Wagner revolt shows ‘weakness’ of Russian regime, NATO’s Stoltenberg says

Wagner's brief mutiny has left governments, both friendly and hostile to Moscow, looking for answers to what could happen next in Russia.

The brief mutiny over the weekend by Russia’s Wagner mercenary group shows Moscow’s “weakness” under the leadership of Vladimir Putin, NATO’s chief says.

Jens Stoltenberg, secretary-general of the western military alliance, told reporters in Lithuania Monday that the rebellion by the powerful mercenary organization is a “demonstration of weakness” in the regime.

“It also demonstrates how difficult and dangerous it is for President Putin to be reliant on mercenaries, that has actually turned against him,” he said.

“It demonstrates the fragility of the Russian regime but it is not for NATO to intervene in those issues, that’s a Russian matter.”

A feud between Wagner Group leader Yevgeny Prigozhin and Russia’s top military brass amid the fighting in Ukraine erupted into a mutiny over the weekend, which saw fighters from the mercenary group leave the front in Ukraine to seize a south Russian city and march seemingly unopposed on the capital, before turning around after less than 24 hours on Saturday.

The Kremlin said it had made a deal that the mercenary chief will move to Belarus and receive an amnesty, along with his soldiers. Yet on Monday, Russian media reported that a criminal probe against Prigozhin continued.

Russia has relied heavily on Wagner for its war against Ukraine, and the mercenary group has fought some of the bloodiest battles since the conflict began on Feb. 24, 2022.

The mutiny was an unprecedented challenge to Putin’s authority in Russia and the events have left governments, both friendly and hostile to Russia, looking for answers to what could happen next in the country with the world’s largest nuclear arsenal.