Putin Says He Offered Wagner Mercenaries the Option to Stay as a Single Unit

Putin Says He Offered Wagner Mercenaries the Option to Stay as a Single Unit
Russian President Vladimir Putin chairs a Security Council meeting via video conference at the Kremlin in Moscow on July 14, 2023. Aleksey Babushkin, Sputnik, Kremlin Pool Photo via AP
The Associated Press
Updated:
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Russian President Vladimir Putin said he offered the Wagner private military company the option of continuing to serve as a single unit under their same commander after their short-lived rebellion, while some of the mercenaries were shown Friday in Belarus, possibly heralding the group’s relocation there.

Mr. Putin’s comments appeared to reflect his efforts to secure the loyalty of Wagner mercenaries, some of the most capable Russian forces in Ukraine, after the group’s brief revolt last month that posed the most serious threat to his 23-year rule.