We're closing our live page now. Thanks for following our updates on Russia and Ukraine.
To read more about the Wagner chief's 24 hours of chaos in Russia, click here.
To find out more about how Wagner soldiers are raging against Prigozhin's decision to halt his march on Moscow, look here.
And to read analysis from the BBC's Moscow Editor Steve Rosenberg on how instability in Russia ratchets up pressure on Vladimir Putin, click here.
Today's live page was written by Kathryn Armstrong, Ali Abbas Ahmadi, Andre Rhoden-Paul, Oliver Slow, Ece Goksedef, Malu Cursino and Max Matza. The editors were Emily McGarvey, Dulcie Lee, Alys Davies, Heather Sharp, Alex Fouche and Marianna Brady.
The latest developments in Russia and Ukraine
EPACopyright: EPA
Putin is holding a meeting with the heads of Russian law enforcement agencies at the Kremlin this eveningImage caption: Putin is holding a meeting with the heads of Russian law enforcement agencies at the Kremlin this evening
We're bringing today's live coverage to a close. Here's what happened today:
Russian President Vladimir Putin released a pre-recorded speech in which he accused the West of wanting Russians to "kill each other"
He praised the Russian people for their "unity" and told Wagner fighters that they could either move to Belarus or sign a contact the defense ministry to remain in Russia
Putin is chairing a meeting with the heads of Russian security services, including Defence Minister Sergei Shoigu who Prigozhin demanded to be sacked
Wagner chief Yevgeny Prigozhin, who is being investigated for treason, has not been seen in public since promising to leave for Belarus and his whereabouts are currently unknown
Prigozhin released an audio recording today claiming that the march on Moscow was not an attempt to topple the government, but to prevent his group from being destroyed
US officials said that their priority is supporting Ukraine, and not interfering in domestic Russian affairs
In Ukraine, footage was posted of President Volodymr Zelensky visiting troops and posing for selfies in the contested eastern Donetsk region
Analysis
Where does conflict go from here?
Sarah Rainsford
Eastern Europe Correspondent
Getty ImagesCopyright: Getty Images
This was Vladimir Putin’s attempt to reassert his authority, to squash the now common view that his response to the Wagner mutiny was weak.
His tone in the short, recorded address was furious; his lip curling.
His message was that those who organised the insurrection had betrayed their country and people – and were doing the work of all Russia’s enemies by trying to drag it into bloodshed and division.
He argued that his own management of the crisis had averted disaster.
However, that’s not what many Russians saw play out over the weekend and it’s hard to imagine they’ll be convinced by this performance.
The president’s talk of a country united behind him contrasts sharply with Saturday’s images from the southern city of Rostov, where the Wagner group had taken control and locals applauded fighters in the streets, hugging them and posing for selfies.
That’s probably why Putin offered Wagner members a way out, suggesting they’d been duped and used.
He said nothing concrete, though, of his plans for the group’s founder – and his own former chef – Yevgeny Prigozhin. He didn’t even utter his name.
Earlier, the chief mutineer had made his own "address to the nation", laden with more withering comments about Russia’s defence ministry.
It was only audio so it's not clear where Prigozhin is right now or what he will do next. But he didn’t sound like a man who felt defeated.
UK carried out 'routine operation' over Black Sea near Russian border
A little earlier we heard reports from the Russian defence ministry that two of its fighter jets had intercepted three British warplanes that approached its border above the Black Sea.
The "foreign warplanes" turned around and distanced themselves from the Russian border after the Russian fighter jets approached, the ministry said in a statement.
It added: "The Russian planes safely returned to their airfield. There was no violation of the Russian border."
The British Ministry of Defence (MoD) confirmed this, saying an RAF RC-135W Rivet Joint aircraft and its two Typhoon escorts were carrying out a "routine operation in international airspace over the Black Sea".
"The RAF and Russian aircraft and their crews operated in a safe and professional manner throughout,” the MoD said.
ReutersCopyright: Reuters
The MoD provided a photo of the reconnaissance aircraftImage caption: The MoD provided a photo of the reconnaissance aircraft
Analysis
Uprising is an embarrassment to Putin
Vitaly Shevchenko
BBC Monitoring
Throughout the five minute address - which is relatively short for Putin - the
Russian president kept saying his country had been saved by unity, and that it was Russia's unity that ultimately defeated the uprising.
I wonder if he’s seen videos of
Rostov-on-Don, the city that was captured by Wagner on Saturday, where local
residents appeared to have warmly welcomed the fighters.
As usual, there are elements of Putin’s
speech that merit a bit of fact-checking.
This whole episode is clearly an
embarrassment to the Russian president, who vowed on Saturday to severely punish the
people behind the rebellion.
Putin didn't name Yevgeny Prigozhin directly - neither today or on Saturday - and his critics have said that despite threatening the uprising's organisers, he’s failed to punish them.
If you're just joining, here's a recap of what Vladimir Putin said in his TV address just a few minutes ago:
President Putin delivered a five-minute televised speech moments ago which his spokesman had claimed would change the course of Russian history
The pre-recorded speech mostly repeated what he said over the weekend and claimed that Russian society had rallied around his leadership, choosing him over the Wagner Group
He accused the West of fomenting the "mutiny" that took place at the weekend and praised Russia for its "unity"
He also said he would keep his promise to allow Wagner troops to go to Belarus, adding that "the overwhelming majority" of the mercenaries in Wagner were Russian patriots
Putin didn't make any mention of Yevgeny Prigozhin after the Wagner group's leader spoke out for the first time earlier since his failed mutiny on Saturday
'Putin is scaring his people with talks of upheaval'
Putin used a word in Russian that means "upheaval" in an effort to scare his people into rallying around his leadership, says Johns Hopkins University Prof Sergey Radchenko.
"He is saying there could be an upheaval or a civil war," he says, adding that Putin is saying that "it is great" that Russian people indicated their support for his regime over the weekend.
"He is playing on Russian fears of uncertainty in order to try to shore up his authority, but there is no doubt his authority has been severely undermined," Radchenko tells the BBC.
He says the obvious subtext of the speech was: "If it wasn't for me, you'd have chaos every day."
Radchenko also says Putin's words seem to suggest that Wagner will no longer be allowed to operate in Russia.
Putin holds meeting with security services - state media
Vladimir Putin is now holding a meeting with the heads of Russian security services, Russian media say.
Russian Minister of Defence Sergei Shoigu is also said to be in the meeting.
Wagner chief Yevgeny Prigozhin demanded Shoigu be sacked before he started his march towards Moscow on Saturday.
Putin says West wanted Russians to 'kill each other'
Putin said the West and Ukraine wanted Russians to "kill each other'" and warned that any attempt at blackmail or unrest in Russia was "doomed to fail".
We're now getting fuller translations from Putin's five-minute TV address this evening.
"This civic solidarity has shown that any blackmail and attempts to arrange internal unrest are doomed to failure. I repeat - the highest consolidation of society, executive and legislative power was shown at all levels," the Russian president told Russians.
Putin added that "a firm, unequivocal position of support for the constitutional order was taken by public organisations, religious denominations, leading political parties - in fact, by the entire Russian society."
Those who did not shed blood can sign a contract or move to Belarus - Putin
Let's now hear a bit more from Russian President Vladimir Putin's address on state TV.
Putin thanked the nation for unity, adding that all necessary decisions to neutralise threat were taken at the very beginning, and "the mutiny would have been suppressed anyway, organisers realised their actions were criminal".
Putin told Russians those who staged the "mutiny" wanted Russia to lose "and our society to drown in blood, but they miscalculated".
He went on to thank all security services "who stayed loyal to their oath" as well as pilots who died.
He added that steps were taken to avoid major bloodshed, "but it took time".
"I thank Wagner soldiers and commanders who did not shed blood - you can sign a contract with the Ministry of Defence, or move to Belarus," he said.
Putin praises unity of Russian society
Putin's address has now finished - it wasn't long, and it was a recorded video address.
But here is a little more from his message - he thanked Belarus' leader Alexander Lukashenko for his efforts to resolve the situation peacefully, but he said it was society's unity that played the decisive role.
Mutiny would have been suppressed - Putin
In his address, Putin also says all necessary decisions to neutralise threat were taken at the very beginning.
The mutiny would have been suppressed anyway and organisers realised their actions were criminal, he adds.
Putin says he will keep Belarus promise
Putin thanks commanders and soldiers of Wagner who avoided bloodshed.
He says he promises to those from Wagner who want to go to Belarus that he will keep his promise.
Majority of Wagner are patriots of Russia - Putin
The Russian president says "the overwhelming majority" of the Wagner company are patriots of Russia.
"By turning back they avoided further bloodshed," Putin adds.
Thank you for your cohesion and patriotism - Putin
Russian state TVCopyright: Russian state TV
We're now hearing from Russian President Vladimir Putin, who is speaking to the nation in Russian.
He begins by thanking the Russian people for their "resilience, cohesion and patriotism".
Putin addresses nation
Russian President Vladimir Putin is now addressing the nation in a video address on state TV.
Stick with us as we bring you the latest lines and analysis from his statement.
US confirms direct talks with Russia on Saturday
In Washington, US officials have confirmed that Russian and American diplomats spoke directly on Saturday.
The US emphasised to Moscow that Washington was not involved in stoking up tensions between Wagner and the Kremlin, officials are saying.
"There were appropriate diplomat discussions that occurred over the weekend," said White House spokesman John Kirby without specifying at what level talks occurred.
He added Washington views the tensions with Wagner "as internal Russian matters" and has not taken a side.
Biden remains focused on supporting Ukraine, rather than meddling in Russia, and spoke to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky on Sunday, Kirby continued.
"We're not involved and have no intention of being involved," he said about the current situation in Russia.
"What we are involved with is supporting Ukraine."
At the Department of State, spokesman Matthew Miller said the communications involved the US ambassador to Russia as well as "at other levels here in Washington".
Two messages were sent, he said. The first was that the US expects Russia to protect US diplomatic personnel in Moscow and the second was to emphasise that "this is an internal Russian affair, that in which the United
States is not involved and will not be involved".
Putin to address nation tonight - state TV
Russian state media say Russian President Vladimir Putin will make "a series of important announcements" this evening.
This will be Putin's first appearance since denouncing a Wagner "mutiny" on Saturday - apart from a video this morning - though it is not clear when it was recorded.
We said earlier we were about to close this page - but we'll now continue with our coverage to bring you the latest updates as soon as we get them.
What's been happening today?
Here's a reminder of today's key developments in Russia's war on Ukraine:
Wagner mercenary leader Yevgeny Prigozhin spoke out for the first time since his group's failed rebellion on Saturday. In an 11-minute audio message, he said his mercenaries didn't march towards Moscow to topple the Russian leadership, but to avoid destruction of Wagner
Russia said it's investigating if the West was involved in Wagner's mutiny over the weekend
US President Joe Biden denied any involvement in the mutiny, saying it was "part of a struggle within the Russian system"
The UK Foreign Secretary James Cleverly said Prigozhin's message showed there was "no legitimacy" for the Ukraine war, and Defence Secretary Ben Wallace said the failed revolt had exposed a weakness in Russia’s defences
Meanwhile, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has visited a frontline in eastern Ukraine, meeting with soldiers
While Wagner group’s future is still unknown, Russian news agency Tass reported that the group is resuming recruitment into its ranks
Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov also confirmed that Wagner will continue to operate in Mali and the Central African Republic
Analysis
Wagner leader Prigozhin is still a wanted man
Sarah Rainsford
Eastern Europe Correspondent
For once, Yevgeny Prigozhin was not yelling or swearing in this recording as he described some of the most extraordinary events of Vladimir Putin’s long rule.
For 11 minutes 23 seconds, he was at pains to stress that he had no intention of trying to topple Russia’s elected authorities when he sent his armed mercenaries marching on Moscow.
He didn’t mention Vladimir Putin by name, but he seemed to be appealing to him and explaining. Putin has described his old ally as stabbing Russia in the back.
Today Prigozhin claimed that Wagner has acted always and only in Russia’s interests. But his mutiny has certainly damaged President Putin, by making the self-styled strongman look weak and indecisive.
And his continued, withering verbal attacks on Russia’s defence ministry – his real ‘enemy’ in all this – undermine Putin too, because building-up Russia’s military into a real fighting force has been one of the big projects of his presidency.
This audio recording doesn’t answer many of the big questions about the whole affair, including where its author is now.
But that’s not surprising, because as the Kremlin has been busy mounting its operation to recover Putin’s reputation, the Prosecutor’s office leaked the news that Yevgeny Prigozhin is still a wanted man: for armed insurrection. No wonder he’s lying low.
Live Reporting
Edited by Emily McGarvey
All times stated are UK
Get involved
-
To read more about the Wagner chief's 24 hours of chaos in Russia, click here.
-
To find out more about how Wagner soldiers are raging against Prigozhin's decision to halt his march on Moscow, look here.
-
And to read analysis from the BBC's Moscow Editor Steve Rosenberg on how instability in Russia ratchets up pressure on Vladimir Putin, click here.
EPACopyright: EPA Putin is holding a meeting with the heads of Russian law enforcement agencies at the Kremlin this eveningImage caption: Putin is holding a meeting with the heads of Russian law enforcement agencies at the Kremlin this evening - Russian President Vladimir Putin released a pre-recorded speech in which he accused the West of wanting Russians to "kill each other"
-
He praised the Russian people for their "unity" and told Wagner fighters that they could either move to Belarus or sign a contact the defense ministry to remain in Russia
- Putin is chairing a meeting with the heads of Russian security services, including Defence Minister Sergei Shoigu who Prigozhin demanded to be sacked
-
Wagner chief Yevgeny Prigozhin, who is being investigated for treason, has not been seen in public since promising to leave for Belarus and his whereabouts are currently unknown
- Prigozhin released an audio recording today claiming that the march on Moscow was not an attempt to topple the government, but to prevent his group from being destroyed
- US officials said that their priority is supporting Ukraine, and not interfering in domestic Russian affairs
-
In Ukraine, footage was posted of President Volodymr Zelensky visiting troops and posing for selfies in the contested eastern Donetsk region
Analysis
Getty ImagesCopyright: Getty Images 
ReutersCopyright: Reuters The MoD provided a photo of the reconnaissance aircraftImage caption: The MoD provided a photo of the reconnaissance aircraft Analysis
EPA-EFE/REX/ShutterstockCopyright: EPA-EFE/REX/Shutterstock -
President Putin delivered a five-minute televised speech moments ago which his spokesman had claimed would change the course of Russian history
-
The pre-recorded speech mostly repeated what he said over the weekend and claimed that Russian society had rallied around his leadership, choosing him over the Wagner Group
-
He accused the West of fomenting the "mutiny" that took place at the weekend and praised Russia for its "unity"
-
He also said he would keep his promise to allow Wagner troops to go to Belarus, adding that "the overwhelming majority" of the mercenaries in Wagner were Russian patriots
-
Putin didn't make any mention of Yevgeny Prigozhin after the Wagner group's leader spoke out for the first time earlier since his failed mutiny on Saturday
Russian state TVCopyright: Russian state TV - Wagner mercenary leader Yevgeny Prigozhin spoke out for the first time since his group's failed rebellion on Saturday. In an 11-minute audio message, he said his mercenaries didn't march towards Moscow to topple the Russian leadership, but to avoid destruction of Wagner
-
Russia said it's investigating if the West was involved in Wagner's mutiny over the weekend
- US President Joe Biden denied any involvement in the mutiny, saying it was "part of a struggle within the Russian system"
-
The UK Foreign Secretary James Cleverly said Prigozhin's message showed there was "no legitimacy" for the Ukraine war, and Defence Secretary Ben Wallace said the failed revolt had exposed a weakness in Russia’s defences
-
Meanwhile, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has visited a frontline in eastern Ukraine, meeting with soldiers
-
While Wagner group’s future is still unknown, Russian news agency Tass reported that the group is resuming recruitment into its ranks
- Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov also confirmed that Wagner will continue to operate in Mali and the Central African Republic
Analysis
Latest PostThanks for joining us
We're closing our live page now. Thanks for following our updates on Russia and Ukraine.
Today's live page was written by Kathryn Armstrong, Ali Abbas Ahmadi, Andre Rhoden-Paul, Oliver Slow, Ece Goksedef, Malu Cursino and Max Matza. The editors were Emily McGarvey, Dulcie Lee, Alys Davies, Heather Sharp, Alex Fouche and Marianna Brady.
The latest developments in Russia and Ukraine
We're bringing today's live coverage to a close. Here's what happened today:
Where does conflict go from here?
Sarah Rainsford
Eastern Europe Correspondent
This was Vladimir Putin’s attempt to reassert his authority, to squash the now common view that his response to the Wagner mutiny was weak.
His tone in the short, recorded address was furious; his lip curling.
His message was that those who organised the insurrection had betrayed their country and people – and were doing the work of all Russia’s enemies by trying to drag it into bloodshed and division.
He argued that his own management of the crisis had averted disaster.
However, that’s not what many Russians saw play out over the weekend and it’s hard to imagine they’ll be convinced by this performance.
The president’s talk of a country united behind him contrasts sharply with Saturday’s images from the southern city of Rostov, where the Wagner group had taken control and locals applauded fighters in the streets, hugging them and posing for selfies.
That’s probably why Putin offered Wagner members a way out, suggesting they’d been duped and used.
He said nothing concrete, though, of his plans for the group’s founder – and his own former chef – Yevgeny Prigozhin. He didn’t even utter his name.
Earlier, the chief mutineer had made his own "address to the nation", laden with more withering comments about Russia’s defence ministry.
It was only audio so it's not clear where Prigozhin is right now or what he will do next. But he didn’t sound like a man who felt defeated.
UK carried out 'routine operation' over Black Sea near Russian border
A little earlier we heard reports from the Russian defence ministry that two of its fighter jets had intercepted three British warplanes that approached its border above the Black Sea.
The "foreign warplanes" turned around and distanced themselves from the Russian border after the Russian fighter jets approached, the ministry said in a statement.
It added: "The Russian planes safely returned to their airfield. There was no violation of the Russian border."
The British Ministry of Defence (MoD) confirmed this, saying an RAF RC-135W Rivet Joint aircraft and its two Typhoon escorts were carrying out a "routine operation in international airspace over the Black Sea".
"The RAF and Russian aircraft and their crews operated in a safe and professional manner throughout,” the MoD said.
Uprising is an embarrassment to Putin
Vitaly Shevchenko
BBC Monitoring
Throughout the five minute address - which is relatively short for Putin - the Russian president kept saying his country had been saved by unity, and that it was Russia's unity that ultimately defeated the uprising.
I wonder if he’s seen videos of Rostov-on-Don, the city that was captured by Wagner on Saturday, where local residents appeared to have warmly welcomed the fighters.
As usual, there are elements of Putin’s speech that merit a bit of fact-checking.
This whole episode is clearly an embarrassment to the Russian president, who vowed on Saturday to severely punish the people behind the rebellion.
Putin didn't name Yevgeny Prigozhin directly - neither today or on Saturday - and his critics have said that despite threatening the uprising's organisers, he’s failed to punish them.
What did Putin say?
If you're just joining, here's a recap of what Vladimir Putin said in his TV address just a few minutes ago:
'Putin is scaring his people with talks of upheaval'
Putin used a word in Russian that means "upheaval" in an effort to scare his people into rallying around his leadership, says Johns Hopkins University Prof Sergey Radchenko.
"He is saying there could be an upheaval or a civil war," he says, adding that Putin is saying that "it is great" that Russian people indicated their support for his regime over the weekend.
"He is playing on Russian fears of uncertainty in order to try to shore up his authority, but there is no doubt his authority has been severely undermined," Radchenko tells the BBC.
He says the obvious subtext of the speech was: "If it wasn't for me, you'd have chaos every day."
Radchenko also says Putin's words seem to suggest that Wagner will no longer be allowed to operate in Russia.
Putin holds meeting with security services - state media
Vladimir Putin is now holding a meeting with the heads of Russian security services, Russian media say.
Russian Minister of Defence Sergei Shoigu is also said to be in the meeting.
Wagner chief Yevgeny Prigozhin demanded Shoigu be sacked before he started his march towards Moscow on Saturday.
Putin says West wanted Russians to 'kill each other'
Putin said the West and Ukraine wanted Russians to "kill each other'" and warned that any attempt at blackmail or unrest in Russia was "doomed to fail".
We're now getting fuller translations from Putin's five-minute TV address this evening.
"This civic solidarity has shown that any blackmail and attempts to arrange internal unrest are doomed to failure. I repeat - the highest consolidation of society, executive and legislative power was shown at all levels," the Russian president told Russians.
Putin added that "a firm, unequivocal position of support for the constitutional order was taken by public organisations, religious denominations, leading political parties - in fact, by the entire Russian society."
Those who did not shed blood can sign a contract or move to Belarus - Putin
Let's now hear a bit more from Russian President Vladimir Putin's address on state TV.
Putin thanked the nation for unity, adding that all necessary decisions to neutralise threat were taken at the very beginning, and "the mutiny would have been suppressed anyway, organisers realised their actions were criminal".
Putin told Russians those who staged the "mutiny" wanted Russia to lose "and our society to drown in blood, but they miscalculated".
He went on to thank all security services "who stayed loyal to their oath" as well as pilots who died.
He added that steps were taken to avoid major bloodshed, "but it took time".
"I thank Wagner soldiers and commanders who did not shed blood - you can sign a contract with the Ministry of Defence, or move to Belarus," he said.
Putin praises unity of Russian society
Putin's address has now finished - it wasn't long, and it was a recorded video address.
But here is a little more from his message - he thanked Belarus' leader Alexander Lukashenko for his efforts to resolve the situation peacefully, but he said it was society's unity that played the decisive role.
Mutiny would have been suppressed - Putin
In his address, Putin also says all necessary decisions to neutralise threat were taken at the very beginning.
The mutiny would have been suppressed anyway and organisers realised their actions were criminal, he adds.
Putin says he will keep Belarus promise
Putin thanks commanders and soldiers of Wagner who avoided bloodshed.
He says he promises to those from Wagner who want to go to Belarus that he will keep his promise.
Majority of Wagner are patriots of Russia - Putin
The Russian president says "the overwhelming majority" of the Wagner company are patriots of Russia.
"By turning back they avoided further bloodshed," Putin adds.
Thank you for your cohesion and patriotism - Putin
We're now hearing from Russian President Vladimir Putin, who is speaking to the nation in Russian.
He begins by thanking the Russian people for their "resilience, cohesion and patriotism".
Putin addresses nation
Russian President Vladimir Putin is now addressing the nation in a video address on state TV.
Stick with us as we bring you the latest lines and analysis from his statement.
US confirms direct talks with Russia on Saturday
In Washington, US officials have confirmed that Russian and American diplomats spoke directly on Saturday.
The US emphasised to Moscow that Washington was not involved in stoking up tensions between Wagner and the Kremlin, officials are saying.
"There were appropriate diplomat discussions that occurred over the weekend," said White House spokesman John Kirby without specifying at what level talks occurred.
He added Washington views the tensions with Wagner "as internal Russian matters" and has not taken a side.
Biden remains focused on supporting Ukraine, rather than meddling in Russia, and spoke to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky on Sunday, Kirby continued.
"We're not involved and have no intention of being involved," he said about the current situation in Russia.
"What we are involved with is supporting Ukraine."
At the Department of State, spokesman Matthew Miller said the communications involved the US ambassador to Russia as well as "at other levels here in Washington".
Two messages were sent, he said. The first was that the US expects Russia to protect US diplomatic personnel in Moscow and the second was to emphasise that "this is an internal Russian affair, that in which the United States is not involved and will not be involved".
Putin to address nation tonight - state TV
Russian state media say Russian President Vladimir Putin will make "a series of important announcements" this evening.
This will be Putin's first appearance since denouncing a Wagner "mutiny" on Saturday - apart from a video this morning - though it is not clear when it was recorded.
We said earlier we were about to close this page - but we'll now continue with our coverage to bring you the latest updates as soon as we get them.
What's been happening today?
Here's a reminder of today's key developments in Russia's war on Ukraine:
Wagner leader Prigozhin is still a wanted man
Sarah Rainsford
Eastern Europe Correspondent
For once, Yevgeny Prigozhin was not yelling or swearing in this recording as he described some of the most extraordinary events of Vladimir Putin’s long rule.
For 11 minutes 23 seconds, he was at pains to stress that he had no intention of trying to topple Russia’s elected authorities when he sent his armed mercenaries marching on Moscow.
He didn’t mention Vladimir Putin by name, but he seemed to be appealing to him and explaining. Putin has described his old ally as stabbing Russia in the back.
Today Prigozhin claimed that Wagner has acted always and only in Russia’s interests. But his mutiny has certainly damaged President Putin, by making the self-styled strongman look weak and indecisive.
And his continued, withering verbal attacks on Russia’s defence ministry – his real ‘enemy’ in all this – undermine Putin too, because building-up Russia’s military into a real fighting force has been one of the big projects of his presidency.
This audio recording doesn’t answer many of the big questions about the whole affair, including where its author is now.
But that’s not surprising, because as the Kremlin has been busy mounting its operation to recover Putin’s reputation, the Prosecutor’s office leaked the news that Yevgeny Prigozhin is still a wanted man: for armed insurrection. No wonder he’s lying low.