Belarus chief says ‘no heroes’ in failed Wagner mutiny – as Prigozhin in ‘lodge with no home windows’

Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko has mentioned the long-standing tensions between the Russian military and Wagner mercenary group, which staged a 24-hour mutiny on the weekend, had been mismanaged.

In his first public remarks since he brokered a deal between the Kremlin and Wagner boss Yevgeny Prigozhin, which halted the group’s advance on Moscow, Mr Lukashenko mentioned he ordered the Belarusian military to be at full fight readiness.

He instructed reporters on Tuesday: “Do not make a hero out of me, neither of me nor of Putin nor of Prigozhin, because we let the situation slip from our hands, and then we thought that it would resolve itself, but it did not.

“And two individuals who have been combating on the entrance collided. There are not any heroes on this case.”

Belarus leader orders army to be at ‘full combat readiness’ – latest updates

While Prigozhin’s exact whereabouts stay unclear, US intelligence official, senate Intelligence Chair Mark Warner, instructed Sky’s US companion NBC News that he’s reportedly in “one of the only hotels in Minsk that does not have any windows”.

The 62-year-old has not been seen in public since Saturday, when he was pushed out of the Russian metropolis of Rostov after he ordered his males to face down.

The transient rebel noticed Wagner fighters advance on Moscow, demanding the sacking of Russia’s navy management accusing them of botching the battle in Ukraine.

Belarus allowed Russia to make use of its territory as a launchpad for its invasion of Ukraine final February and Mr Lukashenko stays a detailed ally of Russian President Vladimir Putin.

While the precise phrases of the Belarus-brokered deal are unclear, Prigozhin is believed to have moved to Belarus and the Kremlin has mentioned it will drop felony prices towards the Wagner boss and his fighters.

Flight monitoring information confirmed {that a} Russian-registered enterprise jet linked to Prigozhin flew to Belarus from Russia early on Tuesday, in line with Fightradar24. The Embraer Legacy 600 jet is linked to Prigozhin in US sanctions paperwork.

Read extra:
What happens to Prigozhin and his private army next?
‘Any blackmail is doomed to failure,’ Putin’s warning after attempted rebellion

On Monday, the previous Putin ally insisted his mutiny was not an try and “overthrow the government” and that he determined to halt the advance on Moscow to keep away from bloodshed.

In an 11-minute audio message he mentioned he began the march “because of an injustice” and acted to “prevent the destruction” of the Wagner Group.

The mercenary group chief has been a vocal critic of the Kremlin’s navy’s elite – primarily the Russian defence minister Sergei Shoigu and the chief of common employees, Valery Gerasimov – who he has accused of failing to supply his fighters with sufficient ammunition within the battle for the Ukrainian metropolis of Bakhmut.

Mr Putin mentioned in deal with on Monday night time that the mutiny leaders had betrayed their motherland, though he didn’t point out Prigozhin by title.

He mentioned Wagner fighters can be permitted to ascertain themselves in Belarus, and Prigozhin mentioned Mr Lukashenko had agreed to let the group function there.