Espreso. Global
Exclusive

If Putin suddenly dies, Lukashenko dreams of becoming tsar of "all Russia" - founder of the White Legion Bulba

1 July, 2023 Saturday
19:58

Public figure, founder of the White Legion Serhiy Bulba believes that Lukashenko wants to take over Putin's position

client/title.list_title

He said this on the air of the Espreso TV channel.

"Belarusians were told that 25,000 thugs, rapists and serial killers would be brought to Belarus along with their weapons. Belarusians frankly do not like this, but no one listens to them. And Lukashenko has felt Putin's weakness, and the days when he dreamed of taking the Moscow throne under a weak Yeltsin are returning. It seems that this idea is coming back to him. Lukashenko will again try to enter the Russian media space and enter the electoral field. He hopes that if Putin dies or something happens to him, he will get a chance to become the tsar of "all Russia" after Putin," Bulba suggested.

The founder of the White Legion also added that Russia hoped that Lukashenko would initiate the creation of a new Soviet Union.

"Under early Putin, Lukashenko was the first to receive reports from the foreign intelligence service. Lukashenko is Russia's protégé. They hoped that he would initiate the creation of a new Soviet Union. Russia has invested $250 billion in Lukashenko," Bulba said.

Prigozhin's mutiny, agreements with Lukashenko and departure to Belarus

For several months, there has been a conflict between Yevgeny Prigozhin, the financier of Wagner PMC, and the Russian Ministry of Defense. However, the situation escalated quickly on the evening of June 23.

Allegedly, Russian troops launched a missile attack on the Wagner base. Yevgeny Prigozhin, the leader of the Wagner PMC, announced a "march of justice" and stated that 25,000 mercenaries were heading to Moscow after the Russian leadership refused to hand over Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu and Chief of the General Staff Valery Gerasimov.

On June 24, Wagner’s fighters took control of Rostov-on-Don, where they initially gathered around the headquarters of the Southern Military District, and then entered the city of Voronezh. Their convoys, which had diverted from the Ukrainian border, were moving towards Moscow. Military aircraft and artillery under Shoigu's control attempted to stop them. The units of Wagner PMC were last spotted in the Lipetsk region. In Moscow itself, defensive positions were established, trenches were dug, and all security forces were mobilized.

However, on the evening of June 24, the press service of the self-proclaimed President of Belarus, Alexander Lukashenko, released a statement in which the head of the Wagner PMC stated that he was ready to stop the advance of his mercenaries' military convoys, which were already approaching Moscow, and to reach an agreement with the Kremlin. Prigozhin allegedly agreed on this during a conversation with Lukashenko.

Instead, Prigozhin announced that the Wagner group had stopped their advance and returned to their field camps before reaching 200 km from Moscow. He stated, "In a day, we traveled without reaching 200 km to Moscow. During this time, no blood was shed. However, the moment may come when blood will be spilled. Therefore, taking full responsibility, we are turning our columns around and heading back to the field camps as planned."

Subsequently, Prigozhin and all his fighters left the headquarters of Russia's Southern Military District. Russian leader Vladimir Putin promised that Prigozhin would be able to go to Belarus, and Russia would drop the criminal case against him.

On June 26, Russian media reported that the leader of PMC Wagner remained under investigation in the case of organizing a coup in Russia, despite the Kremlin's statements about closing the case.

On the same day, Putin gave a speech in which he offered the Wagner PMC fighters three options for future actions: join the Russian Defense Forces, go to Belarus with other PMC members, or return to their families.

Meanwhile, Wagner leader, Yevgeny Prigozhin, said that the main goal of the mutiny was "to prevent the destruction of the Wagner PMC, not to overthrow the government" and called it a "march of justice." He also claimed that the offensive on Moscow had stopped because the mercenaries "did not want to shed much blood."

On June 27, the Federal Security Service of Russia announced that it dropped the criminal case related to the armed plot, in which Wagner PMC leader Yevgeny Prigozhin was involved.

On the same day, the self-proclaimed President of Belarus confirmed the arrival of Yevgeny Prigozhin in the country. According to him, the Wagner mercenaries who arrived with him would not guard the Russian tactical nuclear weapons stationed there.

Read more on the events here.

Tags:
Read also:
  • News
2024, Friday
20 September
15:25
Updated
EU to loan €35 billion to Ukraine, Ursula von der Leyen announces during Kyiv visit
15:16
Ukraine's Defense Minister dismisses top spy's two deputy chiefs
14:56
Volunteers now account for majority of Russian battlefield deaths, says BBC study
14:40
Exclusive
Military expert Zgurets identifies three key factors influencing Putin's mobilization policy
14:22
Exclusive
Ukrainian forces likely to expand presence in Russia — military expert Sniehyriov
14:02
Russia aims for "almost round-the-clock" attacks on Ukraine in the future — Ukrainian official
13:30
Exclusive
Russia nearly depletes professional army, yet personnel still abundant in Toretsk direction — Ukrainian fighter
13:07
Sudzha refugees are accommodated in occupied Mariupol - Mariupol mayor's adviser
12:42
Ukraine reports 226 combat clashes at frontline, 63 attacks repelled in Kurakhove direction
12:28
Review
How Russian money are being used to purchase weapons for Ukrainian army. Serhiy Zgurets' column
11:53
Kyiv ranked most polluted large city in the world
11:25
OPINION
Ukraine is finally gaining technological advantage over Russia
10:55
Pentagon pledges full use of $5.8 billion in remaining aid for Ukraine
10:34
Chechen warlord accuses Musk of disabling Tesla Cybertruck allegedly used in Ukraine war
10:14
Russian troops gain ground near New York and Toretsk — DeepState
09:40
Russia loses 1,340 soldiers, 20 tanks, 39 armored vehicles in one day of war in Ukraine
2024, Thursday
19 September
21:00
OPINION
Trump and Harris to meet with Zelenskyy
20:38
Exclusive
Ukraine may target 7 more similar military storage bases: expert on Russian arsenal attack
20:08
Updated
Russia attacks Sumy geriatric house, killing one person, wounding 13 others
19:40
Russia mines dams in Belgorod region - Kharkiv troops grouping
19:17
Exclusive
Russian forces attempt to assault on motorcycles in Siversk sector - Ukrainian military
18:55
Power outages may last up to 18 hours per day in Ukraine in winter - UN mission
18:33
Ukrainian media are agents of change despite war - Internews Network president
18:16
Exclusive
Kyiv decides to play ahead: political analyst Fesenko on Ukraine's victory plan
17:54
Russia attacks medical facility in Sumy region twice, injuring two people
17:32
Leopard tanks, self-propelled howitzers, drones: Germany hands over new aid package to Ukraine
17:13
How many arsenals of Russia's MoD are within Ukraine's reach?
16:55
Lukashenko meets DPR's Pushilin, defends cooperation as legal
16:30
Germany prepares €400 million emergency aid package for Ukraine
16:17
OPINION
Sanctions against Russia's "shadow fleet": underway, but insufficient
15:56
European Commission President von der Leyen announces visit to Kyiv on September 20
15:42
NATO's reluctance to shoot down Russian drones: What lessons can it learn from Ukraine's air defense
15:24
European Parliament calls to lift limits on Ukraine's strikes against Russia
14:57
EU allocates €400 million from frozen Russian assets for Ukrainian weapons, more to come — EU Ambassador
14:46
Exclusive
Strategic strike plans in place: Insights into Ukraine's planning process
14:26
Russian Defense Ministry pressures Putin to announce new mobilization
13:58
EU to allocate €160 million to Ukraine for energy security
13:35
KN-23 missiles
Russia's main allies in war against Ukraine: what they supply to Russian army
13:15
Crimea could be placed under UN mandate for "fair referendum" — Polish FM Sikorski
12:58
OPINION
Why Erdogan should not be considered Ukraine’s ally
More news