June 26, 2023 - Russia-Ukraine, Wagner rebellion news

Russian special services are investigating whether Western intelligence services were involved in the events which unfolded in Russia Saturday, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said in video comments to Russia Today. 

Russia often alleges foreign interference in domestic ongoings. Lavrov did not immediately present evidence or further information of that alleged investigation.

However, he noted that the US ambassador to Russia signaled that the US had "nothing to do" with the events.

"And it was especially emphasized: the United States proceeds from the fact that everything that happens is an internal affair of the Russian Federation," he added in a video that was seemingly taped Sunday and released on state-controlled broadcaster Russia Today Monday.

This comes after Wagner founder Yevgeny Prigozhin allegedly incited an armed rebellion, but then stood down and accepted a deal to leave Russia for Belarus, according to the Kremlin.

As the dust settles after a bizarre and chaotic weekend in Russia – which saw the greatest challenge to Russian President Vladimir Putin’s authority in decades – there remains more questions than answers.

Here are the latest developments:

The developments in Russia over the weekend show the "weakness" and "fragility" of the Russian regime, NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg said Monday. 

Wagner boss Yevgeny Prigozhin's armed insurrection "demonstrated how difficult and dangerous it is for President [Vladimir] Putin to be relying on mercenaries that have actually turned against him," Stoltenberg said. 

Stoltenberg went on to say that it is unclear what will happen in Russia over the next days and weeks. He added that NATO allies should not make the mistake of "underestimating" Moscow.

"So we need to continue to provide support to Ukraine, that's exactly what NATO and NATO allies are doing with military support but also support for the long term. And that's in a way what we can say today about the effects on the battlefield in Ukraine," he said during a news conference in Lithuania, alongside German Defense Minister Boris Pistorius and Lithuania's President Gitanas Nauseda. 

What we know: Prigozhin on Friday accused Russia’s military of attacking a Wagner camp and killing a “huge amount” of his men. He vowed to retaliate with force, insinuating that his forces would “destroy” any resistance, including roadblocks and aircraft.

By Saturday, Prigozhin announced that he was turning his forces around from a march toward Moscow shortly after the Belarusian government claimed President Alexander Lukashenko had reached a deal with him to halt the advance. Prigozhin said the move was in accordance with an unspecified plan and intended to avoid Russian bloodshed.

Belarusian officials said they cannot confirm if Prigozhin has arrived in the country or what his status will be.

Ukraine has regained control of Rivnopil, a southeastern settlement in the Donetsk region on the Zaporizhzhia border, Ukraine's deputy defense minister claimed.

CNN cannot independently verify this claim.

In a video posted online Monday by the Joint Press Center of the Tavria Defense Forces, a Ukrainian soldier said, "soldiers of the 2nd Mechanised Battalion of the 31st Mechanized Brigade liberated the village of Rivnopil. The orcs are fleeing, we are moving forward. Glory to Ukraine!"

On Thursday, Andriy Kovalov, spokesperson for the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, said Ukrainian forces were partially successful in the Rivnopil-Staromaiorske direction and were "entrenching on the achieved frontiers."

Russian President Vladimir Putin had a phone call with Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi, the Kremlin said Monday.

“The President of Iran expressed full support for the Russian leadership in connection with the events of June 24,” a Kremlin readout read.

It was one of a few known phone calls the Russian President had with foreign leaders following the weekend, which saw a brief insurrection by Wagner troops. 

Iran's official news agency IRNA confirmed the two leaders "had a telephone conversation after the failed rebellion of the 'Wagner' militant group."

The United Kingdom is prepared for a "range of scenarios" in Russia following the insurrection attempted by Wagner boss Yevgeny Prigozhin over the weekend, UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak said Monday.

Sunak noted the UK has been "analyzing and monitoring" the situation for some time and is in close touch with allies "to make sure that we're coordinated." The prime minister also said he spoke with the leaders of the United States, France and Germany over the weekend.

"It's too early to predict with certainty what the consequences of this might be, but of course, we are prepared, as we always would be, for a range of scenarios," he told reporters during a visit to Nottingham.

Russian President Vladimir Putin and Emir of Qatar, Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, held a phone call on Monday, statements said. 

However, the countries had different readouts for the call.

The Kremlin said that Sheikh Tamim expressed his support for Putin’s actions in dealing with the attempted armed mutiny that took place on Saturday.

But the Qatari statement by the Diwan said the Emir "discussed the latest developments in Russia" and called for resolving differences through "dialogue and diplomatic means, settling international disputes by peaceful means" and discouraging "further escalation on the ground."

Sheikh Tamim "also renewed the position of the State of Qatar calling for the need to respect Ukraine's sovereignty and territorial integrity within its internationally recognized borders," the statement added. 

Both leaders agreed to maintain contact in the future.

Some Russians greeted the weekend’s armed insurrection led by the head of the Wagner paramilitary group, Yevgeny Prigozhin, with sympathy, appearing to welcome the mercenary fighters.

In the southern Russian city Rostov-on-Don, which was briefly occupied by Wagner troops, videos showed residents cheering them on, taking pictures with fighters, and flagging down Prigozhin’s car just to shake his hand.

Prigozhin’s so-called “march of justice” – which stopped short of capital city Moscow – was harshly condemned by the Kremlin on Saturday, with a furious President Vladimir Putin vowing to punish those “on a path to treason.”

But at least one Rostov-on-Don resident seemed curious why they did not go further.

“What kind of demands are you making to the authorities? Why are you not doing it in Moscow? Why did you not go to Moscow?” the resident asks in another social media video.

Read the full story here.

Russian Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin acknowledged Monday that the country faced a “challenge” to its internal stability, in his first address to the cabinet of ministers in the wake of the brief armed mutiny by Wagner boss Yevgeny Prigozhin and his mercenaries on Saturday.

Mishustin added that government members were “at their workplaces” and commended the government members for their response to the threat.

“Under the leadership of the president, they acted clearly, in a coordinated manner, and maintained the stability of the situation at all levels in order to prevent the situation from worsening and protect citizens from all possible threats that might arise,” he said.

“We need to act together, as one team, and maintain the unity of all forces, rallying around the president. Make well-considered joint decisions for the effective implementation of the tasks set by the head of state,” he added.

Mishustin described current events as Russia experiencing a crucial period in its history facing significant challenges from Western countries, which are aimed at undermining Russia's ability to pursue its “own path.”