Traffic restrictions on M-4 motorway in Russia's Tula, Moscow regions remain in place

Traffic restrictions on the M-4 "Don" motorway in Russian Tula and Moscow regions remain in place.

"According to the decisions made earlier in the regions, the traffic on the M-4 "Don" in the Tula and Moscow regions remains restricted," Avtodor said in a statement, Kommersant reports.

Wagner mercenary company chief Yevgeny Prigozhin on June 23 declared rebellion on the Russian Defense Ministry after an alleged attack by the Russian army on his mercenaries’ military camp. He has had a long-standing feud with Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu.

On June 24, Russian Telegram channels reported that Wagner private military company militants reportedly crossed the borders of the Moscow region as of 17:00 local time.

Before that, the Wagnerite column was spotted on the M4 highway between the town of Yelets in Lipetsk Oblast and the town of Yefremov in Tula Oblast (the distance between them is about 80 kilometres).

In developments that were breathlessly fast, they reportedly took over the regional military command and seized military facilities in Voronezh, another city further north, towards Moscow.

The fighters started to march toward the capital, prompting the Kremlin to introduce tighter security in many regions, including Moscow, where the mayor of the capital city had told residents to avoid travelling.

There were also warnings that thousands of elite Chechen troops were heading to Moscow to fight off the Wagner soldiers if needed.

In response, President Vladimir Putin pledged to punish those who had "betrayed" Russia.

The agreement to suddenly de-escalate the situation came on June 24 evening, after Belarusian leader Alexander Lukashenko held talks with Prigozhin, according to Russian TV channel Rossiya 24.

Hours later, a video emerged purportedly showing Wagner troops leaving Rostov, and their leader being driven away to the cheers and handshakes of supporters.