Russian President Vladimir Putin is “grateful” to his Belarusian ally Alexander Lukashenko for his mediating role in settling the armed rebellion of Yevgeny Prigozhin, head of the Wagner mercenary organization.

“We are grateful to the president of Belarus for these efforts,” Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters, hailing “a decision without new casualties.” “The evening conversation between the two presidents was very long, frankly warm,” he added.

Wagner’s mutiny will “under no circumstances” affect Russia’s military intervention in Ukraine, the Kremlin assured today, as Kiev’s troops continue their offensive that began weeks ago.

“Not at all,” Russian presidential spokesman Dmitry Peskov said when asked by the press about possible implications of Wagner’s mutiny for the Kremlin’s plan in Ukraine. “The special military operation continues. Our soldiers managed to repel Ukraine’s counterattack,” he stressed.