Wagner Rebel: The Mutinous Mercenaries Who Challenged Putin
In June 2023, a group of Russian mercenaries rebelled against President Vladimir Putin, calling for the dismissal of dishonest and inept military leaders and an end to the conflict in Ukraine.
On June 24, 2023, the Wagner Group, a band of Russian mercenaries, started a rebellion against Vladimir Putin. Yevgeny Prigozhin, a former ally of Putin, led the rebels, who sought the dismissal of corrupt and inept military leaders and accused the Russian government of botching the war in Ukraine.
The Wagner warriors took over a military installation in Rostov-on-Don, a city in southern Russia, and there is where the mutiny had its start. When their demands were not satisfied, they threatened to topple the government and embarked on a 1,100-kilometer (680-mile) march to Moscow.
The Wagner rebels decided to defuse the situation after a few of days of impasse. They decided to give up their weapons and returned to their base in Rostov-on-Don. In return, the Russian government agreed to look into their claims of military corruption and inefficiency.
Putin’s authority was severely questioned by the Wagner rebellion. It demonstrated that, if they believed…
