Russian Defense Ministry's Attempt to Control Wagner Group Met with Resistance.

The leader of the Wagner Group, a mercenary outfit that helped Russia capture the eastern Ukrainian city of Bakhmut, has said his soldiers will refuse to join Russia's regular forces, despite a new order by Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu requiring they sign contracts with the ministry by July 1. The move is believed to target Wagner. Meanwhile, Ukraine's counteroffensive has yielded control of three villages in the partially occupied eastern province of Donetsk, and Russia has foiled an attack on one of its ships in the Black Sea. The warring parties completed a prisoner exchange on Sunday.