Wagner chief Yevgeny Prigozhin failed to comply with the Russian Defense Ministry's decision on contracts, and had been informed even before the June 24 events that Wagner troops would not participate in special military operation in Ukraine, according to Russian lawmaker Andrey Kartapolov.
"Several days before the mutiny attempt, the Defense Ministry announced that all formations carrying out combat missions must sign a contract with the Defense Ministry. Everyone started to carry out this decision, an absolutely correct decision — except Mr. Prigozhin. He had been informed that in that case, Wagner troops would not take part in the special military operation," Kartapolov told Russian journalists on Thursday.
Armed Mutiny Attempt in Russia
On the night of June 24, Wagner forces took control of the headquarters of the Southern Military District in Russia's city of Rostov-on-Don, following claims made by Prigozhin that the Russian Armed Forces allegedly "launched missile strikes" on Wagner camps. The allegations were dismissed by both the Ministry of Defense and Russia's Federal Secuiry Agency (FSB).
The attempted armed rebellion was stopped thanks to difficult negotiations, which were held agreement with Russian President Vladimir Putin between Belarusian leader Alexander Lukashenko and Prigozhin on Saturday.
As a result, Wagner chief agreed to relocate to Belarus, while Wagner troops who did not participate in the rebellion were offered to sign a contract with the Russian Ministry of Defense.
The rest of the Wagner troops will not be persecuted, the Russian authroties have said.