On the morning of June 26, the criminal case on organizing an armed rebellion (Article 279 of the Criminal Code), the main defendant in which was the founder of Wagner PMC Yevgeny Prigozhin, was not terminated and continues to be investigated by an investigator from the Investigation Department of the FSB of Russia.

Друзья, в связи с тем, что Русский Добровольческий Корпус постоянно пополняется новыми бойцами, а, значит, пропорционально растут и потребности в экипировке, обслуживании техники и многом другом, фонд «Иностранный доброволец» открывает проект для финансовой поддержки нашего подразделения.

Обращаем внимание, что далее планируются и иные проекты фонда «Иностранный доброволец» для помощи иностранным добровольческим подразделениям.

Friends, due to the fact that the Russian Volunteer Corps is constantly replenished with new fighters, and, therefore, the need for equipment, maintenance of equipment and much more is proportionally growing, the Foreign Volunteer Foundation is opening a project for financial support (https://rdksupport.com/project/6) of our division.

Please note that other projects of the Foreign Volunteer Foundation are also planned to help foreign volunteer units.

To the brave fighters of Wagner Group, who have been caught in the midst of a complex and devastating conflict, this appeal seeks to shed light on the truth and implores you to consider a different path. It is an urgent call to embrace your humanity, protect your lives, and make a courageous decision to join the cause of freedom in Ukraine.

It is essential to recognize that Russia's government has a history of using and discarding individuals and groups when they no longer serve their purpose. By aligning yourselves with Russia, you risk becoming expendable pawns in a larger political game.

We will provide you with an opportunity to see the truth firsthand, unfiltered by Russian propaganda. By joining forces with Ukraine, you can experience the reality of the conflict and witness the aspirations and struggles of the Ukrainian people fighting for their freedom and sovereignty. Embracing truth and breaking free from the cycle of misinformation will allow you to make informed decisions about your future.

Russia's involvement in Ukraine has resulted in significant human suffering and loss of life. You can choose to protect your own lives and those of innocent civilians caught in the crossfire. Your actions can contribute to ending the bloodshed and bringing about a peaceful resolution to the conflict, safeguarding the future of both Ukrainians and yourselves.

Every individual yearns for freedom and the ability to shape their own destiny. You have a chance to reclaim your autonomy and contribute to the cause of a nation fighting for its right to self-determination. By standing with Ukraine, you can join a movement that embraces democratic values, human rights, and the belief that every person deserves the opportunity to determine their own future.

Consider the well-being of your families and loved ones. Remaining with the Wagner Group aligns you with a volatile situation that may ultimately lead to their suffering and anguish because of Prighozhin exposing the truth. You can provide them with the hope of a safer future, free from the unpredictable and destructive nature of the conflict. Your decision to choose freedom can inspire others and create a better world for those you hold dear.

The horrors of war can dehumanize even the noblest of intentions. We can allow you to reclaim your humanity by aligning yourselves with a cause that values the sanctity of life, human dignity, and the pursuit of peace. By choosing to fight alongside Ukrainians against oppression and aggression, you can restore your sense of purpose and contribute to a just and equitable society.

Listen to your commander's words.
Choose the right side.

Contact at t.me/ukrcontact_bot if you've decided to make the correct choice.

Дорогие бравые бойцы группы Вагнера, которые оказались в среде сложного и разрушительного конфликта, это обращение стремится пролить свет на истину и настоятельно просит вас рассмотреть другой путь. Это срочный призыв принять свою человечность, защитить свои жизни и принять мужественное решение присоединиться к делу свободы в Украине.

Важно понять, что правительство России имеет историю использования и отказа от людей и групп, когда они больше не служат их целям. Вы, выступая на стороне России, рискуете стать пешками в большой политической игре.

Мы предоставим вам возможность увидеть истину на собственные глаза, неискаженную российской пропагандой. Присоединившись к силам Украины, вы сможете сами увидеть реальность конфликта и столкнуться с стремлениями и борьбой украинского народа за свою свободу и суверенитет. Принятие правды и освобождение от цикла дезинформации позволит вам принимать обоснованные решения о своем будущем.

Участие России в украинском конфликте привело к значительным страданиям и потере жизни людей. Вы можете выбрать защиту своей собственной жизни и жизней невинных граждан, попавших в зону боевых действий. Ваши действия могут способствовать прекращению кровопролития и достижению мирного разрешения конфликта, обеспечивая будущее как для украинцев, так и для вас самих.

Каждый человек жаждет свободы и возможности формировать свою собственную судьбу. У вас есть шанс вернуть себе автономию и внести свой вклад в дело нации, борющейся за свое право на самоопределение. Присоединившись к Украине, вы можете стать частью движения, которое придерживается демократических ценностей, защищает права человека и верит в то, что каждый человек заслуживает возможность определить свое будущее.

Подумайте о благополучии своих семей и близких. Оставаясь в группе Вагнера, вы связываете их с опасной ситуацией, которая может привести к их страданиям и мукам из-за того, что Пригожин раскрыл правду. Вы можете дать им надежду на безопасное будущее, свободное от непредсказуемой и разрушительной природы конфликта. Ваше решение выбрать свободу может вдохновить других и создать лучший мир для тех, кого вы любите.

Ужасы войны могут лишить человека его человечности, даже если у него были благородные намерения. Мы можем помочь вам вернуть свою человечность, присоединившись к делу, которое ценит святыню жизни, человеческое достоинство и стремление к миру. Присоединяясь к борьбе украинцев против угнетения и агрессии, вы можете вернуть свое чувство цели и внести свой вклад в справедливое и равноправное общество.

Слушайте слова своего командира.
Выбирайте правильную сторону.

Пишите на t.me/ukrcontact_bot, если решили сделать правильный выбор.

After Yevgeny Prigozhin, the leader of the Wagner mercenary group, ordered -- and then called off -- his forces to march on Moscow, RFE/RL's Georgian Service spoke to Konstantin Eggert, an independent journalist and political analyst, about how this has significantly weakened Russian President Vladimir Putin's grip on power.

Eggert provides regular commentary and analysis on Russian affairs for Deutsche Welle, Germany's international broadcaster, and was previously head of the BBC Russian Service's Moscow bureau and hosted a program at the independent Russian television channel, Dozhd (Rain).

RFE/RL: What have we just seen? What are we witnessing?

Konstantin Eggert: It is very difficult to determine what we've seen; we have definitely seen something that looked like a real military rebellion against Putin, in spite of the fact that Putin was not directly mentioned. But it is clear that this undermined and continues to undermine the Putin system.

For some reason, Prigozhin [has told us] that he is stopping the advance of his mercenaries and he wants to avoid bloodshed, as if he didn't understand that when he was speeding toward Moscow. And the intermediary seems to be [Belarusian President Alyaksandr] Lukashenka of all people. The question of what we've seen becomes really important and really unanswerable in some ways, because there are mechanisms here which we just don't understand.

However, let me say one thing: This event has significantly weakened Putin's grip on his own system. It has significantly weakened his ability to prosecute the war. It has created chaos among the millions of Russian civil servants on whose shoulders this regime stands…. I think that the Putin regime, as we knew it, is over, and something new is starting in Russia. Maybe, by the way, worse, although it's difficult to imagine something worse, especially if you are Ukrainian. But I do not think we can presume anymore that Putin is in full control of the country and that he is really the master of his fate.

RFE/RL: Why would Prigozhin do all of this in the first place?

Eggert: At this moment, we don't know. But the mere fact that at least on the surface of it, it was Lukashenka who stopped the advance on Moscow, means that, in the eyes of the Russian bureaucracy, Putin is no longer tops. He depends on Lukashenka to communicate with Prigozhin, and this means Putin -- who was saying in the morning that Prigozhin was essentially a traitor -- is now negotiating with this traitor [via] an intermediary who is supposed to be his junior partner.

There is no way to explain it [other] than to say that Putin was really afraid and he really needed a way out. And Prigozhin was also afraid, because although, let's say 15,000 well-trained fighters is a force that could force its way into Moscow, I do not think it is enough to hold the city and to command the full control of the country.

I do suppose that all this means [is] that both sides understood [that] for now, [and] it is best for them to pretend that they have come to an agreement. But this elevates Prigozhin to the level of Putin. And this, of course, also hits Putin very hard.

We're dealing with a new political reality. It doesn't matter, in these circumstances, whether the rest of the country, the so-called ordinary people, whether they really understood what happened or not; a lot of them will continue to remain passive. But a lot of them, especially in the south of Russia, were very much disturbed by what happened.

Secondly, it is clear that those who Putin relied on running Russia, that means the local FSB (Federal Security Service) directors, policemen, heads of state corporations, people like that, they now know that Putin is no longer at least in full control. It's not the end of the story.

RFE/RL: Can Putin sleep at night knowing that Prigozhin is out there? As long as he breathes, as long as he is alive, can Putin sleep at night?

Eggert: Everything you've seen so far looks [like] a better version of a Tom Clancy novel. I cannot imagine how Putin sleeps and whether he will continu