Wagner mutiny may have frightened Lukashenko more than Putin – diplomat Yelchenko 

Diplomat and former Permanent Representative of Ukraine to the UN Volodymyr Yelchenko shared his opinions with Espreso TV.

"It seems from Lukashenko's words that he believes he has "taken time by the forelock.” He took advantage of this situation and started making bold statements. However, it is unlikely that his actions will yield any significant benefits, particularly in relation to Russia. Perhaps he hopes that Belarus will respect him. It would be better for him to focus on addressing the challenges within Belarus itself. Instead of speaking out in such a way that, according to one version, he sees himself in the chair of the president and prime minister of a united state (Russia and Belarus). I think that this is all very far away," he said.

According to Yelchenko, the situation with this mutiny has nothing to do with Russian-Belarusian relations.

"The other thing is that Lukashenko may have been more afraid of the mutiny than Putin and thought that he might face a similar situation. Kalinoŭski regiment could also enter the territory of Belarus and march on Minsk. Perhaps this is what Lukashenko is most afraid of. His bellicose, bold statements are designed to make his regime's opponents afraid, more cautious and postpone plans to overthrow the Lukashenko regime and make this country finally normal," the diplomat concluded.

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

On June 23, Russian troops allegedly 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. The militants entered several regions and were moving towards the Russian capital, and in Moscow itself, defensive positions were established, trenches were dug, and all security forces were mobilized.

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. Vladimir Putin promised that Prigozhin would be able to go to Belarus and that Russia would close the criminal case against him.

On June 26, 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.

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

On the same day, the self-proclaimed president of Belarus confirmed Yevgeny Prigozhin arrived in the country. According to him, the Wagner fighters who arrived with him will not guard the Russian tactical nuclear weapons deployed there.

Read more on the events here.