The President’s Office of Belarus has announced that Yevgeny Prigozhin, the leader of the Wagner mercenary group, has agreed to halt their rapid advance toward Moscow and deescalate the situation. Prigozhin confirmed this in a social media post. Belarus President Alexander Lukashenko, an ally of Russian President Vladimir Putin, reportedly held talks with Prigozhin. The talks were said to have Putin’s approval, and a draft agreement has been proposed to provide security guarantees for Wagner fighters. Russian state media TASS reported a tentative deal to stop Wagner’s advance, prompting Putin to vow to crush any insurrection. Prigozhin stated on his Telegram channel that he ordered his mercenaries to retreat to their field camps in Ukraine to avoid shedding Russian blood. The accuracy of these claims has not been independently verified. Earlier, Wagner mercenaries advanced toward Moscow after seizing a southern city. Russia’s military attempted to stop them but appeared to have limited success. Prigozhin, who established the Wagner Group as a private army, blamed corrupt and incompetent commanders for setbacks in Ukraine. The rebels captured Rostov and are on their way to Moscow. Putin called the rebellion a betrayal and promised punishment. Reports suggest that Wagner forces have reached Moscow Oblast, and Russian media showed police groups stationed at the city’s outskirts. Prigozhin accused Russia’s military of targeting civilians during the attack. GeoConfirmed reported that Wagner forces have split into three columns, and one column could reach Moscow on Saturday evening. Putin addressed the nation, stating that Russia’s existence is under threat and vowed punishment for those involved in the rebellion. Prigozhin responded, saying he and his men are fighting for the country and against corruption. The situation in Rostov remains tense, with increased security in Moscow. The rebellion poses an opportunity for Ukraine, as it could disrupt Russia’s invasion force in Ukraine. However, there have been no reports of large-scale fighting between Wagner forces and the Russian military. Prigozhin stated that around 25,000 fighters are pressing ahead toward Moscow.