Belarus reported today, Friday, that fighters from the Russian private military group Wagner are training its soldiers at a camp in southeastern Minsk, marking the first indication that at least part of the deal to end the rebellion in Russia may be in motion. Two sources close to the fighters, who requested anonymity, stated that some Wagner fighters have been in Belarus since at least Tuesday. President Vladimir Putin has mentioned that the Wagner rebellion, during which the fighters seized a large military headquarters in southern Russia and then advanced towards Moscow, could have pushed Russia toward civil war. When the fighters, among the most seasoned mercenaries in the world, were only 200 kilometers from Moscow, the Kremlin brokered a withdrawal deal in which Wagner leader Yevgeny Prigozhin moved the fighters to Belarus in exchange for Russia dropping charges of rebellion.
However, there is currently no indication of Wagner fighters' presence in Belarus, and Prigozhin has not appeared publicly since leaving the southern Russian city of Rostov, despite a private plane linked to him frequently flying between Belarus and Moscow and St. Petersburg.
**Trainers**
The television channel affiliated with the Belarusian Ministry of Defense stated, "Wagner fighters are performing tasks as trainers in a number of military specialties." The government news agency reported that the Wagner group is training soldiers in the country. It was noted that at least one helmet worn by individuals reportedly from Wagner bore the Matryoshka doll emblem used by some Wagner fighters. When Reuters visited a camp near Asipovichy last week on a trip organized by Belarus, there was no evidence of Wagner fighters’ presence. Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko, who helped mediate the agreement, stated a week ago that Prigozhin is in Russia.
