many of the men fighting went on to become wagnerfighters. of the men fighting went on to become wagner fighters. they are no strangers to this area. the city of rostov on don played a key role in the last day. it is about 100 kilometres away from ukrainian border, and we heard of these wagner fighters leaving this territory to go into it. what was key is yevgeny prigozhin going said he was able to take the city without any shot being fired. rostov on don is crucial, it is russia's seven headquarters, a major staging post before fighters go into ukraine and take cities. they took rostov on don easily and headed north to voroneszh. the journey was not simple, and we heard reports of gunfire, rich helicopters

firing on the wagner troops. yevgeny prigozhin was not able to provide evidence but he did say it happened, and we saw verified footage of an explosion at a fuel depot there. this is the road, the m500 kilometres from rostov on don. the key thing is, it is then only another 500 kilometres on towards moscow. throughout the last 2a hours, there's been this anticipation of how far these wagner fighters would get. we heard from a governor who said they were in his territory, and he had seen them moving military weaponry and machinery into his area. later on, we heard from the governor of kaluga, who said he was locking down his residence, imposing travel restriction on people to stop them moving around. kaluga is only 200

kilometres away from moscow, so there was this real sense of anticipation building, that it would be the next destination of these wagner fighters. be the next destination of these wagnerfighters. as be the next destination of these wagner fighters. as we be the next destination of these wagnerfighters. as we have heard, they have turned around, they will finish theirjourney, go in the opposite direction, according to alexander lukashenko. you can keep following the story on bbc news. live from london, this is bbc news. the leader of the wagner mercenary group tells his fighters to return to their bases to avoid the risk of bloodshed. we're turning our comms back and leaving in the opposite

direction to the field camps, according to the plan. his fighters had been advancing on moscow. an agreement to de—escalate was reached after negotiations with belarus' pro—putin leader. vladimir putin said russia was facing a battle for its future, calling the rebellion and armed mutiny. ukraine's president zelensky says the rebellion exposed the weakness of the russian government and accuses putin of running scared. welcome to our continuing coverage of the unrest in russia. we start with that dramatic breaking news in an extraordinary day in russia. the leader of the wagner group, yevgeny prigozhin, has ordered his mercenaries to turn around and return to their bases to avoid bloodshed. a huge convoy had been heading towards moscow in what vladimir putin had described as an attempted mutiny. in an audio message posted on the social media site telegram,

prigozhin said the time had come to stand down. take a listen to this english translation of his message. translation: they wanted to disband the wagner on june 23rd. _ we went out on a justice march within a day. we were just 200 kilometres away from moscow. during that time, we did not spill a single drop of blood of our fighters. now the moment has come when the blood can be spilt. therefore, understanding all the responsibility for the fact that russian blood will be spilt on one of the sides, we're turning our comms back and leaving in the opposite direction to the field camps. according to the plan. well, across the border in kyiv, ukrainian president volodomyr zelensky said that the days action was a clear sign of weakness in the kremlin.

the man from the kremlin is obviously very afraid and probably hiding somewhere, not showing himself. i am sure that he is no longer in moscow. he knows what he is afraid of because he himself created this threat. and to you, people of russia, the longer your troops stay on ukrainian land, the more devastation they will bring to russia. the longer this person is in the kremlin, the more disaster there will be. your thoughts at the end of quite an extraordinary, dramatic day. tet extraordinary, dramatic day. yet auain, extraordinary, dramatic day. yet again. i'm _ extraordinary, dramatic day. yet again, i'm reminded about how much we know as russia is dwarfed by the stuff we don't know, and this place

continues to surprise us, so this drama has a long way to run and we are alljust drama has a long way to run and we are all just speculating, drama has a long way to run and we are alljust speculating, so don't expect any hard conclusions. ih expect any hard conclusions. in terms of the scenarios that go through your mind, take me through two or three. it through your mind, take me through two or three-— two or three. it seems to me unfeasible — two or three. it seems to me unfeasible that _ two or three. it seems to me unfeasible that prigozhin - two or three. it seems to me unfeasible that prigozhin did | two or three. it seems to me - unfeasible that prigozhin did this assault without some form of planning with someone else. there were various speculations that sound credible to me, they were working with the head of the fsb, and what you might see is a coup with the fsb taking over a unitary state and the war put on hold for a while. the fsb having now gone out on the hunt for prigozhin, that may not happen. so who knows? it may be that this was a more coordinated attack. so i think things have not quite worked out the

way that prigozhin wanted. the latest speculation would seem to be that this was put up by pink —— by putin and prigozhin and he has blasted his way to outside moscow and threatened and pulled back as part of a giant conspiracy theory, so you can already see on the twitter sphere that people are already speculating this will lead to a clear out that putin wants to get rid of, so there are all sorts of speculations going on here. whatever the speculation, how we can do is vladimir putin, do you think? i think the significant one, in report talking about lukashenko helping out, you mischaracterised their relationship, i think lukashenko is conscious that belarus does not want to get sucked into this war which is why he has never supply troops to putin, but putin has been strong—arming him to gain the basing rights and to get the nuclear weapons, so the power was very much owed by putin, it seems to

me. what we are witnessing today is putin crawling to lukashenko and pleading with him to call prigozhin off, so the power balance would have seemed to have swung there, so this is a really humiliating moment for president putin.— is a really humiliating moment for president putin. humiliating may be, but what do you _ president putin. humiliating may be, but what do you think _ president putin. humiliating may be, but what do you think the _ president putin. humiliating may be, but what do you think the impact - president putin. humiliating may be, but what do you think the impact of i but what do you think the impact of that, how does that translate what we see on the battlefield potentially comedy think? ht we see on the battlefield potentially comedy think? iti we see on the battlefield potentially comedy think? if i was a russian soldier _ potentially comedy think? if i was a russian soldier on _ potentially comedy think? if i was a russian soldier on the _ potentially comedy think? if i was a russian soldier on the front - potentially comedy think? if i was a russian soldier on the front line - russian soldier on the front line now, wagner has gone and the chechens have gone, apparently as far as i understand it, then the russian lines are severely weakened, so if i were the ukrainians, what i would be doing is launching an enormous information campaign to try and make the russian soldiers feel even more ill supported than they already do feel, secondly i would continue with the attacks on the

russian positions as planned because most of the ukrainian troops i suspect are well trained so you are better off running with existing plans than springing them with surprises, but the real thing i would do is call up all my reserves and putting in shorter notice to move, and my reserves should be my best troops so they can react and exploit as fast as possible if ever there is some kind of chink or collapse or weakness in the russian lines, so i think this fundamentally strengthens the ukrainian battle position. strengthens the ukrainian battle osition. ., ., , ., position. how important is that information _ position. how important is that information war, _ position. how important is that information war, do _ position. how important is that information war, do you - position. how important is that information war, do you think, | position. how important is that - information war, do you think, just affecting the psychology of russian troops there on the front lines? t troops there on the front lines? i think it has got to be really important. we are being spun by both sides here. but the morale of the russian troops is not high, so this will only make it worse, so i think it's very important, and it will also bolster the morale of the ukrainians. we

also bolster the morale of the ukrainians.— also bolster the morale of the ukrainians. we have to leave it there, ukrainians. we have to leave it there. but _ ukrainians. we have to leave it there, but thanks _ ukrainians. we have to leave it there, but thanks so _ ukrainians. we have to leave it there, but thanks so much - ukrainians. we have to leave it there, but thanks so much forl ukrainians. we have to leave it - there, but thanks so much for being with us, events have moved at such a remarkable pace to the course of the day, it's worthjust remarkable pace to the course of the day, it's worth just pausing and recapping and looking back at what has happened in the last few hours. moscow was bracing itself for an attack from a large wagner military convoy heading for the capital. this was the scene earlier, russian military were patrolling the streets, with roadblocks set up just outside the city centre. that's after the head of the wagner mercenary group, yevgeny prigozhin, announced that his fighters had taken over the major russian city of rostov—on—don in the south. tanks were seen in the city earlier today, which is the military command centre for the russian army's war in ukraine. wagner troops then clashed with russian soldiers in the voronezh region, over 600 kilometres north on the m4 highway. a weapons dump had also been set on fire.

voronzeh is a key city on route to moscow, just eight hours from the capital. but they are now turning back under prigozhin's order to in his words "avoid bloodshed". steve rosenberg has the background to the story. this was no ordinary saturday. city of 1 this was no ordinary saturday. city of1 million people have woken to this, the site of armed men and armed on the streets, and tanks outside key buildings. in control here, the mercenary group wagner, closely linked to the state, they had fought for russia and ukraine, but this was mutiny. their leader had gone rogue, his feud with russian military leadership over how the war is being fought had boiled over. at a military hq he told

russian generals, we have come for the defence minister and the chief of the general staff, if we don't get them, i will blockade the city and head to moscow. this was treachery, said the kremlin, stab in the back for russia. fit" treachery, said the kremlin, stab in the back for russia.— the back for russia. our actions to defend the — the back for russia. our actions to defend the fatherland _ the back for russia. our actions to defend the fatherland from - the back for russia. our actions to defend the fatherland from this i defend the fatherland from this threat will be harsh. everyone who consciously chose the path of treason and planned the armed uprising has embraced blackmail and terrorist methods. they will be inevitably punished before the law and our people. this inevitably punished before the law and our people-— and our people. this is a huge headache _ and our people. this is a huge headache now _ and our people. this is a huge headache now for _ and our people. this is a huge headache now for the - and our people. this is a huge| headache now for the kremlin, and our people. this is a huge - headache now for the kremlin, not only is russia fighting a war in ukraine which has not gone to plan, it is now having to deal with unarmed mutiny at home, and although the criticism is directed mainly at the criticism is directed mainly at the defence ministry not the president, what is happening now is

putting vladimir putin under enormous pressure. there are reports of wagner convoys heading north of rostov north to moscow, bbc verified g located these images in voronzeh. security has been tightened in the russian capital, it feels like the kremlin has been taken by surprise. i think it's a great embarrassment for the _ i think it's a great embarrassment for the kremlin. i think it's a great embarrassment forthe kremlin. it was i think it's a great embarrassment for the kremlin. it was put was my praiect _ for the kremlin. it was put was my project because he made prigozhin and allowed him to exist, so he made it happen. _ and allowed him to exist, so he made it happen, and suddenly prigozhin .oes it happen, and suddenly prigozhin goes against him. find it happen, and suddenly prigozhin goes against him.— goes against him. and what do muscovites _ goes against him. and what do muscovites make _ goes against him. and what do muscovites make of— goes against him. and what do muscovites make of the - goes against him. and what do | muscovites make of the drama? goes against him. and what do - muscovites make of the drama? some do not notice it, others seem confused. before, they told us wagner was good, svetlana says, they gave the medals, they were heroes, now suddenly they are villains? that's hard for me to get used to.

troops will return to barracks, other videos shared on social media were showing locals charting wagner's name, as well as taking pictures with them, thanking them, so the day started with rostov falling to those mercenaries, and now they are packing up and actually leaving. arsenee yatsenyuk is the former prime minister of ukraine — who ran the government in the aftermath of the 2014 democratic revolution.

he told me his reaction to events in russia. ahead of the terrorist state is fighting with the head of the terrorist organisation, let me remind you that prigozhin similar to putin, putin gave this to prigozhin, so this is an active human nation personally for putin, and could you imagine another part of the story, that putin hired a midwife, which is another dictator self—proclaimed so—called president, to broker the deal? so it is a complete mess and a real humiliation for putin, and i strongly believe that this would have dreadful implications for putin and his power. t have dreadful implications for putin and his power-— and his power. i will come back to that last thought _ and his power. i will come back to that last thought in _ and his power. i will come back to that last thought in a _ and his power. i will come back to that last thought in a moment - and his power. i will come back to that last thought in a moment or. that last thought in a moment or two, but we were playing a little earlier on bbc news just our report from the front lines, the counteroffensive, it is hard

fighting there the ukrainian troops, psychologically, how much is a boost, what has happened through the course of today?— course of today? frankly speaking, i ski these course of today? frankly speaking, i skip these kinds _ course of today? frankly speaking, i skip these kinds of _ course of today? frankly speaking, i skip these kinds of emotions - course of today? frankly speaking, i | skip these kinds of emotions because we have to focus on the battlefield. no doubt, these kinds of riots or unrest provoked by prigozhin and putin distracted the attention of the russian military and the establishment from military aggression in ukraine, so it is a kind of additional benefit, but no more, so it's important to be very cautious and to be very clear, understanding that ukraine needs help, and the only chance for ukraine to prevail is to support the ukrainian military. just ukraine to prevail is to support the ukrainian military.— ukrainian military. just a quick word about — ukrainian military. just a quick word about the _ ukrainian military. just a quick word about the wagner - ukrainian military. just a quick| word about the wagner group, ukrainian military. just a quick- word about the wagner group, people around the world will be watching today's developments, you will know, won't you, that they have spearheaded so much of the fighting,

the russian gains are a very effective fighting force, you would acknowledge that? this effective fighting force, you would acknowledge that?— acknowledge that? this is quite owerful acknowledge that? this is quite powerful from _ acknowledge that? this is quite powerful from the _ acknowledge that? this is quite powerful from the russian - acknowledge that? this is quite | powerful from the russian state because one can say this is the mercenary group or private mercenary company, that's not true, this is the part of putin's machine, and putin created this machine, so these guys are quite professional and students of war, but once again putin, prigozhin, they are from the same i would say gone, they are both war criminals, and fighting against putin is similar to fighting against prigozhin because prigozhin got orders from putin to invade ukraine and to fight against the ukrainian military. and to fight against the ukrainian milita . ., ,., ., and to fight against the ukrainian milita . ., ., i. military. the advisor to your defence minister _ military. the advisor to your defence minister was - military. the advisor to your| defence minister was talking military. the advisor to your i defence minister was talking to military. the advisor to your - defence minister was talking to the bbc earlier, and i will read you at

the quote, we are little by little running out of popcorn, watching events unfold at an unprecedented speed, perhaps that is the dark humour you would expect after a year of war, but there is a worry too, when wounded putin is even more dangerous, isn't he? he when wounded putin is even more dangerous, isn't he?— dangerous, isn't he? he is and he was always _ dangerous, isn't he? he is and he was always dangerous, _ dangerous, isn't he? he is and he was always dangerous, and - dangerous, isn't he? he is and he was always dangerous, and i - dangerous, isn't he? he is and he| was always dangerous, and i know dangerous, isn't he? he is and he - was always dangerous, and i know the narrative. let's not cross the red lines with putin, putin crossed the red lines, and putin violated international law, and putin commits war crimes and crimes against humanity in ukraine, so i'm not a fan of these kinds of popcorn sagas, this is the war, a bloody war, and ukraine needs to prevail in this war, and this is hard toil, with ups and downs, and the thing is, putin's regime is in decline, and what

happens right now in russia, it severely eroded the legitimacy of war criminal putin. but this war is for the long haul. t war criminal putin. but this war is for the long haul.— for the long haul. i was talking to the former _ for the long haul. i was talking to the former prime _ for the long haul. i was talking to the former prime minister- for the long haul. i was talking to the former prime minister of- for the long haul. i was talking to - the former prime minister of ukraine earlier. the latest line is we were listening to that, the chief of russia's region is lifting those restrictions after that march from the vagner group has been turned back, you may remember the governor of the area saying he had been seeing the vagner group equipment moving through his area, only 400 kilometres south of moscow, and they put the word out, strongly advising people not to leave their homes and avoid travelling by any means, so all of those restrictions are lifted in the last little while. live now to warsaw to our eastern europe correspondent, sarah rainsford. you were in moscow for so many

years. what are your thoughts on a day like today?— day like today? extraordinary. i'm not entirely _ day like today? extraordinary. i'm not entirely sure _ day like today? extraordinary. i'm not entirely sure that _ day like today? extraordinary. i'm not entirely sure that i _ day like today? extraordinary. i'm not entirely sure that i have - day like today? extraordinary. i'm not entirely sure that i have yet i not entirely sure that i have yet absorbed exactly what has happened, but certainly the pace of events was unprecedented, the very fact this was happening itself was unprecedented, and then at the last minute to have wagner forces, supposedly 200 kilometres or so outside forces and the alexander lukashenko to step in and apparently save the day is apparently another weird twist in a very strange 24 hours or so in russian affairs. and thatis hours or so in russian affairs. and that is saying something, it has been pretty weird there for a long time. but from all of this, vladimir putin is damaged, this was a man who was very close to him, and for many years doing his dirty work in various aspects and spheres of life, from syria to meddling in elections

to all sorts of other activity and most recently of course fighting with his forces in ukraine, this creature of the kremlin had turned against its master, essentially, so i think that's why this was so dramatic, this was notjust anybody but the man who vladimir putin had trusted, who had it seems turned around and stabbed him in the back, as vladimir putin himself had said. so the idea of something disturbing was raised in russia, blood being shed, which apparently appears to have been averted, so it's difficult to absorb exactly what might have happened and what might have happened, but certainly very extraordinary day.— extraordinary day. given the language. — extraordinary day. given the language, though, - extraordinary day. given the language, though, from - extraordinary day. given the - language, though, from vladimir putin, treason, betrayal, how did they even go about piecing that back together? because that vagner group has been so critical on the battlefield, hasn't it? yes. i can't

see how they _ battlefield, hasn't it? yes. i can't see how they could _ battlefield, hasn't it? yes. i can't see how they could be _ battlefield, hasn't it? yes. i can't see how they could be a - battlefield, hasn't it? yes. i can't see how they could be a way - battlefield, hasn't it? yes. i can'tj see how they could be a way back battlefield, hasn't it? yes. i can't - see how they could be a way back for him after vladimir putin could accuse infer betrayal, how could he then possibly pardon him? even if he said he went mad on the battlefield, ijust said he went mad on the battlefield, i just can't see that kind said he went mad on the battlefield, ijust can't see that kind of backtracking. we have not seen the details of the deal that have supposedly been agreed, all we know is there were security guarantees according to the president of belarus the vagner fighters. what i would say is this in its very root appears to be about prigozhin's role, status and survival with the wagner group he established, because the russian establishment was trying to absorb the mercenary group into the military, and prigozhin had been resisting that, so the terrible

relationship goes back many years, and we have seen it over recent months spell out in dangerous rhetoric. now we see that dispute play out in an extremely dangerous way the vladimir putin himself, so the real danger to russia as a whole has been averted, but still the big question remains of what exactly now happens to prigozhin, how can his threat be removed, even with this deal supposedly on the table and even with his forces turning round and leaving the moscow region? fight! even with his forces turning round and leaving the moscow region? bhdt and leaving the moscow region? and i su ose the and leaving the moscow region? and i suppose the next _ and leaving the moscow region? and i suppose the next few _ and leaving the moscow region? and i suppose the next few days will be critical as well with so many of these unanswered questions, will we see changes at the top of the russian military, the defence ministry, the head of the army? that is what prigozhin has been calling for, he has also called for tactics to be much hardened in terms of what we have seen so far, we wait to see if any of that feeds into how this

gets resolved.— if any of that feeds into how this gets resolved. yeah, and there is hue gets resolved. yeah, and there is huge questions — gets resolved. yeah, and there is huge questions again. _ gets resolved. yeah, and there is huge questions again. i _ gets resolved. yeah, and there is huge questions again. i find - gets resolved. yeah, and there is huge questions again. i find it - gets resolved. yeah, and there is. huge questions again. i find it hard to think that as a result of this blackmail, essentially, vladimir putin would sack his defence minister. i think that that would make him look weak in a way he would not want to happen. i know that that is certainly what prigozhin has been calling for all along and also for the chief of staff, to give in to those demands would be pretty much a difficult climb down, i think, the vladimir putin given he came out and made a national address where he talked about treason. vladimir putin likes trust and loyalty, he hates being betrayed, the phrase stab in the back is an extremely serious one for him to use, sol the back is an extremely serious one for him to use, so i find it hard to think that anything that prigozhin was demanding would be given to him, so that is difficult. in terms of

ukraine, though, we have to remember that prigozhin is no liberal angel, this is a man who has deserters from his forces loaded and executed, their heads smashed in with a sledgehammer. he is a former convict released from prison, fighting alongside former convicts in ukraine and he wants that water go on, he wants to go further. so what happens in ukraine as a result of this is another as yet open question. goad another as yet open question. good to talk to you. _ another as yet open question. good to talk to you, thanks _ another as yet open question. good to talk to you, thanks very - another as yet open question. good to talk to you, thanks very much, life for us in warsaw. let's talk to a research fellow. we've beenjoined by mykola bielieskov, research fellow at ukraine's national institute for strategic studies in kyiv, which is advising the ukrainian government on military matters. in terms of your vantage point in kyiv, how do you view today's events? ., , ,., kyiv, how do you view today's

events? ., , ., , events? from my point of view, this undermines — events? from my point of view, this undermines the _ events? from my point of view, this undermines the image _ events? from my point of view, this undermines the image of _ events? from my point of view, this undermines the image of putin - events? from my point of view, this undermines the image of putin as i events? from my point of view, this undermines the image of putin as a | undermines the image of putin as a strongman internally, first ukraine undermined that image externally. and now this image is undermined internally, and it's a huge blow to any autocrat. that is why i would say this situation will unfold, i don't know in what kind of way, but i'm sure that this situation is not settled. ih i'm sure that this situation is not settled. , ., ~ ., ., settled. in terms of the ukrainian milita , settled. in terms of the ukrainian military. are _ settled. in terms of the ukrainian military, are they _ settled. in terms of the ukrainian military, are they in _ settled. in terms of the ukrainian military, are they in a _ settled. in terms of the ukrainian military, are they in a position . military, are they in a position where they can exploit something like this rapidly?— where they can exploit something like this rapidly? right here, right now there are _ like this rapidly? right here, right now there are no _ like this rapidly? right here, right now there are no indications - like this rapidly? right here, rightj now there are no indications there is an opening we can't exploit said the situation is the same. we are trying to undermine this quite deadly combination of mines. so nothing changed for ukraine, this

stage of the situation in russia. it did not evolve in a way that required a huge turning of forces from fighting in ukraine. psychologically, i'm sure it would be very helpful for all those ukrainian fighters. in terms of when you look at the west watching this, trying to make their own assessments, is this the moment to perhaps speed up the kind of help they are giving ukraine? definitely, it's a moment. _ they are giving ukraine? definitely, it's a moment, especially _ they are giving ukraine? definitely, it's a moment, especially after - they are giving ukraine? definitely, it's a moment, especially after we | it's a moment, especially after we saw quite a good result of the missiles supplied by the uk, so we have been provided with more firepower, and i'm sure we can accomplish goals that started at the beginning ofjune of this year. we have to leave it there, but thank you for being with us, sorry it was brief, but thank you for those thoughts from ukraine's capital. just to return to some of those

latest developments. mercenaries are starting to pull their fighters latest developments. mercenaries are starting to pull theirfighters back from russia's rostov, the day started with those mercenaries crossing the border, taking that key logistical russian town, it's where the army has its base for the southern command, organising the war on ukraine, so very significant place, rostov, but those wagner troops pulling back after that about turn from their leader that was announced just a couple of hours ago, so those are the latest details and pictures in terms of what is happening on the ground. for more on the geography of these latest developments, we can cross live now to our reporter, rich preston, who is in the newsroom. yes, this is the big picture, the

area we are looking at here, ukraine here, russia here, and belarus to the north of ukraine. of course, belarus's leader appears to have played a pivotal role in this withdrawal of wagner forces, we played a pivotal role in this withdrawal of wagnerforces, we have heard about the two vocals he has had with president putin, president putin thanking him for his involvement, and in the run—up to the invasion of ukraine, russian troops were stationed in belarus, so belarus and russia very much hand in this operation. we have also heard in the last half hour or so from the governor of another region, wagner forces reached there earlier on, they brought military equipment and machinery and as a result he imposed travel restrictions on people in the city, he has restricted those, because of this apparent withdrawal of wagner forces, because of this apparent withdrawal of wagnerforces, he because of this apparent withdrawal of wagner forces, he said those restrictions had been lifted, but

let's go right back to the very beginning and look at what happened. this red patch here at the bottom of ukraine, that is russian occupied territory following russia's invasion, this bit here, crimea, was of course annexed by russia back in 2014, and if you cast your mind back to when that happened, you may remember there were stories of so—called little green men involved in the annexation of crimea. these men in military uniforms without any russian flags or branding on them, and it is widely accepted that many of the fighters who were amongst those little green men went on to join the wagner ranks, then around this time yesterday they started to move out of this territory to rostov, about 100 kilometres from the ukrainian border which the wagner leader says they were able to take without a single shot being fired, they then started to move north on this m4 highway, that was

not such an easy mission, and yevgeny prigozhin said they came under attack from russian forces, including artillery strikes and helicopter gun attacks, he did not provide any evidence to back that up but he said that's what happened, and we saw footage of what appeared to be strikes on an oil depot, there was some kind of explosion there, and then the troops started to move north, the key thing is it is halfway between rostov and moscow. so that was really ramping up the tension, that these wagner fighters were going to march in the capital. they did make it to lipetsk, not long after that happened, the governor started to lock down his citizens as well, started to impose travel restrictions. lou gets 200 kilometres away from moscow, we don't know if wagner fighters got there but we do know they got about

200 kilometres from the russian capital before we heard this news starting to come through that they would withdraw and turn around, they did not make exactly clear which direction they were going to turn around too, but we presume back along the road south to rostov, and as you were saying there, we have seen these videos starting to come out of these wagner fighters, packing up their kit and some of these towns and cities and retreating back out of the area. this is a rapidly developing story, you can of course follow all the latest updates on the bbc news website and the bbc news app, and of course right here on bbc news. this is bbc news. the headlines. wagner mercenary fighters begin to withdraw from the city of rostov astor their leader orders them to return to their bases to avoid

bloodshed. his forces had been advancing on moscow — an agreement to de—escalate was reached after negotiations with the leader of belarus. earlier, vladimir putin said russia was facing a battle for its future, calling the rebellion and armed mutiny. ukraine's president zelensky says the rebellion exposed the weakness of the russian government and accuses putin of running scared. lets return straightaway to what has been an extraordinary day in russia. we're hearing wagner fighters are starting to pull out from rostov—on—don. earlier, a huge convoy had been heading towards moscow in what vladimir putin had described as an attempted mutiny. these are images of wagner troops packing their bags and loading their vans. other videos shared on social media were showing locals chanting wagner's name as they were packing,

as well as taking pictuers as well as taking pictures with them and thanking them. in an audio message posted on the social media site telegram, progozhin said the time had come to stand down. translation: they wanted to disband the wa . ner. translation: they wanted to disband the wagner- we _ translation: they wanted to disband the wagner. we were _ translation: they wanted to disband the wagner. we were just _ translation: they wanted to disband the wagner. we were just 200 - the wagner. we were just 200 kilometres away from moscow. during that time we did not spill a single drop of blood of our fighters. now, the moment has come where blood can be spilt. therefore, understanding the full possibility that russian blood can be spilt on one of the sites, we are turning our columns back and leading in the opposite direction to the field camps according to the plan the belarusian president, alexander lukashenko has claimed credit for turning the troops back, with his office saying the belarusian leader,

a close ally of president putin's, took the lead in negotiations and talking down the mercenary leader. but the damage may already be done. vladimir putin has called the actions of prigozhin and his wagner group in the last 24 hours a stab in the back and an attempted mutiny that won't go unpunished. well, across the border in kyiv, ukrainian president volodomyr zelensky said that the days action was a clear sign of weakness in the kremlin. translation: the man from the kremlin is obviously _ translation: the man from the kremlin is obviously very - translation: the man from the kremlin is obviously very afraid, i kremlin is obviously very afraid, and probably hiding somewhere, not showing himself. i'm sure that he is no longer in moscow. he knows what he is afraid of, because he himself created this threat. and to you, people of russia, the longer your troops stay on ukrainian land, the more devastation they will bring to russia. the longer this person is in the kremlin, the more disaster there will be. let's take a closer look at the man who's called for this rebellion,

yevgeny prigozhin, and the group of mercenary soldiers he leads, known as the wagner group. our security correspondent gordon corera has more details. yevgeny prigozhin outside russian military headquarters in rostov—on—don this morning, boasting his wagner group have taken it without firing a shot. butjust who is this man challenging russia's armed forces, and now its president? prigozhin began as a criminal from st petersburg. after leaving jail, he began selling hotdogs but then graduated to running expensive restaurants. he caught the attention of russia's leader, leading him to be known as putin's chef. he catered to world leaders when they visited, even america's president, but also became rich from lucrative military contracts. then, in the last decade, he branched out, running operations around the world on behalf of the kremlin. that led to the fbi placing him on their most wanted list for allegedly interfering with america's 2016 election.

but prigozhin became best known as head of wagner, an often brutal private mercenary group working to the kremlin's agenda. it has been operating across the middle east and africa, including syria, libya and mali, allowing putin to project power without being directly involved. but it is in the last year in ukraine that it has really come to the fore. his forces have played a major role in the bloody combat. some of them came from prisons. here is prigozhin recruiting them in return for an early release. but battles like the one in bakhmut have led to growing tension between prigozhin and the regular russian military leadership. he has angrily accused its leaders, like the defence minister

shoigu and military chief, gerasimov, of using his men as cannon fodder and denying them vital supplies. in recent weeks he had been growing even more outspoken, increasingly seeming to challenge notjust the military but also vladimir putin, bringing what had been a simmering crisis to the boil. these latest events have to be seen against the backdrop of the latest fighting between russian and ukrainian forces. ukrainian forces have been pushing to recapture some of the territory invaded by russia, including settlements in the eastern donetsk region, and the southern region of zaporizhzhia, but progress has been slow. fighting is also continuing around the eastern city of bakhmut, most of which is still under russian control after prolonged fighting, and this is where the wagner group

have suffered heavy losses. president zelensky said today that the latest chaos in russia showed the weakness of president putin. our correspondent andrew harding reports from the donbas in eastern ukraine. a ukrainian army doctor rushes to help yet another casualty this morning near the front lines. russia may be in disarray today, but the fighting here near the town of bakhmut is as ferocious as ever. rough and ready treatment for this soldier, who's got a chunk of shrapnel in his thigh. the doctor here, his callsign is yoda, plots the next rescue mission to the nearby battlefield. as for the news of mutiny in russia... with weary eyes, yoda says, "most of us don't really believe it, "or maybe it's a performance, something to try to distract us. "what matters is that we fight on." they are just heading off now to the front line to pick up some more wounded. the fighting seems to be getting much more intense around bakhmut.

and the word from the ukrainians is that they are advancing now steadily, metre by metre. so are ukrainian troops already taking advantage of the chaos in russia's mutinous military? that must surely be the plan. but success is not guaranteed. that's ukrainian jets flying above. that was two ukrainian jets flying very low overhead. we are having to stay under the trees here because the medics here are telling us russian drones are constantly patrolling every day looking for them. another doctor, known as afghan, who i last met a year ago, is weary and cautious about what comes next. how is the counteroffensive going? hm. difficult? yes. as if to prove the point...

incoming russian artillery. explosion. then another casualty arrives from the front. 56—year—old alexander. more shrapnel. and yet, as heavy as the fighting seems, there is hope here that a demoralised, divided russian enemy may be in big trouble. gregory zhyhalov from bbc ukrainian joins us now live from the newsroom. what are you hearing? just two hours auo, we what are you hearing? just two hours ago. we heard _ what are you hearing? just two hours ago, we heard that _ what are you hearing? just two hours ago, we heard that ukrainian - what are you hearing? just two hours ago, we heard that ukrainian forces i ago, we heard that ukrainian forces started in advance in different directions. most of these attacks

are happening in the donetsk region, but we have to remember that this is an official information, and official information coming from the ukrainian side has a significant delay, sometimes two or three days. what is really happening or what is happening in the last 24 hours, and how all these events in russia, how they impacted on the front line, we will know about it probably in the coming days. at this moment, we are not seeing that something has dramatically changed, but on the other side we see some indications from analysts who have sources on the front line that the events in russia that didn't really influence russian forces at the front line, because the commanders in moscow or rostov on don, they were a little bit busy on what was happening there, and were not able sometimes to react quickly on the requests on

the ground. again, at this point still too early to say at which extent all the events in russia are influencing the front line. obviously, ukrainian forces were trying to take advantage of that. i think we will have more information in the next two or three days. t in the next two or three days. i will come back to the military in a moment or two, but i know you've been talking to ordinary people across ukraine. what has been the general reaction to what they are seeing happening over the border? t seeing happening overthe border? i think it would not be an exaggeration to say that the last 24 hours, many ukrainians were not sleeping, and not because of the air raid sirens. you know this night was a huge missile attack on ukraine, 41 rocket missiles, many of them were heading to kyiv and other big

cities, but yes, a lot of ukrainians were literally hunting for information, constantly on mobile phones in messages on social media, and my phone was constantly blinking. the screen at night, there were times where there was not a lot of information, people were just writing each other, what do you think about it? to have any idea how things will go on? we are trying to find some analytics predicting what could happen, and also it is very interesting, there were also sometimes where there is no information and all the social media were flooded with this kind of bitter humour which became sort of a feature of this conflict from ukrainian side, which helps ukrainians that ukrainian society survive and go through this conflict. that which is to give an

example of these jokes that were spreading across the internet, they were planning to take kyiv in three days, instead they took rostov in one night! again, this isjust to give you the feeling of the atmosphere in which ukrainian society was living during the last day and night. but yes, a lot of surprise, a lot of experts, that theoretically there were saying this kind of situation is possible, but no one is expecting that this would just start unfolding just like that in front of your eyes on your screen. ~ ., screen. we will leave it there, thank you _ screen. we will leave it there, thank you very _ screen. we will leave it there, thank you very much. - screen. we will leave it there, thank you very much. we - screen. we will leave it there, | thank you very much. we were screen. we will leave it there, - thank you very much. we were looking at pictures from rostov on don, perhaps you can put this back on the screen, because we have been seeing those wagner troops are beginning to leave that city. the day started with those russian troops crossing the border, taking that key russian

logistical city, and we have seen in the last little while people being cheered as they were packing up and leaving, and of course rostov was taken without any shots being fired, thatis taken without any shots being fired, that is what prigozhin had started the day by saying, and that is where russia organises a lot of the logistics for their war in ukraine, and that is why it was such a significant city to actually take. those are some of the latest pictures as we have been watching over the last little while of those wagner mercenaries beginning to leave. just the latest reaction coming in from the united states, the us secretary of defence, lloyd austin, has said he had spoken today with defence ministers from canada, france, germany, poland and the united kingdom to discuss the situation in russia. we know in terms of the white house and various other capitals that they are watching closely, not seeing a great deal, but watching events,

monitoring events, trying to actually work out the implications of the events that we have seen through the course of the day in russia, so we know that cobra meeting was chaired by rishi sunak here in the uk, that the us secretary of defence making it clear that he has spoken to all of the defence secretaries from european countries and other countries like canada. we will keep an eye on matt, and on those close coordination is with allies, which they say will continue in the next few critical days. john e herbst is the senior director of the atlantic council's eurasia centre and a former us ambassador to ukraine. this was his assessment on today. the president of russia has described what prigozhin has done as treason. the fsb has opened an investigation into the insurrection that prigozhin has created, and of course, prigozhin has 20—plus thousand very well—armed and motivated troops

to defend himself. so how does this play out? i'm not certain, but prigozhin certainly is not going to submit to being under the control of the ministry of defence, which is where things seem to be headed before prigozhin began this move yesterday. and how does putin and the fsb and his government backed down and his government back down from the steps they have taken against prigozhin? so what are the scenarios that are running through your head at the moment? potential scenarios? this could be just a potential pause before an actual clash of arms. maybe putin is willing to somehow back away from his statements and maintain prigozhin in roughly the same circumstances he's existed for the past several years. maybe there are changes within the government

which are persuasive, acceptable to prigozhin, so he feels he has saved face and putin has to accept a certain amount of diminished prestige and power. these are the alternatives. and what should the west be doing at this stage? they should be watching carefully, saying nothing. do not give putin a pretext for claiming this is all a western coup, that somehow prigozhin is our guy, which of course he is not. but this speaks to weaknesses in the putin regime that, by and large, american intelligence and western intelligence, british too, and western analysts have not seen. it's been clear since ukraine's successful counter—offensive last fall that there were fissures in putin's regime, and now those fissures are way out in the open for all to see. and again, if the standoff continues, well, that would be a very clear indication that putin is not who he was. and if putin has to offer a major concession to end it,

that's also an indication that putin is not the strong man whose will determined everything the way many people seemed to think. i've only got about 45 seconds left. in terms of what you would anticipate now from ukraine? well, this is clearly a major diversion for the bad guys in the kremlin. this should provide ukraine at least a certain opening to strengthen, to make a new push in its counter—offensive. i mean, the point of fact, even before this volume of troops had basically left ukraine, which from ukraine's standpoint is a good thing, i've been saying all along that the ukrainian counter—offensive would enjoy at least modest success. they would liberate at least several hundred square kilometres of territory. they're on track to do that. let me tell you some of the latest lines emerging from the kremlin. the reuters news agency reported

a number of important lines. let me take you through all of that. the kremlin saying they do not know where yevgeny prigozhin currently is. that is interesting in itself. they go on to say that avoiding bloodshed was more important than punishing people, which again was perhaps a line that was unexpected after everything that has actually happened, but a placatory line seeing avoiding bloodshed was more important than punishing people stop they then go on to say that prigozhin will go on to move to belarus. of course, alexander lukashenko brokering the stocks earlier the day. the kremlin thanking belarus's president for that. the final line, the kremlin's spokesperson calling today's events tragic. that is interesting, talking that they are currently not aware of where prigozhin is.

earlier we spoke with hamish de bretton—gordon — former commander of nato's rapid reaction battalion. he started by giving us his military assessment of the situation on the ground. it is changing rapidly, the decision, but i think the raptors across the battlefield, i'm sure those tens of thousands of russian troops who are now facing up in the donbas and zap are asia and elsewhere are aware that the much wanted wagner group, the most successful part of the russian army, appear to have mutinied, and until recently we thought they were marching on moscow to take over power. just as frank gardner has said, i think there's a lot of stuff to come out in the next 24, 48 hours, to see it that they want that all means. the ukrainians have been, sensibly i think, very quiet. there is information coming that they now have tanks across the neat pro, ——

neat pro, and i'm sure they will take as much advantage of this as they can. confusion and turmoil for they can. confusion and turmoil for the russian commanders is really the last thing you want when you are facing a determined, well—trained, well motivated force like ukraine. if the wagner group do not get into the front line pretty quickly, i think this whole episode by prigozhin is really going to backfire massively, and let's hope it does, because what everybody in the world apart from the russians and putin want is peace, and the russians out of ukraine. let's hope this will be the start of the offensive, and allow the ukraine forces to break through and kick the rest of the russians out. in forces to break through and kick the rest of the russians out.— rest of the russians out. in terms ofthe rest of the russians out. in terms of the earlier _ rest of the russians out. in terms of the earlier point _ rest of the russians out. in terms of the earlier point you _ rest of the russians out. in terms of the earlier point you made, - rest of the russians out. in terms| of the earlier point you made, and frank was making the same point about the head of the army, the

defence minister, which of course has been the focus of so much of his angen has been the focus of so much of his anger, we wait to see if there are any changes there, whether that is part of the formula, we wait to see whether the wagner group return to the battlefield, we still don't know, we know they are returning to barracks. in terms of the impact all of this has on russian forces, just tell me a little more, because it is on so many different levels, isn't it? it is psychological, it is even logistical with rostov having fallen? gimmick entirely. prigozhin has been very direct in his criticism of shoigu the defence minister and gerasimov the grand commander, if you like. with these key leaders not and not working together, the lines of communications and logistic line certainly being broke for the last 24—hour is, one can see how challenging it is for the troops on the front to have any coherent type

of defence, except such a static defence that he is seen for a while —— we have seen for what has lukashenko, the belarusian president, promised to prigozhin? what has made him turn around? he looks to be making tremendous strides and really upsetting the complete equilibrium in the kremlin, so are their promises being done, either deals being done? the bottom line is that both putin and prigozhin are basically criminals, you wouldn't trust them an inch, and hopefully the advantage has been very much in the favour of the ukrainian forces. we are going to have to see. i'm sure there an awful lot to come out of this in the next few days and weeks. studio: i'm sure there is the wall streetjournal is delaying sanctions on the wagner group for

fear of siding with vladimir putin, it gives you a sense of what they are grappling with, these two sides, because of course there will be many people around the world who potentially would like to see vladimir putin toppled, but what potentially could come afterwards, that, of course, could be worse in terms of some of the things he has said? in terms of the impact this has on the battlefield, i was reporting on ukraine announcing a new offence of the eastern front. there will be worried to hear, because there are red lines that putin has laid down, potentially if they are crossed it is of course worrying to know what a wounded putin would do? that worrying to know what a wounded putin would do?— putin would do? that is true. i think everybody _ putin would do? that is true. i think everybody in _ putin would do? that is true. i think everybody in the - putin would do? that is true. i think everybody in the last - putin would do? that is true. i think everybody in the last 24| think everybody in the last 24 hours, certainly since the prigozhin mutiny was very worried about the nuclear issue, which i think we are talking about here. i must say, on that particular guys, the thought of

somebody like prigozhin in control of the red button is a real worry, but i still think checks and balances in place, i cannot believe that putin would use tactical nuclear weapons against its own people, and certainly i don't believe that he could use them in ukraine either for a believe that he could use them in ukraine eitherfor a host believe that he could use them in ukraine either for a host of reasons, the fact that the range and the rest of it, although what has been reported a lot recently as the potential to turn the nuclear power station in zaporizhzhia into an improvised nuclear device, and what one hopes to hear what we did here of the us senate who were saying that any nuclear event in ukraine or blowing up the zaporizhzhia nuclear power station could be seen as article five, a direct attack against nato, which would bring nato into this battle more completely, which is absolutely what putin does not want. so, although this is quite

terrific on the nuclear site, i would hope that because the nuclear issue has not moved putin forward in this conflict for 14 or 15 months, that even if he is, if it does look like he is failing, that he won't reach for that nuclear button. i think that is still unlikely. more aood think that is still unlikely. more good lines _ think that is still unlikely. more good lines coming _ think that is still unlikely. more good lines coming out - think that is still unlikely. more good lines coming out of - think that is still unlikely. more good lines coming out of the i good lines coming out of the kremlin. they have also said they don't know where prigozhin is, and they have also said other fighters will not be prosecuted in terms —— because of their service, and they are not lifting the let's cross back to the newsroom. these lines coming out from dmitri prescott, taken through the latest.

in the last half hour or so we are seeing the reuters news agency, coming from the kremlin spokesperson, it is coming from three hours ago that this started to unravel, it became clear that wagner mercenary fighter said they were going to about turn and abort their march on moscow. as you are saying, as a result of that, the kremlin in the last few moments has come out with a statement saying that avoiding bloodshed to the kremlin was more important than punishing people. it said fighters who were involved in the wagner march would not be punished, they have gone as far as saying that wagner fighters who didn't march they would be offered contracts with the russian defence ministry. they have also said that yevgeny prigozhin the wagner leader would move to belarus, that the case against him is dropped, i may have added that they don't know where he is at the moment. whether that is true or not, we don't know. that is the

statement. the statement from the kremlin described today's event as tragic. ijust remind yourself of the geography of this area. this is the geography of this area. this is the patch we are looking at. russia here, ukraine here, the capital, kyiv, and belarus to the north. in the last three hours it has become clear that belarus has played a pivotal role in this unravelling of this factor march on moscow, with its leader alexander lukashenko its leader alexander lu kashenko being its leader alexander lukashenko being directly in touch with the wagner leader, and also at the same time with president vladimir putin in russia. now, belarus, of course, has a strong relationship with russia. its leader has stood by president putin throughout the nation of ukraine, and of course, belarus was used to something of a staging post in the early days of the invasion. russian troops were based in belarus before that invasion began last year. there are some key areas here on the russian side of the map. this one is quite

key, its governor today said that wagner forces were in key, its governor today said that wagnerforces were in it key, its governor today said that wagner forces were in it city. they said they were bringing ukrainian machinery, and as a result the restrictions of movement on ordinary civilians. within the last hour it has been confirmed that those restrictions would be lifted. there is obviously a sense of relief. we have also had footage coming through of wagnerfighters have also had footage coming through of wagner fighters packing have also had footage coming through of wagnerfighters packing up have also had footage coming through of wagner fighters packing up their kit in these areas and moving on out. let's remind ourselves of the journey that these wagner troops have taken. this right area down at the bottom is russian occupied territory in ukraine. cry me out there, which russia annexed in 2014 using the so—called little green men, it is widely accepted that many of those fighters making up the ranks of the little green men went on to be wagner fighters. they then moved 100 kilometres east to rostov on don. they said they were able to take that city without a single shot being fired. the journey north was not so easy. up the m4 highway,

where yevgeny prigozhin says his troops came under attack, including from helicopter gunships. he didn't provide any evidence to substantiate that, but that is what he said happened. they took the city of voronezh, and ministers thought they made north as kaluga. it is apparently about turn. live from london, this is bbc news. wagner mercenary fighters begin to withdraw from the city of rostov to chants of support after their leader orders them to return to their bases to avoid bloodshed. their convoy came within a few

hundred kilometres of moscow before an agreement to de—escalate was reached. the kremlin now says it will drop charges against proghzhin and not prosecute wagner fighters after earlier accusing the group leader of treason. ukraine's president zelensky says the rebellion exposed the weakness of the russian government and accuses vladimir putin of running scared. hello, i'm matthew amroliwala. welcome to our continuing coverage of the unrest in russia. we start with our dramatic breaking news in what has been an extraordinary 24 hours in russia. news in what has been the wagner group is starting to pull back fighters from rostov—on—don. a huge convoy had been heading towards moscow in what vladimir putin had described as an attempted mutiny.

these are images of locals chanting "wagner" as the troops from the mercenary group were leaving rostov. a kremlin spokesman says today's events were tragic but a criminal case against the wagner leader prighozhin will be dropped and other fighters will not be prosecuted. it comes as belursian leader alexander lukashenko helped to mediate between moscow and wagner. earlier in an audio message posted on the social media site telegram, progoshin said the time had come to stand down. take a listen to this english translation. translation: they wanted to disband the wagner. i onjune 23rd, we went out on a justice march. within a day, we were just 200 kilometres away from moscow. during that time, we did not spill a single drop of blood of our fighters.

now the moment has come when the blood can be spilt. therefore, understanding all the responsibility for the fact that russian blood will be spilt on one of the sides, we're turning our comms back and leaving in the opposite direction to the field camps, according to the plan. the belarusian president, alexander lukashenk, has claimed credit for turning the troops back with his office saying the belarusian leader, a close ally of president putin's, took the lead in negotiations and talking down the mercenary leader. but the damage may already be done. vladimir putin has called the actions of prigozhin and his wagner group in the last 24 hours a stab in the back and an attempted mutiny that won't go unpunished. well, across the border in kyiv, ukrainian president volodomyr zelensky said that the days action was a clear sign of weakness in the kremlin. translation: the man -

from the kremlin is obviously very afraid and probably hiding somewhere, not showing himself. i am sure that he is no longer in moscow. he knows what he is afraid of because he himself created this threat. and to you, people of russia, the longer your troops stay on ukrainian land, the more devastation they will bring to russia. the longer this person is in the kremlin, the more disaster there will be. first of all, the kremlin said they do not know where yevgeny prigozhin actually is, they then go on to say that avoiding bloodshed was more important than punishing people, thatis important than punishing people, that is very interesting given what vladimir putin had started the day by saying on russian television,

describing it as betrayal and treason, saying those people had to be punished, these latest lines from his spokesman, saying the kremlin thinks that avoiding bloodshed was more important than punishing people, they also made the point that they think that prigozhin will move to belarus where these talks took place, and in terms of alexander lukashenko, belarus's alexander lu kashenko, bela rus's president, alexander lukashenko, belarus's president, the kremlin saying it highly appreciated his efforts, going on to say other wagner fighters who took part in the march will not be prosecuted, so like those earlier comments, placatory in nature as opposed to the hard—line stuff we heard only hours ago, and the final line which is interesting, they claimed that none of this will have any impact on the battlefield and they also claimed that vladimir putin had been in the kremlin all the course of today, there was a suggestion that perhaps he had moved

out of the capital, those are some of the lines they have just come in from moscow. live now to warsaw to our eastern europe correspondent, sarah rainsford. sarah, new information all the time, but what an extraordinary 24 hours. really unusual. no more unusual than both lines you have just been sharing their from vladimir putin's spokesman i was saying not too long ago that vladimir putin does not stand back, he has accused him of stabbing him in the back, i said himself that he would not step back and yet there has been a climb—down, but what we have is a deal whereby the criminal charges for insurrection have been dropped against prigozhin and the members of his wagner group. as the spokesman

dmitry peskov has said, mr prigozhin is supposed to go to belarus, we don't know where he is now, perhaps in the way to belarus, it's not clear what he will do there, and whether the other members of the wagner group who joined this mutiny will also go to that country. so a lot of unanswered questions still, the kremlin saying this is about avoiding bloodshed. perhaps partly i would suggest it was also about power, this was a power confrontation, power showdown between the creation of the kremlin in many ways, prigozhin who has been doing a lot of boot and's dirty work for many years and has now turned against him, between him and vladimir putin himself, that could have been extremely ugly and difficult, but ultimately staying in power foot vladimir putin is the ultimate goal. 50 power foot vladimir putin is the ultimate goal.— ultimate goal. so in that sense erha -s ultimate goal. so in that sense perhaps prigozhin _ ultimate goal. so in that sense perhaps prigozhin has - ultimate goal. so in that sense perhaps prigozhin has blinked l ultimate goal. so in that sense i perhaps prigozhin has blinked first, but in terms of the first part of your answer,

but in terms of the first part of youranswer, it but in terms of the first part of your answer, it is almost unprecedented for vladimir putin to take a step back himself, given everything, the sort of language he was using today, the kind of pivot that we have not seen from him over 20 years. that we have not seen from him over 20 ears. ., that we have not seen from him over 20 ears. . �* , , 20 years. yeah. it's extremely unusual. _ 20 years. yeah. it's extremely unusual, and _ 20 years. yeah. it's extremely unusual, and perhaps - 20 years. yeah. it's extremely unusual, and perhaps talks to | 20 years. yeah. it's extremely i unusual, and perhaps talks to the scale of the challenge that he was facing. the idea of armed mercenaries, fighters, marching on moscow was suddenly driving towards moscow was suddenly driving towards moscow was suddenly driving towards moscow was in itself extraordinary, and that's what we had the prospect of today, prigozhin claiming that his men had come within 200 kilometres of moscow, all the way from the ukrainian battlefield, and the threat they posed was very real, sure the military establishment is in moscow, this is a well guarded, well defended city, the kremlin itself as a fortress, but still the prospect of that would have been

hugein prospect of that would have been huge in terms of the image that vladimir putin patrese isjust huge in terms of the image that vladimir putin patrese is just one thing. this is a president who talks about stability, he presents himself as the man who represents peace and stability, security, he points to ukraine is where chaos reigns in russia as a place that he keeps from that fate, essentially, so the idea of unrest and bloodshed, that kind of unrest and bloodshed, that kind of chaos coming to russia is something that appears to have been averted today, and it would have utterly changed food in's presidency if that is the way things had gone. and of course enormous ripple effects given what we have seen, just as you are talking, the polish prime minister has been saying they could be heightened now the polish border with belarus, given that prigozhin is now apparently heading to reside there.— to reside there. well, yes. there have been _ to reside there. well, yes. there have been tensions _ to reside there. well, yes. there have been tensions between i

to reside there. well, yes. there i have been tensions between poland and belarus for many years and can sense here, as you will remember the times when belarus was essentially opening its borders and inviting migrants to belarus who would then be sent to the eu in order to cause disruption and problems there. i think the fact that prigozhin being there, we don't know what he will be doing there, he is not a man to live a quiet life, i don't imagine him digging potatoes on some belarusian farm, but will he actually go there? and the bigger question is now about the fate of the men he wanted removed, that is the defence minister, a close friend and ally of vladimir putin, and the chief of staff, the top man in the military, those are the people that evgeny prigozhin has always been gunning for, they were the targets of all of his aria and tie rates from the battlefield, he has been furious with them and the way they have conducted the war in ukraine for

long time. now, has he achieved their removal by his march on moscow? we don't know, we have not had confirmation of that today from the kremlin, dmitry peskov did not talk about those men being removed, so that's another big question yet to be answered. bhd so that's another big question yet to be answered.— so that's another big question yet to be answered. and of course what ha--ens to be answered. and of course what happens in — to be answered. and of course what happens in terms _ to be answered. and of course what happens in terms of _ to be answered. and of course what happens in terms of the _ to be answered. and of course what happens in terms of the wagner i happens in terms of the wagner group, whether they return to the battlefield is another huge question that of course we will watch and try to find out over the next couple of days. thanks very much for the latest where you are. max seddon — the moscow bureau chief — for the financial times. is this the biggest challenge we have seen the vladimir putin's authority in 20 plus years? ! authority in 20 plus years? i completely agree with authority in 20 plus years? t completely agree with sarah, this is the first thing like a coup d'etat

we have seen in 30 years. wagner has seemed to shut down several helicopters, they are pretty much untouched by the russian army. and this is such a huge blow to boot�*s authority personally because just over 12 hours ago he may be addressed to the nation, saying putin was a tracer, wagner would be liquidated. and now it is as if everyone is trying to forget this everyone is trying to forget this ever happened, like there was some kind of weird feverish dream the other day and a half. this really shows how prigozhin became this frankenstein's monster, this creation that turned against its creator. and when you are ceding a state monopoly on violence, then it

is an unprecedented blow to putin's authority. ts is an unprecedented blow to putin's authori . , , , is an unprecedented blow to putin's authori . , , ., is an unprecedented blow to putin's authori ., , ., , is an unprecedented blow to putin's authori ., ., , ., authority. is it possible to try to work out with _ authority. is it possible to try to work out with any _ authority. is it possible to try to work out with any degree - authority. is it possible to try to work out with any degree of i work out with any degree of certainty what happens in the next few days, where the domino is actually full? what are the kinds of things you are looking out for here now? , , ~' ., things you are looking out for here now? , , ~ ., , now? firstly, i think we need to see if the wagner _ now? firstly, i think we need to see if the wagner group _ now? firstly, i think we need to see if the wagner group actually - now? firstly, i think we need to see if the wagner group actually do i if the wagner group actually do joined the defence ministry, putin's spokesman said quite a few did not take part in the uprising, they came to their senses, those units he said would sign contracts with the ministry of defence, this appears to have been the trigger for prigozhin starting this uprising a few weeks ago. putin backed the move by the defence minister to bring wagner and the other militias fighting in ukraine under the defence ministry's control, and the other thing is what happens to prigozhin personally? because effectively he has become the second most influential person

in the country now after putin, and evenif in the country now after putin, and even if he is sitting, semiretired, in belarus, will he still be a partner? what we saw in the last few months, he appeared to be nurturing some political ambitions. belarus is a pretty small and sleepy country, most of the time, it might be enough to hold back the ambitions of someone like prigozhin, so i think there is less to be seen, and there is also the question that as long as prigozhin is alive and wagner exists, it has not reasserted its its knobbly and violence, we will see questions raised about putin's authority. —— its authority. what see questions raised about putin's authority. -- its authority. what do ou think authority. -- its authority. what do you think ordinary _ authority. -- its authority. what do you think ordinary russians - authority. -- its authority. what do you think ordinary russians are i you think ordinary russians are making of this? because for weeks and months you turn on state

television and they laud the wagner group, the gains, the way they have taken some of the key battles, given medals. there was talk of treason. six months ago, putin gave a wagner fighter a medal, three months ago russian parliament passed a law saying that the spreading of private military companies, law pushed by prigozhin personally, would be punishable by 15 years in prison, and it has been absolutely astonishing to see all these establishment figures who had been showering prigozhin with praise of the last six months to do a double take and say that he was a traitor in the last 24 hours or in many cases just not to say anything at all. and this has major issues, not just politically but the viability of putin's regime. because support

in russia is mostly passive, russian people, most of them see it as like the weather, it's a major inconvenience, something that should be avoided and something you can't do very much about, and it's one thing to ignore it when everything is largely... you can't fly to europe, but for most people life is going on as normal, it's another thing when helicopters are flying overhead and tanks are driving past your house. and i think even in a country where the information, the dominance of the kremlin is total, it'sjust impossible to dominance of the kremlin is total, it's just impossible to ignore this, it's just impossible to ignore this, it's not something where you can put the genie back in the bottle quite so easily, even if that is what the kremlin very much seems to want to do. , ., ., .,, do. yes. i noted from those statements _ do. yes. i noted from those statements from _ do. yes. i noted from those statements from the - do. yes. i noted from those i statements from the kremlin, do. yes. i noted from those - statements from the kremlin, they have not lifted the anti—terror operation, and of course a little earlier they were talking about

suspending all outdoor events until the 1st ofjuly, giving you just a glimpse, and i suppose that might have come as a surprise to ordinary russians that those kinds of measures were suddenly being implemented to a war that has been distant for so many of them. in terms of putin's in a circle, how solid is that, do you think? —— inner. solid is that, do you think? -- inner. ~ , ~' ., solid is that, do you think? -- inner. ~ , ~ ., ., ., inner. we still know, other than prigozhin. _ inner. we still know, other than prigozhin, putin _ inner. we still know, other than prigozhin, putin in _ inner. we still know, other than prigozhin, putin in many- inner. we still know, other than prigozhin, putin in many ways i inner. we still know, other than i prigozhin, putin in many ways has a full sense of security about prigozhin because even if he created this kind of parallel army, proposing was really so dependent on the russian state and russian army for his financing in men and equipment and reconnaissance that putin seems to think he never would have been a major threat, and this really feeds into the conflict with

how putin has like to cover it, the policy on subordinates has been the utopia policy, relationships with godzilla. he is fighting the oil and gas companies. and it is one thing to do that in his time but what we saw he is when you lose control when prigozhin appears to really have snapped in his mind, and he decided to go all out, it really undermines the monopoly on violence, it is something... it does go some way towards reasserting that deal. but you have to remember that most of the senior officials in russia, they know fully well this is not going according to plan, most of them did not even know, supporting the war, they were told about it before it happened, and they will not

necessarily be inspired to challenge putin, it will not inspire faith in his leadership, the great irony is, nine months ago, i remember in moscow hearing from a lot of people in the russian elite talking about after the end of hostilities and after the end of hostilities and after putin's rain, the possibility of some kind of troubles, a civil war, various groups fighting for influence, you would see other elements of the russian elite, security services, state owned companies setting up their own militias apparently, and the one thing we talked about, the guy with his own gigantic private army was going round saying he wanted to create a revolution in russia, it seemed so absurd and obvious, no one thought he would do it but he did. great to talk to you, thanks so much forjoining us here live on the programme.

let's talk to retired general dana pittard. he's a former us army general and formerjoint force land component commander—iraq in 2014. it's really interesting, looking at those quotes that have just come out of the kremlin, one of them said towards the end, none of what we have seen will impact on the battlefield. what is your view of an assessment like that, even having to make that point in a statement? good evenina. it make that point in a statement? good evening. it shows _ make that point in a statement? good evening. it shows an _ make that point in a statement? time evening. it shows an obvious concern on the part of russia, and that would be for ukraine and nato and others to take maximum advantage of this perceived weakness, and the possibility at one point of a front wall in russia, one external with ukraine and one internal with prigozhin and the wagner group. you said if the ukrainians can exploit the situation, militarily, how would you approach that, given the counteroffensive is already under

way? is there anything in terms of a shop adjustment that can be made to exploit the situation? —— shop. from a military standpoint, they would be pressing forward. we a military standpoint, they would be pressing forward.— pressing forward. we suspect there are some brigades _ pressing forward. we suspect there are some brigades in _ pressing forward. we suspect there are some brigades in reserve, - pressing forward. we suspect there are some brigades in reserve, they| are some brigades in reserve, they have been looking for weak points in the russian defence, it would be time to press the attack, but this should be more thanjust time to press the attack, but this should be more than just a time to press the attack, but this should be more thanjust a military counteroffensive. seeing the weaknesses of russia, it should be an offensive diplomatically, psychologically against russia. it is a time to press all levers of power at this point.— power at this point. does that include the — power at this point. does that include the west _ power at this point. does that include the west as _ power at this point. does that include the west as well? i include the west as well? absolutely. militarily for the west. but this might be the time to press vladimir putin for negotiations. to end the war. because he has got a

much weaker hand right now. militarily right now, his counteroffensive is going slow, there could even be a stalemate, but something like this might cause vladimir putin to at least come to the negotiating table with enough pressure. it the negotiating table with enough ressure. , , ., pressure. it will be interesting to see what pans — pressure. it will be interesting to see what pans out, _ pressure. it will be interesting to see what pans out, i _ pressure. it will be interesting to see what pans out, i suspect i pressure. it will be interesting to see what pans out, i suspect the | see what pans out, i suspect the coming days and weeks will be absolutely critical in terms of the dominoes falling on the implications of what we have seen, but as a military man, just give us a sense of perhaps psychologically how this impacts on the battlefield, the russian and ukrainian side? let’s russian and ukrainian side? let's take both sides. _ russian and ukrainian side? let's take both sides. on _ russian and ukrainian side? let's take both sides. on the _ russian and ukrainian side? let�*s take both sides. on the russian side, we would suspect that the russian troops, the front line troops must be looking behind them as to what is going on. traditionally the wagner group was the point of the spear, when it came to offensive operations in most operations that russia had that were somewhat successful in ukraine, so

there is a concern there, and the fact that they have to look behind them can affect morale in many ways, and if morale is affected, on the ukrainian side, if morale is affected with the russians, that is something that ukrainians can take advantage of, find out where the weak points are so they can press the attack. ukraine may not be in a position to take maximum advantage of that, that would be too bad, that's something that president zelensky and his commanders are taking a look at, but may be more strikes, more artillery and air strikes, more artillery and air strikes, and the kind of things they were doing inside of russia, maybe this is the time to also start doing that again. do this is the time to also start doing that aaain. ,., ,, this is the time to also start doing that aaain. i. ., , this is the time to also start doing that aaain. ,, ., , ., ., ., that again. do you worry at all that we putin becomes _ that again. do you worry at all that we putin becomes an _ that again. do you worry at all that we putin becomes an even - that again. do you worry at all that we putin becomes an even more i we putin becomes an even more dangerous putin? —— a wounded. {lit dangerous putin? —— a wounded. qt course, like any wounded animal, russia has got nuclear weapons and

thatis russia has got nuclear weapons and that is why a belief that nato and us forces would be put on alert if they are not already on alert, just in case, because it would be in vladimir putin's interest to do something to distract from what is going on inside russia. it is something to distract from what is going on inside russia.— going on inside russia. it is quite extraordinary. — going on inside russia. it is quite extraordinary, when _ going on inside russia. it is quite extraordinary, when you - going on inside russia. it is quite extraordinary, when you take i going on inside russia. it is quite extraordinary, when you take a i going on inside russia. it is quite i extraordinary, when you take a step back from today, because 16 months ago he launched this war, 16 months ago he launched this war, 16 months ago he launched this war, 16 months ago he was completely unchallenged within russia, and you fast forward, you get to a failing military offensive, it has certainly not been the quick when he had anticipated, and you have this level of unrest within russia itself and this level of challenge. ! within russia itself and this level of challenge-— of challenge. i fully concur. and when you _ of challenge. i fully concur. and when you open _ of challenge. i fully concur. and when you open that _ of challenge. i fully concur. and when you open that pandora's i of challenge. i fully concur. and i when you open that pandora's box called war, all sorts of things can come out. russia's experiences in world war i, when they ended up

having to be knocked out of the war, and then the russian revolution of 1917. so in some ways this is not new to russia. but making sure that you have the people behind you when you have the people behind you when you go to war is so important. i don't think vladimir putin never had that, he was unchallenged, as you said, ijust thought that, he was unchallenged, as you said, i just thought this would be a very short war and not a problem, but it has become a huge problem, in fact, it is now a possible threat to his regime. fact, it is now a possible threat to his regime-— fact, it is now a possible threat to his reaime. ~ ~ ., ., his regime. well, i think we have to leave it there _ his regime. well, i think we have to leave it there because _ his regime. well, i think we have to leave it there because we _ his regime. well, i think we have to leave it there because we are - his regime. well, i think we have to. leave it there because we are coming to the end of this particular section but thank you so much for joining us their live from indianapolis and giving us that analysis in terms of the military analysis of what the ukrainians are likely to do in the coming days and weeks, and of course the impact of all of this on russian forces as well. i was giving you some of the latest lines from the kremlin. i just want to go through some of the

exchanges from dmitry peskov who was asked about yevgeny prigozhin, will the charges be dropped after what we have seen today? you will ask me what will happen to prigozhin, personally, he said, the criminal case in relation to him will be stopped and he will go to belarus, and then there were more questions about whether they knew where he was currently, the answer to that is no, but really interesting lines coming from the kremlin, who claimed that vladimir putin has been in the kremlin throughout the course of the day, monitoring events, as capitals around the world watches —— watch what had been happening and take stop. gregoryjeehalov from bbc ukrainian — joins us now live from newsroom. we saw andrew harding's report about

the hard fighting there is in the areas of the front lines. in terms of the push, though, the ukrainians have been quick to say they are enhancing their efforts. it is true, a few hours _ enhancing their efforts. it is true, a few hours ago — enhancing their efforts. it is true, a few hours ago we _ enhancing their efforts. it is true, a few hours ago we received - enhancing their efforts. it is true, a few hours ago we received the i a few hours ago we received the official message from the minister official message from the minister of defence that ukrainian forces have started some new attacks and at the same time most of these attacks are happening in the donetsk region, particularly around bakhmut. but what we have to remember here, when we are speaking about these daily updates from the ministry of defence from ukraine, these updates are often coming with some delay and sometimes these delays are two or three days. they are explaining it,

the way they do not want to give quick updates, not to update russian forces about what is happening on the front line. and this is on one side and, true, there are a lot of heavy fights happening on the front line, on the other side from unofficial sources, from some analysts which are gathering information from the front line, and also journalists who have connections with all the troops on the ground, we are receiving some indications that these events happening at the last 24 hours, they did have an effect on the ground, although it's too early to say which effects and how significant it is, because obviously the high commanders in moscow, in rostov—on—don, they were obviously busy, a little bit, with what was

happening inside russia and they were not able to quickly react and respond to what was happening on the ground in ukraine. and in this particular case i would say there are two nuances which are important which would probably unfold in the coming hours and days, and both these nuances are concerned with the morale of russian troops, because first it is the image of the russian president, and a lot of experts are saying it is significant damage, and russian troops saw it, they saw how wagner mercenaries were advancing on russian territory for hundreds of kilometres without any obstacles, actually, and the second important question, that image of prigozhin itself, for months he has been building this image of someone who

is protecting the interests of an ordinary russian soldier in front of these generals and high cabinets you are making decisions, it doesn't matter what he was actually doing, but that was his message to the russian army, and today he was accused of being a traitor, and it is really interesting to see how it will all unfold in the coming days and which impact it will have on the morale of the russian army. ! and which impact it will have on the morale of the russian army.- morale of the russian army. i know ou will morale of the russian army. i know you will keep _ morale of the russian army. i know you will keep talking _ morale of the russian army. i know you will keep talking to _ morale of the russian army. i know you will keep talking to people i you will keep talking to people there in ukraine and bringing the latest detail, some of the latest detail the that he is learning on the ground, you are watching bbc news. this is bbc news. the headlines... wagner mercenary fighters withdraw from the city of rostov to chants of support, after their leader orders them to return to their bases

to avoid bloodshed. tanks are moved on to trucks and soldiers get back into their vehicles after tensions appear to deflate. their convoy came within a few hundred kilometres of moscow — before an agreement to de—escalate was reached. the kremlin now says it will drop charges against proghzhin charges against progozhin and will not prosecute wagner fighters after earlier accusing the group leader of treason. we are staying with the news in russia. we are monitoring all the extraordinary developments. the wagner group is starting to pull

back fighters from rostov—on—don. let we just try and guide you through what has been happening in the last 24 hours. let's start with the last 24 hours. let's start with the latest pictures and information, as the wagner group is starting to pull back and as the wagner group is starting to pullback and fighters from rostov on. vladimir putin had described it as an attempted mutiny. these are images of locals chanting 'wagner�* as the troops from the mercenary group were leaving rostov. take a look at these pictures of tanks leaving the area. a kremlin spokesman says today's events were "tragic" but a criminal case against the wagner leader prigozhin will be dropped and other fighters will not be prosecuted. compare that with what vladimir putin had said at the start of the

day. it comes as belursian leader alexander lukashenko helped to mediate between moscow and wagner. earlier in an audio message posted on the social media site telegram, progoshin said the time had come to stand down. take a listen to this english translation. translation: they wanted to disband the wagner. i onjune 23rd, we went out on a justice march. within a day, we were just 200 kilometres away from moscow. during that time, we did not spill a single drop of blood of our fighters. now the moment has come when the blood can be spilt. therefore, understanding all the responsibility for the fact that russian blood will be spilt on one of the sides, we're turning our comms back and leaving in the opposite direction to the field camps, according to the plan. lets look for the next you minutes at that quite dramatic turnaround. the belarusian president,

alexander lukashenko has claimed credit for turning the troops back, with his office saying the belarusian leader, a close ally of president putin's, took the lead in negotiations and talking down the mercenary leader. but the damage may already be done. vladimir putin has called the actions of prigozhin and his wagner group in the last 24 hours "a stab in the back" and an "attempted mutiny that won't go unpunished." well, across the border in kyiv, ukrainian president volodomyr zelensky said that the days action was a clear sign of weakness in the kremlin. translation: the man - from the kremlin is obviously very afraid and probably hiding somewhere, not showing himself. i am sure that he is no longer in moscow. he knows what he is afraid of because he himself created this threat. and to you, people of russia,

the longer your troops stay on ukrainian land, the more devastation they will bring to russia. the longer this person is in the kremlin, the more disaster there will be. let's head live two kyiv. we can talk to an international politics analyst who also works in ukraine's defence sector. 0 so much for joining us. what are your thoughts at the end of an astonishing day? thank you for having me. what we know now is that prigozhin has claimed he has reached an agreement with the kremlin and the belarusian president lukashenko and turned his columns around. he was labelled as a traitor by putting only a few hours ago in a short speech, and if you remember that wagner moved 800 kilometres towards moscow with a

column of military vehicles and equipment, basically unopposed. they even shot down russian helicopters and military equipment in less than half a day. what is really going on is anyone's guess, but it is exposed problems within the kremlin and within russia itself. i honestly don't think it can be the end, because how can putin let a private army march to the gates of moscow in army march to the gates of moscow in a day without some kind of response? we all know that putin's entire image as being about power and control. somehow, a private army marches of most to the gate of moscow and he accepts this agreement and all is forgiven? honestly, i don't think so. i don't think it is the end of it, and there is no way that putin would let prigozhin or

anyone else just put anything like this and get away with it. we heard president zelensky _ this and get away with it. we heard president zelensky say _ this and get away with it. we heard president zelensky say it _ this and get away with it. we heard president zelensky say it was - this and get away with it. we heard president zelensky say it was a i president zelensky say it was a clear sign of weakness. presumably, if he is right, that weakness doesn'tjust go if he is right, that weakness doesn't just go away? if he is right, that weakness doesn'tjust go away? doesn't 'ust go away? absolutely, of course. doesn'tjust go away? absolutely, of course- we — doesn'tjust go away? absolutely, of course. we will— doesn'tjust go away? absolutely, of course. we will see _ doesn'tjust go away? absolutely, of course. we will see even _ doesn'tjust go away? absolutely, of course. we will see even more - doesn'tjust go away? absolutely, of course. we will see even more that. course. we will see even more that he is slowly losing his power and control this, and we just need to keep watching closely in the next few days. in keep watching closely in the next few da s. , ., keep watching closely in the next fewda s. , ., ~ ., �*, few days. in terms of ukraine's military site. — few days. in terms of ukraine's military site, the _ few days. in terms of ukraine's military site, the battlefield i few days. in terms of ukraine's military site, the battlefield is | military site, the battlefield is really hard going. we are about to play after we talk to you one of our latest reports from the front lines, and that is what ukrainian soldiers are saying to andrew harding, but is there much that ukraine's military can do to try to exploit the situation now?— can do to try to exploit the situation now? ~ ., , , situation now? well, it has been re orted situation now? well, it has been reported that — situation now? well, it has been reported that any _ situation now? well, it has been reported that any new— situation now? well, it has been reported that any new offensive | reported that any new offensive operations started, and there are

heavy fights going on across all front lines, and ukraine is making progress, notjust on the eastern part of ukraine but also in the south, and this was confirmed by both ukrainian sides and ukrainian officials and the ministry of defence as well as russian forces, and there were reports that ukraine... in the kherson region. despite all that, i have not seen or heard anything as of yet that suggests that ukraine committed additional soldiers to this counteroffensive, and i believe that we are still waiting for the main straight, main battle, and it will be put in the right time. we still don't know _ be put in the right time. we still don't know whether _ be put in the right time. we still don't know whether the - be put in the right time. we still don't know whether the wagner | be put in the right time. we still i don't know whether the wagner group will return to the fighting. they have been at the forefront of some of the hardest fighting there has

beenin of the hardest fighting there has been in this war, and at the forefront of some of russia's best gains. presumably, if they don't come back in their entirety, and certainly if they don't come back with a leader, that has got to help with a leader, that has got to help with the ukrainian battle, does it not? h with the ukrainian battle, does it not? ., �* ~' with the ukrainian battle, does it not? ., �* ~ ., ., ~ not? i don't think that it will make a hue not? i don't think that it will make a huge difference _ not? i don't think that it will make a huge difference on _ not? i don't think that it will make a huge difference on the _ not? i don't think that it will make a huge difference on the front i a huge difference on the front lines, especially now, because what happened in the less than half a day, russia has soldiers on the front lines or reserves back in large quantities stop i want us to emphasise that it shows how weak russia is internally, and this, i believe is the most important message that we can get from the situation. ts message that we can get from the situation. , ., ., , ., ., situation. is there a worry, too,

because prigozhin _ situation. is there a worry, too, because prigozhin wants - situation. is there a worry, too, l because prigozhin wants moscow situation. is there a worry, too, i because prigozhin wants moscow to take an even firmer line in the tactics to prosecute this war? who knows what the deal has been brokered, but there was —— but if there was a move towards this, with that be worrying? ! there was a move towards this, with that be worrying?— that be worrying? i believe that priuozhin that be worrying? i believe that prigozhin this _ that be worrying? i believe that prigozhin this was _ that be worrying? i believe that prigozhin this was on _ that be worrying? i believe that prigozhin this was on the i that be worrying? i believe that| prigozhin this was on the way... hello? t prigozhin this was on the way... hello? .., , ., prigozhin this was on the way... hello? .. , ., i” hello? i can still hear you, continue- _ hello? i can still hear you, continue. could _ hello? i can still hear you, continue. could you i hello? i can still hear you, | continue. could you repeat, hello? i can still hear you, - continue. could you repeat, because ou continue. could you repeat, because you interrupted? _ continue. could you repeat, because you interrupted? in _ continue. could you repeat, because you interrupted? in terms _ continue. could you repeat, because you interrupted? in terms of- continue. could you repeat, because you interrupted? in terms of what i you interrupted? in terms of what prigozhin has been saying, he wanted a tougher line from moscow. we don't know what the deal is here that has been negotiated, but would it wear you if there was any move towards his position? absolutely not. when all of this was happening, prigozhin actually saw that not only russian

citizens but russian army was on his side, some part of it. wejust need to wait for developments in the situation. , ., , , ., situation. give me a sense of the conversations _ situation. give me a sense of the conversations you _ situation. give me a sense of the conversations you have _ situation. give me a sense of the conversations you have been i situation. give me a sense of the i conversations you have been having with people they are in kyiv as this news developed through the course of the day. what were people saying to you? the day. what were people saying to ou? a, , , , a, a, the day. what were people saying to ou? a, _ a, , you? honestly, everyone of course was very excited _ you? honestly, everyone of course was very excited about _ you? honestly, everyone of course was very excited about it, - was very excited about it, supposedly to civil war or a military coup. we are for the all sides to say we will win in the situation if it benefits for ukraine, that is the most important. a quick final word in terms of the west. what do you think the west

should be doing at this moment? first of all, i think that the west needs to keep supporting ukraine and keep supporting us with weapons, equipments, and to expedite deliveries of all the old equipments and military technical assistance that has been promised earlier, because we see even this morning it was a big missile strike, i think in total it was around 50 missiles launched on ukraine, and around 20 was launched on kyiv, and it was hit on residential buildings as a result of following the breeze, so we need to strengthen our air defence, and i believe western support is crucial now, it still needs to be enforced stop now, it still needs to be enforced sto ; . now, it still needs to be enforced sto; ., ., now, it still needs to be enforced sto ; ., ., ., , stop we have to leave it there, but thank ou

stop we have to leave it there, but thank you so _ stop we have to leave it there, but thank you so much _ stop we have to leave it there, but thank you so much for— stop we have to leave it there, but thank you so much for taking - stop we have to leave it there, but thank you so much for taking time | stop we have to leave it there, but l thank you so much for taking time to be with us. just a couple of lines whilst i was doing that interview, first a little more coming from dimitri pest golf, saying president putin guarantees that the head of the wagner bursary group will be allowed to leave for belarus, after accusing him and his organisation of an armed rebellion. —— dmitry peskov. stressing a personal guarantee to allow him to go to belarus. we have been seeing reports in the last little while which we are trying to verify, but there are reports that writers have been talking about the video being seen on social media apparently showing yevgeny prigozhin leaving the military quarters in rostov on don, the strategic city they took right at the start of the day. we have seen some of those wagner troops

already packing up and leaving, but certainly one report their video circulating on social media is suing the leader himself leaving the military headquarters in rostov. we will try to verify that, and try and show you these pictures if they come into us. this i have also been speaking last little while to arseniy yatsenyuk, while to the former prime minister of ukraine, who ran the government in the aftermath of the 2014 democratic revolution. he gave me his reaction. the head of the terrorist state is fighting with the head of the terrorist organisation. let me remind you that prigozhin, who is the war criminal similar to putin, who is the war criminal under the icc warrant, putin personally gave the birth to prigozhin. so this is an act of humiliation personally for putin. and could you imagine another part of the story, that putin hired a midwife, which is another dictator, self—proclaimed so—called

president lukashenko, to broker the deal with his crony, mr prigozhin. so it's a complete mess and it's a real humiliation for putin. and i strongly believe that this would have a dreadful and dramatic implications personally for putin and for his power. i'll come back to that last thought in a moment or two, but we were playing a little earlier on bbc news just our report from the front lines, the counter—offensive. it is hard, hard fighting there for ukrainian troops. psychologically, how much is this a boost, what has happened through the course of today? well, frankly speaking, i skip these kind of emotions because we have to focus on the battlefield, what's happening really on the battlefield. no doubt that these kind of riot or unrest provoked by prigozhin and putin, they distracted partly the attention of russian military and russian political establishment from the military

aggression in ukraine. so it's a kind of additional benefit, but no more. so it is important to be very cautious and to be very clear understanding that ukraine needs help and the only chance for ukraine to prevail is to support ukrainian military. just a quick word about the wagner group, people around the world will be watching today's developments, you will know, won't you, that they have spearheaded so much of the fighting, the russian gains, they are a very, very effective fighting force, you'd acknowledge that, wouldn't you? well, that's true. this is quite powerful arm of the russian — actually of the russian state, because one can say that this is a mercenary group or private mercenary company. that's not true. this is a part of putin's machine. and putin personally created and crafted this machine. so these guys are quite professional

and students of war. but once again, putin, prigozhin, they are from the same, i would say, garden. they are both war criminals and fighting against putin is similar as fighting against prigozhin because prigozhin gotten orders from putin to invade into ukraine and to fight against ukrainian military. yuriy sak, the adviser to your defence minister, was talking to the bbc earlier and i'll read you out the quote. he said, "we are little by little running out of popcorn, "watching events unfold at an unprecedented speed." i mean, perhaps that's the dark humour you would expect after a year of war. but there's a worry, too, isn't there, a wounded putin is an even more dangerous foe, isn't he? he is, and he was always dangerous. and i know the narrative, that, "let's not cross "the red lines with putin."

it was putin who crossed the red lines and it was putin who violated the international law. and it is putin who commits war crimes and crimes against humanity in ukraine. so i am not a fan of these kind of so—called popcorn sagas. this is the war, a bloody war. and ukraine needs to prevail in this war. and this is a hard toil with ups and downs. and putin's regime is in the decline and it has severely, i would say what happened right now in russia, severely eroded the legitimacy of war, criminal putin. of war criminal putin. but this war is for the long haul, and this is the war of attrition. and is this the moment for the west perhaps to accelerate the various military support, all the things that your president has been asking for at different stages, frustrated that it hasn't

happened as quickly as he would want to happen, is this the moment now that perhaps the west should think, yes, it is time to to really accelerate some of those plans? these moments started on the 24th of february. actually, these moments started in 2014 when i was the prime minister and when putin illegally annexed crimea. so it's a joint fight. i mean, the fight of the free world and the fight of the free ukrainian people, to fight for democracy, freedoms and independence. so i strongly believe that we as the free world will prevail and will win this war. and in terms of what you would now anticipate on the battlefield from the ukrainian side, you spoke about the red lines that putin has talked about. what do you anticipate now from the ukrainian side, given this? i want to mention once again that this is the war, bloody one. and it's notjust a bumpy road, it's a hard toil, and i strongly

believe that the ukrainian military will fend off russian forces and we will occupy ukrainian territory. forces and we will de—occupy ukrainian territory. but it's going to take time and enormous joint efforts, efforts of the ukrainian people and the efforts of the entire global community to restore the territorial integrity of ukraine. it's for the long haul. you said in one of your earlier answers that you thought putin was damaged, his leadership, his or her authority. his authority. in a sense, you could be right. but we have to wait and see how this plays out, you, everyone else watching around the world, world leaders, to see the details of what this deal was and what happens now in the coming days. well, but anyway, could you imagine anyone who could expect these kind of events to happen and to roll out in russia even a few days ago? so this is the sign that putin's iron fist over the russian power is declining.

he's far from, i would say, abdicating the throne — far, far from that. and russia and putin still posed a grave threat to the democracy and russia and putin still pose a grave threat to the democracy and to ukraine and to every normal human being. but ukraine and the west did a lot in order to defend, actually, this democracy and human values. so i am not in the position to underestimate putin and his regime. so i ask everyone to be realistic. so we have to move forward. to move forward in our righteous fight to defend the freedom of the ukrainian people and to defend the international order. that was the former prime minister of ukraine talking to me a little earlier on the programme. john e herbst is the senior director of the atlantic council's eurasia

centre and a former us ambassador to ukraine. here's his take. the president of russia has described what prigozhin has done as treason. the fsb has opened an investigation into the insurrection that prigozhin has created, and of course, prigozhin has 20—plus thousand very well—armed and motivated troops to defend himself. so how does this play out? i'm not certain, but prigozhin certainly is not going to submit to being under the control of the ministry of defence, which is where things seem to be headed before prigozhin began this move yesterday. and how does putin and the fsb and his government backed down and his government back down from the steps they have taken against prigozhin? so what are the scenarios that are running through your head at the moment? potential scenarios? this could be just a potential pause before an actual clash of arms.

maybe putin is willing to somehow back away from his statements and maintain prigozhin in roughly the same circumstances he's existed for the past several years. maybe there are changes within the government which are persuasive, acceptable to prigozhin, so he feels he has saved face and putin has to accept a certain amount of diminished prestige and power. these are the alternatives. and what should the west be doing at this stage? they should be watching carefully, saying nothing. do not give putin a pretext for claiming this is all a western coup, that somehow prigozhin is our guy, which of course he is not. but this speaks to weaknesses in the putin regime that, by and large, american intelligence and western intelligence, british too, and western analysts have not seen. it's been clear since ukraine's

successful counter—offensive last fall that there were fissures in putin's regime, and now those fissures are way out in the open for all to see. and again, if the standoff continues, well, that would be a very clear indication that putin is not who he was. and if putin has to offer a major concession to end it, that's also an indication that putin is not the strong man whose will determined everything the way many people seemed to think. i've only got about 45 seconds left. in terms of what you would anticipate now from ukraine? well, this is clearly a major diversion for the bad guys in the kremlin. this should provide ukraine at least a certain opening to strengthen, to make a new push in its counter—offensive. i mean, point of fact,

even before this, wagner troops had basically left ukraine, which from ukraine's standpoint is a good thing, i've been saying all along that the ukrainian counter—offensive would enjoy at least modest success. they would liberate at least several hundred square kilometres of territory. they're on track to do that. let mejust let me just returned to that line i was bringing you a little earlier about the whereabouts of yevgeny prigozhin. reutersjust reporting that the head of the russian wagner mercenary group could be seen leaving rostov a little earlier. these are the pictures of the tanks. his troops, we have seen those scenes in the last of the while of crowds cheering those wagner mercenaries as they load up their tanks, and those of the cheers of wagner, wagner. as we come away from those pictures, ijust want wagner, wagner. as we come away from those pictures, i just want to tell you more about the leader itself, because the reuters news agency is reporting he has been seen leaving the military headquarters in rostov in a suv in a video posted on

telegram by the russian state news agency. certainly he appears to have left rostov, we are trying to verify that, we'll bring you those pictures in the next little while. a little earlier, the kremlin actually saying they didn't know where he currently was. in terms of the other things the kremlin have been saying, very interesting, they have said that this mutiny will not affect their assault plans on the battlefield itself. just in the last little while, dmitry peskov saying again the special operation continues. 0f the special operation continues. of course, in moscow, all those operations —— preparations have been made is that convoys heading towards them. this lets stay with this. i was talking about their whereabouts of yevgeny prigozhin. for a little more on who the wagner group is — and their leader — here's our analysis editor, ros atkins. the wagner group has fought in some

of the war�*s fiercest battles, including bakhmut, and it's lost many men. this is prigozhin laying flowers at his fighters' graves earlier this year. the us estimates that around 10,000 wagnerfighters have died in ukraine since december and the majority of those men were russian convicts. here's prigozhin at a prison last september. he is telling these men their sentences will be quashed if they fight for wagner. many of them went to war, and as wagner's death toll has spiralled, prigozhin's relationship with the russian defence ministry had deteriorated. he's posted furious rants on the messaging app telegram and in early may, surrounded by corpses of his fighters, he took aim again. shoigu is russia's defence minister. gerasimov is the head of the armed forces. and prigozhin has a reputation for this kind of furious outburst and also brutality,

for example this was his reaction when in november, a wagner defector was allegedly killed with a sledgehammer. yevgeny prigozhin said a dog meets a dog's death. he did not condemn it. he then began to use the image of a sledgehammer as a trophy image. and prigozhin's lawlessness is nothing new. in 1981 he was sent to prison for robbery and theft. when released in 1990, he became a hot dog salesman in saint petersburg, but by 1997, he was running a top restaurant and began winning lucrative catering contracts. these brought connections to the very top. prigozhin catered for state visits and personally served world leaders and in time, yevgeny prigozhin's role would become about far more than food. he had his shift here from hot dog seller, to restaurateur, to caterer to the army, massive contract, and at some point he then moved closer

to the armed forces. that point was explicitly reached in early 2014. russia invaded and annexed the crimean peninsula in ukraine. it also launched an insurgency to occupied parts of eastern ukraine and prigozhin was involved. he told us as much last year, saying... and what started in ukraine soon reached far beyond it. these are wagner fighters in syria supporting pro—government forces, as russia's military was doing too. there are also multiple reports of wagner activity in africa, including libya, mali, the central african republic, sudan, mozambique, and madagascar, and its activities are varied. these activities are not just lucrative, the eu accuses wagner of... if that's the eu, this is the us. they threaten stability,

they undermine good governance, they rob countries of mineral wealth, they violate human rights. and one crucial question in all of this is whether there is any dividing line at all between prigozhin and the russian state. in 2020, a joint investigation by bellingcat, the insider and der spiegel concluded that... vladimir putin's never addressed vladimir putin's never addressed the connection between wagner the connection between wagner and the russian state, but we know that prigozhin's operations around the world allow putin to exert influence at arm's length.