The Russian mood when Wagner rebelled

As news of Wagner's rebellion spread, some Russians were alarmed, but many were outraged by the actions of the private military group.

Initially, Ivan, 30, from the city of Rostov-on-Don, did not believe that an armed rebellion was taking place in his southern Russian hometown in the early morning of June 24.

“That morning I told my friends it was all fake news and they responded by sending me pictures of tanks on the streets,” he said.

Wagner gunmen prepare to withdraw from the headquarters of Russia's Southern Military District in the city of Rostov-an-Don on the night of June 24. Photo: Reuters

After months of tension with Russia’s military leadership, Yevgeny Prigozhin, head of the private military conglomerate Wagner, suddenly sent thousands of fighters from the Ukrainian battlefield into Rostov province, seizing the Southern Military District headquarters in the city of Rostov-on-Don. Another Wagner force advanced toward the capital Moscow, while Prigozhin demanded the ouster of Defense Minister Sergey Shoigu, a claim the Kremlin rejected.

"I arrived at the headquarters of the Southern Military District and saw Wagner gunmen standing at every intersection. The district headquarters was surrounded by Wagner soldiers and tanks," Ivan said.

As news of the uprising spread, some residents of Rostov-on-Don rushed to fill up their tanks and stock up on food and supplies from supermarkets. Many others were angry at Wagner’s outburst, given Russia’s mounting pressure on several fronts over its campaign in Ukraine.

"These are difficult times, I did not expect to see something like this happen," Russian TV presenter Vladimir Solovyov said in a video posted on Telegram on June 24. "Wagner fighters would be useful on the front lines for operations to Lviv or Kiev if needed, and even further. But when you look at what is happening, you wonder, what led to this."

"The enemy is out there, in Ukraine. Stop before it's too late. Nothing is more terrifying than civil war," he sent a message to Wagner's forces.

Dmitry Rogozin, former head of the Russian Federal Space Agency, criticized Prigozhini, accusing Wagner of using violence to serve his political interests and ambitions.

"In a conflict, you must abandon all calculations and fully support the front. Any attempt to weaken it is to help the enemy," Rogozin said.

Journalist Armen Gasparyan called Prigozhin's rebellion an act of betrayal and a "stab in the back of the army".

"It is an act of trampling on soldiers who sacrificed their lives for the country," he wrote on Telegram. "But we have a President and a spirit of unity in society towards a sacred goal. We will win! Stop, do not fight against the Fatherland!"

Several social media accounts were quick to create memes criticizing Prigozhin. "The rat turned out to be a chef," Twitter user Garik Ohanisyan wrote, referring to Prigozhin's restaurant business past.

In Rostov-on-Don, after initial confusion, people gradually got used to the sight of heavily armed Wagner gunmen lined up in the streets. The Wagner gunmen did not seem to bother the locals, some of whom did not even care what the force was doing.

Ivan said he was the one who filmed the video that went viral on social media, showing a janitor calmly sweeping the street next to the armored vehicle and Wagner gunmen, as if nothing was happening.

Russian janitor calmly sweeps the street next to a Wagner armored vehicle

A street sweeper sweeps next to a Wagner armored vehicle in Rostov-on-Don, the capital of Rostov region, southern Russia, on June 24. Video: Twitter/Rob Lee

By midday on June 24, President Vladimir Putin appeared on national television, asserting that Wagner's rebellion was an act of treason and that those involved would be punished. "The armed forces have received the necessary orders," the Kremlin chief declared, asserting that the rebellion was a "stab in the back" for Russia.

Prigozhin responded by saying that President Putin had “made a grave mistake” and declared that no gunmen would surrender. By this time, Wagner forces had entered the cities of Voronezh and Lipetsk, located along the M4 highway linking Rostov with the capital Moscow.

In Moscow, Irina, a local marketing director, said she felt anxious about the situation and decided to leave her central apartment and take refuge in a guest house on the northern outskirts of the city after hearing that Wagner's troops were approaching.

"Of course I was scared. We quickly packed our bags and drove away. We didn't know what was going to happen," she said.

An unnamed official in the Moscow city government described what was happening as “a crazy reality show”. “I am trying to understand everything,” he said. “No one could have imagined it would happen.”

A wealthy resident of the upscale Rublyovka district outside Moscow said he had put his security team on alert as Wagner approached the city. "I told them to be ready for any scenario," he said. "Prigozhin is crazy, he is the worst and is capable of anything."

However, no major clashes occurred during Wagner's advance, and the force did not reach Moscow.

On the evening of June 24, when Ivan returned to the center of Rostov-on-Don, many curious civilians had gathered there. "Some families brought children, everyone wanted to have a photo taken with the tanks on the street," he recalled.

A few hours later, Prigozhin suddenly ordered his troops to retreat to their barracks, ending the rebellion. After hearing the order, the Wagner gunmen formed up and left, "as quickly as they had come," Ivan said.

The office of Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko said he had brokered a deal with the Kremlin to avoid bloodshed. Under the deal, Prigozhin would be guaranteed safe passage to Belarus and Wagner militants involved in the rebellion would not face any criminal charges.

Russian state media have widely reported on the agreement to end the rebellion, but have avoided criticizing the Wagner forces. Russian state news agency RIA Novosti published a commentary describing the Wagners as “heroes of Artemovsk,” as Russia calls the eastern Ukrainian city of Bakhmut.

People hold flags supporting Mr. Putin on the streets of central Moscow, Russia, on June 25. Photo: AP

The article said that the Wagner gunmen had "thought it through" in agreeing to a compromise to avoid bloodshed. "Today, the two sides clashed," the commentary said. "But they refused to kill each other."

A calm atmosphere returned to Moscow on June 26. Security forces began dismantling barricades erected as Wagner troops advanced from Rostov-on-Don toward the capital along the M4 highway. Workers began repairing roads that had been destroyed to block Wagner’s advance.

“The city seems to be completely back to normal,” said David, a barman in a downtown bar. “Finally, things are looking good. I’m not worried anymore.”

The Russian Central Bank announced that Moscow's stock market, banking system and financial institutions were operating as normal at the beginning of the week.

"I was relieved to hear that the Wagner army had returned," said marketing director Irina.

However, the fact that a private military force could approach the capital Moscow is still a change that makes many Russians worried and believe that corrective measures are needed.

"We must understand what has just happened. We must put aside our emotions and make sober assessments," pro-Kremlin commentator Vladimir Solovyov said on his website. "We need to further step up the building of our armed forces, increase our combat readiness so that not only the front line but also the rear will have fighting power."

Andrei Kolesnikov, a senior fellow at the Moscow-based Carnegie Center for Russia and Eurasia, said Prigozhin may have gained popularity after his campaign to take control of the Ukrainian city of Bakhmut, but Russians would choose the stability that President Putin would bring.

"For those who want stability, if they have to choose between President Putin and Prigozhin, they will choose the President," Kolesnikov said.

Vu Hoang (According to Moscow Times, Al Jazeera, Guardian )

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