After a tense, chaotic 24 hours that handed President Vladimir Putin the biggest threat to his more than two-decade hold on power and raised the possibility of civil war, Yevgeny Prigozhin abruptly ordered his forces to abandon their advance toward Moscow.
Prigozhin, Wagner Troops Cheered As They Leave Rostov-on-Don As March On Moscow Ends
Yevgeny Prigozhin, leader of the Wagner mercenary group, sits inside a military vehicle as a local resident takes a picture with him on a street in Rostov-on-Don, Russia, on June 24.
Prigozhin, who sent his fighters to topple the military leaders in Moscow, will leave for Belarus, and a criminal case against him will be dropped as part of a deal to avoid "bloodshed," the Kremlin said on June 24.
Two men pose for a photo with members of the Wagner mercenary group as they wait in their military vehicle on a street in Rostov-on-Don.
The "march for justice" by Prigozhin and his troops was the biggest internal challenge President Vladimir Putin has faced to his rule.
Civilians pose for photos as members of the Wagner mercenary group sit atop their tank in Rostov-on-Don.
On June 23, the Wagner mercenary group entered Russia from Ukrainian territory in order to seize the Southern Military District's administrative center. Prigozhin claimed that a missile had struck a Wagner camp in Ukraine "from the rear" and charged the Russian military with carrying out the attack.
Members of the Wagner Group prepare to pull out from the headquarters of the Southern Military District in Rostov-on-Don to return to their base late on June 24.
Russia’s Federal Security Service announced a criminal case against Prigozhin for “incitement to armed rebellion” after he vowed to lead a “march of justice” against top officials in Russia’s Defense Ministry.
People cheer and wave a Wagner flag near the military headquarters in Rostov-on-Don.
The Kremlin said Belarusian strongman Alyaksandr Lukashenka helped mediate the deal. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said Putin and Lukashenka had guaranteed Prigozhin's safety.
People show their support for the paramilitary outfit as they wait for orders to leave the city.
A man holds the Russian national flag in front of a Wagner vehicle with a painting that reads "Rostov."
Members of Wagner sit atop a tank.
A woman poses for a photo with a Wagner member.
Wagner members begin to pull out.
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said the troops who joined Prigozhin in the uprising will not face prosecution, and those who did not will be offered contracts by the Defense Ministry.
A man waves the Russian flag as members of the Wagner group pull out from the headquarters of the Southern Military District in Rostov-on-Don to return to their base late on June 24.
Prigozhin smiles for cameras as he shakes somebody's hand while leaving the headquarters of the Southern Military District amid the group's pullout from the city of Rostov-on-Don.