What comes after the Wagner rebellion in Russia
Post Reports
The Washington Post
4.4 • 5.1K Ratings
🗓️ 26 June 2023
⏱️ 29 minutes
🧾️ Download transcript
Summary
Today, we explain why an armed revolt in Russia, led by the Wagner mercenary group, represents one of the biggest challenges to Vladimir Putin’s 23 years of rule.
Read more:
A fast-moving crisis unfolded in Russia over the weekend: A group of mercenary soldiers, known as the Wagner Group, marched toward Moscow, getting within 120 miles of Russia’s capital before abruptly turning back. Although the rebellion was short-lived, it raises serious questions about Vladimir Putin’s grip on Russia and his war effort in Ukraine.
Today, national security reporter Shane Harris explains why Wagner Group leader Yevgeniy Prigozhin led the revolt and what it could mean for Putin’s political future.
If you want to learn more about Yevgeniy Prigozhin and the Wagner Group, you can listen to our earlier episode explaining the rise of the shadowy Russian mercenary network.
Transcript
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| 0:00.0 | It was one of the most stunning moments in Russia in years. |
| 0:07.0 | Over the weekend, Moscow's military faced an armed revolt, and it happened from within. |
| 0:13.3 | The Wagner Group, a mercenary force, marched towards Moscow, and they seemed to face no |
| 0:18.9 | resistance. |
| 0:19.9 | And there was stunning that they were able to go this fast and, you know, passed all through |
| 0:25.8 | all the roadblocks that Russian officials have been trying to put up. |
| 0:29.5 | There was stunning images of tractors destroying highways on the way to Moscow. |
| 0:38.1 | Mary Aleushina is a reporter covering Russia for the post. |
| 0:41.6 | She's a neighboring Latvia, where she watched the dramatic mutiny start and suddenly stop |
| 0:47.2 | with a truce. |
| 0:51.2 | But just because the dust has settled, Mary's trouble is not over for Russian President Vladimir |
| 0:56.3 | Putin. |
| 0:57.3 | And in a way, I think it's the reckoning for Vladimir Putin's government. |
| 1:02.4 | And, you know, a lot of questions are being raised whether he is still, you know, in control |
| 1:07.5 | over all these feasts that he has created over time, whether this promise that he constantly |
| 1:14.2 | offered to the Russian people of stability and order can even be restored now, because |
| 1:19.5 | so many things seem to be going wrong. |
| 1:22.9 | And Russia is just in chaos right now, because now we had this armed rebellion, something |
| 1:29.3 | Russians, you know, have been seen in a very long time. |
| 1:34.2 | And those are certainly probably one of the craziest 24 hours in Russia's modern history. |
| 1:44.1 | From the newsroom of the Washington Post, this is Post Reports. |
| 1:47.6 | I'm L.I.A. |
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