The head of the Wagner paramilitary group has agreed to suspend the rebellion in Russia against the military command. "They were going to dismantle Wagner," explained Yevgeny Prigozhin.

"Yevgeny Prigozhin accepted the proposal [...] to stop the movements of the armed men of the Wagner group and take measures to reduce tensions," said the unofficial channel of the Belarusian Presidency on the Telegram messaging service.

The information has since been confirmed by Wagner, via the same social network, in a message signed by Prigozhin.

"They were going to dismantle the Wagner group. We set off on June 23rd [Friday] on the 'March for Justice'. During the day we advanced until we were about 200 kilometers from Moscow. During this period, we didn't spill a single drop of our fighters' blood," Prigozhin said in an audio message broadcast on Telegram.

"Now the time has come when Russian blood can be spilled. And so we understand the responsibility for this spilling of Russian blood on one side and we will organize ourselves and return to the camps according to the plan," he added.

Lukashenko spoke with Russian President Vladimir Putin yesterday morning to "address the situation in southern Russia" following the occupation of Rostov by the Wagner group.

Later, the Belarusian head of state, "in agreement with the Russian President, held talks with the leader of the Wagner group," and negotiations took place throughout the day.

The head of the Wagner paramilitary group yesterday called for a rebellion against the Russian military command, which he accused of attacking his fighters.

Putin called the paramilitary group's action a rebellion, saying it was a "mortal threat" to the Russian state and a betrayal. (dw)