US Secretary of State Antony Blinken has described the attempted armed mutiny in Russia as a clear sign of “real cracks” in President Vladimir Putin’s authority. The rebellion, led by Yevgeny Prigozhin’s Wagner fighters, posed a direct challenge to Putin and resulted in an amnesty agreement that halted the group’s advance towards Moscow. Prior to their confrontation with the Russian military, the mercenaries had taken control of two major Russian cities.
While initially accusing the Wagner group of treason, Putin later dropped all charges against them. The amnesty agreement requires the Wagner fighters to return to their field bases, while Prigozhin, a former Putin loyalist, must relocate to Belarus, Russia’s neighboring country, where negotiations involving Belarusian leader Alexander Lukashenko took place.
The current whereabouts of Prigozhin remain unknown, as he was last seen leaving Rostov-on-Don, one of the southern cities seized by his fighters. Prigozhin’s press service indicated that he would address the media once he has access to normal communication means, according to Russia’s RTVI news website.
President Putin, who condemned the mutiny in a televised address on Saturday morning, has not made any public appearances since then. The 24-hour rebellion has raised significant questions about the stability of the Kremlin and its implications for Russia’s ongoing invasion of Ukraine, which began in February 2022.
Antony Blinken spoke to CBS, expressing his concerns about the mutiny’s consequences, stating that it reveals substantial cracks in Russia’s leadership. He acknowledged that it is too early to predict the impact on the Kremlin or Russia’s military actions in Ukraine. Blinken highlighted the shift from Putin’s previous proximity to Kyiv in Ukraine, where he aimed to capture the city within days, to the need to defend Moscow against a rebellion initiated by his own mercenaries.
Regarding the long-term implications for Russia and President Putin personally, Blinken refrained from speculation. Russia has not issued any public response to Blinken’s remarks.
The armed mutiny in Russia has ignited a debate about the underlying dynamics of power within the country, leaving both domestic and international observers to assess the potential implications for the future of Putin’s rule.
