Rosavtodor announced that all previously imposed traffic restrictions on highways linked to the situation around the Wagner private military company have been lifted. The announcement was reported by TASS, citing the department’s press service. The now-relaxed limits affected major southern conduits leaving Moscow, including the M-4 Don and the M-2 Crimea, along with several key arteries moving toward the south. The move signaled a step back from heightened security measures and a shift toward stabilizing transportation corridors that had seen intermittent halts and checkpoints in the preceding days.
Earlier in the Lipetsk region, work sites and pits created in front of equipment passage routes linked to Wagner units became a focal point of logistical activity. These installations were part of the broader disruptions that accompanied the group’s movements and the responses from regional authorities aiming to preserve traffic flow while ensuring public safety. Observers noted that these sites reflected the tension between rapid deployment needs and provincial infrastructure management during a period of tense state action and counteraction.
By the morning of June 24, forces associated with Wagner closed several administrative facilities in Rostov-on-Don, prompting a more urgent response from national leadership. President Vladimir Putin began moving toward Moscow as part of a secure and controlled approach to the unfolding events. He publicly characterized Wagner’s leadership actions as a betrayal, describing the situation as a stab in the back and issuing stern warnings to Yevgeny Prigozhin and his subordinates about the potential consequences of continued rebellion. The stance reflected the administration’s intent to reestablish centralized command and deter any further unilateral moves that could jeopardize state authority.
Support for the president’s position came from the Russian State Duma, the Federation Council, and the leaders of several regions. In parallel, Chechen authorities from the Akhmat faction were deployed to Rostov to contribute to stabilization efforts and to support regional security during a period of heightened risk. The involvement of regional security forces underscored the seriousness with which the authorities treated the need to protect civilian life and maintain order while addressing the underlying political crisis.
Later in the day, Belarusian officials provided a briefing about progress in negotiations. Alexander Lukashenko and Prigozhin reportedly engaged in discussions aimed at reaching an acceptable resolution that would guarantee security for the company’s fighters and allow for a controlled withdrawal or repositioning of Wagner units. The statements from Minsk framed the negotiations as a constructive attempt to avoid further escalation and to restore a sense of stability for residents in affected areas. Wagner’s leadership emphasized a willingness to reverse the movement of columns and to direct forces back toward field camps, signaling a potential de-escalation path. The parties reportedly explored assurances that would prevent repeat incidents and safeguard critical infrastructure during any transition phase.