The audacious rebel mercenaries who briefly seized control of a Russian military headquarters, embarking on a foreboding march towards Moscow, have now vanished.

However, this short-lived uprising has dealt a blow to President Vladimir Putin, as his forces confront a fierce counteroffensive in Ukraine, the Associated Press reported.

According to the agreement that resolved the crisis, Yevgeny Prigozhin, the leader of the ill-fated Wagner troops, will be exiled to Belarus and spared from prosecution.

Nevertheless, the fate of Prigozhin and his forces remains uncertain. The details of the deal, brokered by Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko, were shrouded in secrecy, with limited information released by both the Kremlin and Lukashenko.

There has been no communication from Prigozhin or Putin, and top Russian military officials have chosen to remain silent.

U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken characterized the weekend’s events as remarkable, recalling that just 16 months ago, Putin seemed poised to capture the Ukrainian capital, whereas now he finds himself defending Moscow against forces led by his former protégé.

“We are witnessing the emergence of more cracks in the Russian facade,” Blinken remarked during an appearance on NBC’s “Meet the Press.”

“While it is premature to determine the exact course of events and their timing, Putin will undoubtedly have to address a multitude of new questions in the weeks and months ahead.”

Written by staff