The dust has yet to settle following the attempted insurrection of Russian paramilitary troops Wagner over the weekend, which culminated in the exile of group leader Yevgeny Prigozhin to Belarus. The Institute for the Study of War notes that the specifics of the deal that coaxed Wagner forces to retreat from their advance against Moscow could still be under negotiation.
Prigozhin reached sanctuary to begin exile in Belarus in recent days.
The head of the Duma defense committee, Andrei Kartapolov, said Thursday that Wagner mercenaries will no longer fight in Ukraine after the group's leader, Yevgeny Prigozhin, refused to sign contracts with the Kremlin.
In Ukraine, emergency services said the toll following a deadly Russian missile attack on Tuesday night at a restaurant in the eastern city of Kramatorsk has now risen to 12.
As Kyiv continues to weather the Russian offensive, the Danish foreign minister told the Financial Times that the EU bloc risks instability if it relaxes its requirements in order to fast track the membership bids of candidates, in light of their geopolitical circumstances.