Wagner mutiny: Group fully funded by Russia, says Putin

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Russia's president has said members of the Wagner mercenary group were fully funded by the state.

According to Vladimir Putin, Wagner was given 86.262bn roubles ($1bn) from May 2022 to May 2023 alone for salaries and bonuses, which came from the defence ministry and state budget.

The private army's revolt on Saturday rocked Russia.

Its leader, Yevgeny Prigozhin, arrived in Belarus on Tuesday after agreeing to leave Russia.

His arrival was confirmed by Belarusian leader Alexander Lukashenko. Earlier, a private jet linked to Prigozhin was tracked landing in Minsk, the Belarusian capital.

On Saturday, mercenary troops led by Wagner boss Yevgeny Prigozhin took over the southern Russian city of Rostov-on-Don, marched on Moscow and shot down Russian military helicopters and a plane on their way.

 

Their mutiny was later aborted after a deal was struck with the help of Mr Lukashenko.

The Russian authorities said Wagner will be disarmed but its members will escape prosecution over its short-lived rebellion.

 

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