rebellion, the spectre of civil war in russia, and then suddenly this deal. meanwhile the russian authorities say some road restrictions remain in place in moscow, tula and the m4 motorway. hello, i'm gareth barlow. the threat of a major uprising against the russian president vladimir putin appears to have receded, after a deal was struck which enabled the rebellious leader to retreat. yevgeny prigozhin, the head of the wagner mercenary group — pictured here leaving the russian city of rostov—on—don —is reportedly going into exile in belarus after abandoning his advance on moscow. and with wagner forces firing

their guns into the sky — and cheers from the watching public — his troops also departed the city — just hours after they controlled a military building — with further wagner troops moving towards moscow. travelling north on the m4 motorway — passing the city of vuronezh and were spotted as far north as the region, which is around 300 miles south of moscow. then, in the early evening, prigozhin announced that he had agreed to stop the advance. tensions had been building between mr prigozhin and russia's military leadership for some time, over their approach to the war in ukraine. sarah rainsford reports. mutineers cheered as heroes. cheering. this crowd are shouting "wagner", the name of the mercenary group that vladimir putin had accused

of treason only hours earlier. the fighters were clearly among friends here. just one bizarre scene in a day of high drama. the wagner group had rolled into rostov on saturday morning, placing tanks on city streets and taking over a military command post for the ukraine war. there, wagner's boss was filmed haranguing senior military figures. in extraordinary scenes, yevgeny prigozhin demanded the downfall of russia's defence minister and its chief of staff, accusing them of mishandling the war on ukraine. soon came reports of wagner troops heading north, though there were very few images. this sign points to voronezh, that's already halfway to moscow. in the same region, a driver sees a roadblock. he says wagner have smashed through. further north still, a man finds his way home, blocked by a trench dug into the tarmac. this march on moscow turned all eyes on yevgeny prigozhin. he's a former convict who became

a chef to vladimir putin, but he did a lot of the kremlin�*s dirty work to from disinformation by running troll farms to covert fighting in syria and ukraine. since the full scale invasion, prigozhin had been recruiting soldiers from prisons for some of the fiercest battles, but he'd also been feuding openly with russia's defence ministry. and this weekend, that dispute exploded. vladimir putin declared the mutiny a betrayal, a stab in the back. but it was a problem that he himself had allowed to get out of hand. as a counter—terror operation was launched to defend the capital the potential for clashes was clear. and then as suddenly as it began, it was over. prigozhin said his men were turning round to avoid bloodshed and belarus

announced it helped negotiate that. late last night, pictures emerged of the man himself leaving for belarus as part of the climb, down deal. yevgeny prigozhin�*s next steps are unclear like so much in this story. vladimir putin didn't win the showdown. he just survived it. for once, the russian strongman looked weak. sarah rainsford, bbc news. let's look back at what's actually happened over the past couple of days. early on friday, yevgeny prigozhin questioned the war in ukraine and the role of the russian defence minister sergei shoigu, claiming he did it to gain military honours. prigozhin called for an armed rebellion and accused the kremlin of hitting his troops with a missile strike on friday. in moscow,

security was stepped up as wagner took rostov—on—don. on saturday, prigozhin declared 25,000 of his troops had crossed the border from ukraine in the early hours of the morning. the russian president vladimir putin denounced this action as a "criminal adventure" and warned of punishments in a tv address. 0ver the course of the day, wagner forces made progress towards moscow, seizing military facilities in voronezh. the hours later, prigozhin said that he had agreed to "stop" the movement of his troops, turning them around from their route to moscow. turning them around belarus revealed its leader, turning them around alexander lukashenko, had been holding talks with prigozhin and putin. russian state media reported that prigozhin is leaving for belarus, and criminal charges against him and his troops would be dropped. earlier, our russia editor steve rosenberg gave us his assessment of what's happened in russia in the past day. what an astonishing 24 hours. at one point we were talking about rebellion, the spectre of civil war in russia and then this deal, this resolution

was announced and de—escalation. it's almost like a tornado has swept through, leaving debris. what can we conclude from all of this? vladimir putin. he does not emerge from this looking particularly strong, you would have to say. if you look at the ease with which the wagner mercenary group swept in to rostov on don and took the military sites, and moved towards moscow, that is quite astonishing. mr putin had come on national television yesterday with strong words, talking about treachery and betrayal. and russia being stabbed in the back. and yet by the end of the day all charges were dropped against yevgeny prigozhin and you are free to go to belarus! so that is regarding vladimir putin. also, many people have been

wondering whether yevgeny prigozhin with his private army could be a threat to the russian authorities, so perhaps there is a question about the judgment of the kremlin? 0n the other hand, let's look at yevgeny prigozhin, what does this tell us about the chief of wagner? it tells us you can have a private army and you can mutiny and you can set the goal of toppling the military leadership of russia and, you are free, you are a free man. all right, he has to go to belarus as a result of the deal with the kremlin but think back tothe19905, 1991, a coup against mikhail gorbachev, what happened to the leaders? they were all put in prison. back in '93, a rebellion against boris yeltsin, the leaders were put in prison. after this armed mutiny in russia, what has happened to yevgeny prigozhin?

off you go to belarus as a free man. that is quite interesting. also interesting is how he was cheered apparently by some of the crowds in rostov on don last night as wagner fighters pulled out of the city so that will have buoyed up yevgeny prigozhin, i think. in kyiv, the ukrainian president, volodymyr zelensky, said the wagner mutiny was a clear sign of weakness in the kremlin. shelling by russian forces continued overnight in the eastern donbas and zaporizhzhya regions. there's been intense speculation in ukraine about how events in russia will affect the counter offensive currently under way. for more on this we can speak now to our correspondent in kyiv, certainly keen to send a message that no matter what is happening in russia it is not having an impact on the counteroffensive here in

ukraine. the defence minister saying that troops are making slow and steady progress as per usual in the south of the country, and, surprisingly, an announcement on saturday that they have captured some territory in the east of the country where fighting had been fiercer. a lot of russian forces were putting up a tough fight there. they claim that they have reclaim some territory which has been under russian control in the dona disc region. they did not say where witches cost a bit of scepticism but it illustrates that the message ukrainians want to send as their number one is putting an end to this. regaining their territory. number one is putting an end to this. regaining theirterritory. no matterwhat this. regaining theirterritory. no matter what happens in russia, that is what they are getting on with. hours to have reacting and responding to those events that have paid out? you responding to those events that have aid out? ., ~ ., , .,, ., paid out? you know, people here are absolutely fascinated _

paid out? you know, people here are absolutely fascinated with _ paid out? you know, people here are absolutely fascinated with what - paid out? you know, people here are absolutely fascinated with what was i absolutely fascinated with what was happening in russia this weekend. glued to their televisions, commenting on social media until very late but waking up this morning, i went around cavan spoke to people about how their impressions of how it all went and now that the dust has settled a little bit, there is some confusion. some people were disappointed and said they hoped russia would be so preoccupied with internal affairs it would pull its troops out of ukraine and they would finally have the peace that they have been waiting forfor peace that they have been waiting for for so long peace that they have been waiting forfor so long but peace that they have been waiting for for so long but then the other side of things, some people are saying actually, hisjust side of things, some people are saying actually, his just deserts and that is something president zelinsky echoed in his overnight statement. he said everything happening to russia was because of how it acted in ukraine, mr burton thought he was more powerful than he was but actually, this weekend's event show there was chaos at the top of russian politics over ukraine it is not quite clear. but

certainly, but they ultimately wanted an end to this war. valley have been _ wanted an end to this war. valley have been speaking _ wanted an end to this war. valley have been speaking we _ wanted an end to this war. valley have been speaking we are - wanted an end to this war. valley. have been speaking we are getting reports from russian state tv quoting vladimir putin saying he feels confident in realising all the plans and tasks related to what he calls a special military operation in ukraine. those comments will not come as a surprise to kyiv, they will expect him to double down on his efforts with regards to the war. absolutely. 0fficials here have been speculating on social media that what has happened this weekend in russia could have multiple effects in ukraine. perhaps mr putin, they were saying, might have a show of force after appearing slightly weakened the anti—may double down, start striking ukraine, even more fiercely than he has done before. that will certainly be a concern for kyiv but they are confident in the air defence systems which they say have been protecting them so far and

they won't stop fighting until they get their country back. fix, they won't stop fighting until they get their country back.— they won't stop fighting until they get their country back. a few more of those comments _ get their country back. a few more of those comments we _ get their country back. a few more of those comments we have - get their country back. a few more of those comments we have been l of those comments we have been hearing from the russian president vladimir putin quoted by state tv in russia. he says i am in constant contact with defence ministry officials. we heard that the defence minister has not been heard or spoken of in the last day or so. vladimir putin says he is in contact with officials and says russia feels confident in realising all its plans and tasks related to what he calls the special military operation and what the rest of the world refers to as a war or full scale invasion. what the rest of the world refers to as a war orfull scale invasion. he says i give top priority to the special military operation. i start and end my day this. these are new comments from state tv in russia. let's join my guest. let'sjoin my guest. conservative mp tobias ellwood chairs the commons defence select committee and joins me now from bournemouth.

iam i am interested how you feel the uk and the rest of the world should react to the events of the past few days? react to the events of the past few da s? , ., ., , ., , days? very good question. it is important _ days? very good question. it is important to — days? very good question. it is important to recognise - days? very good question. it is important to recognise and - days? very good question. it is important to recognise and the | important to recognise and the dictators survival handbook it clearly states blame the international community, blame outside interference for any domestic threat. so it is very wise that britain and the rest of the community watches carefully. make it very very clear that what yevgeny prigozhin has done is absolutely nothing to do with the west end that needs to be made very, very clear indeed. this mutiny may have been diffuse but from where i sit, this is a dangerous game changer. yes, the waggoner group has been muted. yevgeny prigozhin, its leader, has been exiled. but the cost of the ukraine was now exposed to the russian public that normally gets...

he believed that moscow was coup d'etat proof. he is going to now hunt for dissenters and tried to prove that the war in ukraine, as you are just prove that the war in ukraine, as you arejust suggesting, prove that the war in ukraine, as you are just suggesting, will continue. it is russian history shows that first wound may not look fatal but it is enough to trigger a series of events. this man relies heavily on his reputation of total control and after 23 years of power he is looking very, very vulnerable indeed. who would have thought that the perpetrator could orchestrate some form of q and then gain a clause to go for exile in belarus. this is unheard of. with criminal charges dropped. this is not what russia needed to be dealing with.

you see a dangerous period lies ahead, dark period ahead, how dangerous, how dark, how concerned are you? dangerous, how dark, how concerned are ou? , dangerous, how dark, how concerned are ou? ., dangerous, how dark, how concerned are ou? , ., ., , , are you? days are now numbered. his adversaries — are you? days are now numbered. his adversaries are _ are you? days are now numbered. his adversaries are now— are you? days are now numbered. his adversaries are now circling _ are you? days are now numbered. his adversaries are now circling whether l adversaries are now circling whether they be oligarchs are leaders in the armed forces are fsb or so forth. russia is a very, very difficult country to control. the motherland itself has got so many disparate viewpoints, different ethnic groups, different day are spurs and it has always looked to have a strong and powerful leader to bring all of that together. blessed by the orthodox church. another leader starts to fade in his power base then quickly they look to change and somebody else replace that leader. in that, i think, is the start of the process we are now seeing today but you are dealing with a country with nuclear weapons. also advancing its interest

in europe as well. this is a very, very volatile period at the moment. putin is not in control although he is going to try to prove that he is. were just hearing from the russian defence ministry that ten attacks were repelled. that is a quote. with regard to the training counteroffensive on the level of western support for hd feel that there is enough support, there is enough impetus on the part of tf division russian forces back outside of the country?— division russian forces back outside of the country? ukraine has done the most incredible _ of the country? ukraine has done the most incredible job. _ of the country? ukraine has done the most incredible job. russia, - of the country? ukraine has done the most incredible job. russia, i - of the country? ukraine has done the most incredible job. russia, iwas. most incrediblejob. russia, i was expecting 1968 in czechoslovakia where he had 50,000 troops, 2000 tanks, just to roll in, take the country, sees the capital and it was done. and ukrainians have been brave in halting that attack on banks to western support, ever greater political courage in providing the weapon systems they have needed, they have been able to defend themselves. now, as you imply, they move to attack mode and there is a huge opportunity given the chaos we

are seeing. 0rders were not for getting through to the front line. in the either arguing or distracted orfighting amongst each in the either arguing or distracted or fighting amongst each other and the morale of the russian soldier, already low, will continue to app as well. so this is a big moment, i think, for ukraine to seize and recognising that, what we are seeing now. it relies on his own credibility, his own legitimacy. he relies on that security apparatus, loyalty to him. he also relies on throwing large sums of money and resources at those problems and in all three areas he is seriously weakened. having the streets of moscow defined by tank regiment and his loyal, most violent force of the wagner group not turning on him as well and the sanctions are to, affecting the kremlin's office and his ability to continue this war. all this suggests massive changes taking place in moscow, in the kremlin and will have a ripple effect with what is going on from

the front line in ukraine.- the front line in ukraine. thank ou. some latest comments from russia. referencing vladimir putin on state tv saying he is in constant contact with defence ministry officials. these comments say that president putin feels confident in realising all of the country's plans and tasks with relation to what moscow calls the special military operation, that is the full—scale invasion ukraine. and that he is giving it a top priority. he says, i start and end my day with theirs. meanwhile some reporting as well from the russian defence ministry with regards to the situation on the ground. they say that ukrainian forces have continued attacks. a little while ago i spoke to lord dannatt, the former british chief of general staff, or head of the army.

he told me what he understood of progoizhin's motivations. i think we have to remember that prigozhin fight ostensibly was not to try and topple putin, but to have a crack at defence minister sergei shoigu and the chief of general staff, valery gerasimov. go back several months when the wagner group was doing the heavy lifting, the heavy fighting and the dying in their attempt to capture bahkmut. and gerasimov for denying him as he saw it, the ammunition that his troops needed. so his venom, if you like, has been most accurately pointed at those two military leaders. and when he yesterday started to move towards moscow, undoubtedly it rattled vladimir putin. i think when we saw him on television yesterday morning, he looked a very worried man when he was talking in terms of an armed mutiny.

but if you played that one through, what was boghosian going to do? was he going to go all the way to moscow and hope that no one would oppose him and march into the kremlin and topple putin? i don't think he thought he could do that. but what he has done and therefore turning around was probably the only thing that he could do. he has still put a lot of pressure on those two russian defence leaders. shogo seems to have disappeared to the present moment. and i think gerasimov, we must also think, is weakened now. this is a very bad time for the russian armed forces when the ukrainian counteroffensive is undoubtedly building up. and we could well see the main breakthrough or break in and breakthrough attempts by the manoeuvre brigades, the ones well trained and well equipped with western equipment. that's what we waiting for and i think we will start to see that quite soon now. what is the impact of these fighters, these wagner fighters being potentially absorbed into the general russian army because prigozhin, if he does end up in belarus

is to one side. but you have tens of thousands of people who supported him and who are allied to him, now being ingratiated amongst quite often disaffected conscripts. will that have some negative impact on the fighting force that the rationale and the resolve of those fighting on behalf of russia? but i think you touched on a very important point. i think the bulk of the russian soldiers facing the ukrainians were themselves conscripted last year, probably against their better judgment and their better wishes. they're poorly trained, poorly equipped, poorly led. so i think one can assume that the russian military morale is quite low and their motivation is quite low. now you come to the form of soldiers. actually, you have to ask the question, are they former varga soldiers or still wagner soldiers?

we know that prigozhin or we understand that he's on his way to belarus. but here's the question will he take any or many of his troops with him? and if so, is he out of the fight? or could there be a deal whereby prigozhin and some of his units make another push from belarus towards kyiv? that's something if i was the ukrainian commander in chief, i would be quite concerned about. so there's a lot going on. yesterday was an extraordinary day, but i think those events are not finished and there's a lot more to be unfolded yet. as events developed inside russia the bbc�*s verify team worked to sift through videos on social media to track the convoy of wagner vehicles. they are now assessing the aftermath. 0ur europe correspondent, nick beake, has been working with the team and is in the bbc verify hub with more. yes, what exactly happened yesterday? and how much fighting was there between the advancing wagner forces and the regular russian army? 0ver forces and the regular russian army? over the past 2a hours or so we have been looking at all the video that has been coming out and we have been trying to make sense of it. let me

show you one video. quite dramatic, there is. a russian helicopter, we presume, opening fire towards a target to a major road and you can see the explosion the. it is thought that it see the explosion the. it is thought thatitis see the explosion the. it is thought that it is a wagner target. i will show you what exactly. this is an image from google street view and you can see the distinctive housing. that matches the video. also, these pylons that we can see in the elf aftermath of the explosion. where was all of this happening? this was between rostov—on—don and moscow at the top where they said they were wanting to get to. at the same time in this city there was other stuff happening. this was quite easy

compared to other things because you've got the branding there of that particular building which gave us an obvious target for g locating this. if we go back to the muppet is a city of about 1 this. if we go back to the muppet is a city of abouti million people here and elsewhere people were capturing what was happening. we can see this as footage from a car, dash cam footage showing the great plume of smoke that depot blast. going back to our map again, another element i want to show you is just north of the city and that is when military vehicles were filmed on the highway and this is one video here. you can see some of them coming through here because there have been questions raised aboutjust how big this convoy was. speed, size, and you can see some tanks coming through. you can see it again at the moment but certainly no satellite images emerge so far of a huge convoy coming through. we can see the tank here and people already on

top. in terms of what we can say about yesterday. we know it was a bewildering 2a hours and events happening at breakneck speed and we have been able to verify some fragments, some small elements but really, in terms of the bigger picture and remains extremely confused and what exactly happened is very difficult to piece together in any meaningful way. fascinating insight from you, they are, nick. thank you. and a reminder there is plenty more that insight and analysis on the bbc news website. you can catch it all on the smartphone or tablet. stay with us on bbc news. changes are afoot in the west. pressure trying to push on from the atlantic. preceding it, this well a front that will bring heavy and

thundery downpours for a sum that course of the day. the rain is clearing away into sunshine and showers. when developing more mildly to scotland, parts of northern england, the north midlands and it is across eastern scotland and the north—east of england we are most likely to see thunderstorms later. a lot of rain in a short space of time. a few showers into the midlands and south but very few in number. many will stay dry. look at that. a hot day. lincolnshire down to the south—east. 30—32 compared to something fresher in northern ireland. 17—19 here as that fresher air starts to come over. evening thunderstorms clear. mostly dry the west of the night and temperatures dropping back down into single figures but a cold night by any

stretch of the imagination. 9—11; in the major towns and cities. a big difference from monday. that means it won't be as humid as it has been. won't be as hard but still very pleasant with lows of sunshine around to begin with. a bit more cloud bubbling up. even here, though, many will stay dry for the fog of the day and without sunshine out. it will still feel one. 18—25. temperatures closer to normal for the time of year. a resurgence of muqqy the time of year. a resurgence of muggy air pushing in on tuesday. all linked into this. a stormy low pressure system. for others, though, as well as humidity levels we will see cloud. 0utbreaks as well as humidity levels we will see cloud. outbreaks of rain and drizzle spreading northwards and eastward to the country. heaviest the central and northern parts. sunshine to parts of north—east

scotland and temperatures still 19-23. a scotland and temperatures still 19—23. a humid night for tuesday night. forthe 19—23. a humid night for tuesday night. for the west of the week, a fairly changeable week. some outbreaks of rain but still feeling warm and no sunnier moments. take care.

this is bbc news. saturday. the headlines... cheering crowds watch the leader of the wagner mercenary group leave russia for belarus. it was only hours after he called off his rebellion against the russian military. wagner fighters have left

the southern city of rostov, where they took control early