On June 25, 2023, Moscow lifted security measures that had been put in place in the wake of a mutiny by Wagner Group mercenaries. The mutiny had begun on June 23, when a group of Wagner fighters refused to obey orders and demanded that their leader, Yevgeny Prigozhin, be allowed to leave Russia. The mutineers also threatened to storm the Russian capital, Moscow.
The security measures that were lifted included road closures, checkpoints, and increased police presence. The Kremlin said that the measures were lifted because the situation had been "stabilized" and that there was no longer a threat to public safety.
However, some analysts believe that the Kremlin may have lifted the security measures because it did not want to draw attention to the mutiny. The Wagner Group is a private military contractor that is closely linked to the Russian government. The mutiny could have damaged the Kremlin's image and made it more difficult for the Wagner Group to operate in the future.
It is also possible that the Kremlin lifted the security measures because it was concerned about the potential for further violence. The mutineers were armed and had threatened to storm Moscow. The Kremlin may have been worried that if the security measures were not lifted, the mutineers would carry out their threats.
Whatever the reason for the decision, the lifting of the security measures suggests that the Kremlin is confident that it has the situation under control. The mutiny has been a major embarrassment for the Kremlin, but it is clear that the Kremlin is not going to let it escalate into a wider conflict.
Here are some of the possible reasons why Moscow lifted security measures after the Wagner mutiny:
- The Kremlin may have been concerned about the potential for further violence. The mutineers were armed and had threatened to storm Moscow. The Kremlin may have been worried that if the security measures were not lifted, the mutineers would carry out their threats.
- The Kremlin may have been trying to avoid drawing attention to the mutiny. The Wagner Group is a private military contractor that is closely linked to the Russian government. The mutiny could have damaged the Kremlin's image and made it more difficult for the Wagner Group to operate in the future.
- The Kremlin may have been confident that it had the situation under control. The mutiny was quickly suppressed, and the Kremlin may have been confident that it could prevent further violence.
It is also possible that a combination of these factors contributed to the decision to lift the security measures. Ultimately, only the Kremlin knows for sure why it made the decision.