Russian President Vladimir Putin on Monday thanked the Wagner Group fighters who made the “right decision” and halted their advance.
“I thank those soldiers and commanders of the Wagner Group who made the only right decision — they did not go for fratricidal bloodshed, they stopped at the last line,” Putin said in an address to the nation.
During the address to the nation, Putin did not mention Wagner leader Yevgeny Prigozhin by name.
Prigozhin broke his silence earlier Monday in an audio message — his first since allegedly agreeing to leave Russia for Belarus in a deal to end the insurrection. Belarusian officials said they cannot confirm if Prigozhin arrived in the country.