Russian President V. Putin called Wagner's actions "a blow to Russia, to our people" and that any individual who deliberately embarks on the path of treason, preparing armed rebellion, will inevitably "suffer inevitable punishment, will have to pay the price before the law and before the Russian people".

Yevgeny Prigozhin - leader of Wagner Private Military Company. Photo: Reuters

The Kremlin said Yevgeny Prigozhin had ordered his subordinates to leave Rostov-on-Don. RIA confirmed that Prigozhin and all his fighters had left the military command post in the southern city of Rostov-on-Don.

The deal was brokered by Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko. According to Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov, after the deal is reached, the criminal case previously opened against Prigozhin for armed rebellion will be dropped and Wagner militants involved in “inciting rebellion” will not face any action.

TASS quoted Mr. Peskov as saying that the fighters who do not participate will probably be contracted by the Russian Defense Ministry.

Although Mr Putin had previously vowed to punish those involved in the mutiny, Mr Peskov said the deal had a “higher goal” of avoiding confrontation and bloodshed.

Wagner Commander Yevgeny Prigozhin leaves the headquarters of the Southern Military Command for Belarus. Photo: Reuters

Who is Yevgeny Prigozhin?

The question is who is Yevgeny Prigozhin and why is he “inciting rebellion”?

The head of the Wagner Private Military Company is a convicted hot dog salesman with a reputation for violence.

Born in St. Petersburg in 1961, Prigozhin studied at a sports academy but became involved in several crimes. In 1980, Prigozhin was convicted of participating in several robberies.

After being released from prison in 1990, Prigozhin made a living running a fast food stand, and soon acquired shares in a supermarket chain, then opened a restaurant and a food delivery company that became well known and trusted.

Prigozhin's restaurant became famous for its delicious food, and soon Prigozhin's Concord catering company began winning government supply contracts, and operating at new heights.

Deccan Herald reported that Prigozhin supplied food to the Kremlin and had photographs showing Prigozhin serving Prince Charles (now King Charles III), the 43rd President of the United States George Bush and many other high-ranking leaders. Prigozhin increased his wealth through government catering contracts and other deals.

When Russia annexed Crimea and sent troops into eastern Ukraine, Prigozhin founded the Wagner Private Military Company. Prigozhin also created a “keyboard army” and was indicted in the United States for allegedly trying to influence elections there.

Wagner forces on their way back to base. Photo: Reuters

How does Prigozhin's Wagner private army operate?

Last September, Prigozhin admitted that he had founded the Private Military Company in 2014.

Prigozhin has built Wagner into a formidable force over years of operations in Africa, the Middle East and, more recently, Ukraine. Syria was where Prigozhin’s army first established itself as a formidable fighting force. Wagner’s soldiers have fought across Africa, including in Mali, the Central African Republic and Sudan. Last year, Prigozhin had a total of about 50,000 recruits, according to Western intelligence analysts.

The origin of the "incitement" on June 24?

Wagner forces have at times coordinated with the Russian military in special military operations in Ukraine.

For months, Mr. Prigozhin has claimed that Wagner's forces have suffered heavy casualties due to lack of ammunition, and has threatened to withdraw, causing the relationship between the two sides to increasingly crack amid the ongoing conflict in Ukraine.

Tensions gradually increased when Mr. Prigozhin refused to sign a service contract with the Russian Ministry of Defense.

According to TASS , on June 23, several audio recordings were posted on the Telegram channel of Wagner's founder. In this recording, Prigozhin specifically stated that his units were attacked and blamed the Russian military authorities for this.

Wagner withdraws troops from Rostov-on-Don. Photo: Reuters

Posting on Telegram, Prigozhin incited violence, claiming he had 25,000 troops and “25,000 of us are waiting as tactical reserve and strategic reserve… Whoever wants to join us.”

Russia's Federal Security Service (FSB) has opened a criminal investigation into calls for armed rebellion. The FSB has warned Wagner militants not to follow Prigozhin's orders and called for his arrest.

MAI HUONG (synthesis)