The Wagner Revolt: A Threat to Putin, Prigozhin, and NATO

The head of Russia's Wagner Group, Yevgeny Prigozhin, has reportedly fled to Belarus after leading a mutiny that brought Russian mercenaries within 120 miles of Moscow. The Kremlin has dropped criminal charges against Prigozhin, who claims his forces were reacting to an attack by Russia's military that killed Wagner fighters. However, it remains unclear if the attack actually occurred or if it was part of Prigozhin's disinformation campaign. Pulitzer Prize-winning reporter James Risen suggests that Prigozhin poses a threat to Putin's power and that Putin's weakness in handling the situation will embolden his opponents. The revolt may also present an opportunity for negotiations to end the war in Ukraine, but it is unlikely that NATO expansion will be offered as a means of settlement.