The Latest Breaking News from Alexander Lukashenko

Private force is already being torn apart by Russia’s military, intelligence services, and state-run corporations.

Options for the mercenary group – in the wake of Yevgeny Prigozhin’s demise – include complete dissolution, nationalisation into the conventional Russian army or finding a new leader. Russian President Vladimir Putin is set to hold the key to the future

Lukashenko says Prigozhin dismissed warnings about threats to his life; Kremlin denies being behind plane crash; flight recorders and 10 bodies recovered

Allegations that Moscow was behind aircraft explosion presumed to have killed Wagner boss are untrue, spokesman says.

The Belarusian leader brokered the deal that ended a mutiny against Moscow led by Yevgeny Prigozhin two months before the plane crash that is said to have killed him

Options for the mercenary group – in the wake of Yevgeny Prigozhin’s reported demise – include complete dissolution, nationalisation into the conventional Russian army or finding a new leader. Russian President Vladimir Putin is set to hold the key to the future

Yevgeny Prigozhin, known as Putin’s chef because he formerly provide catering services to the Kremlin, is reported dead in plane crash northwest of Moscow

Options for the mercenary group – in the wake of Yevgeny Prigozhin’s reported death in a plane crash – include complete dissolution, nationalisation into the conventional Russian army or finding a new leader. Russian President Vladimir Putin is set to hold the key to the future

The Russian president has seemingly upped the stakes: anyone who challenges his regime will have to see it through to the end, says Samantha de Bendern, associate fellow at Chatham House