“Our embassy in Moscow remains open, we are in regular communication with it, and its operating posture remains the same at this time,” the spokesperson said.Ĭhechen leader Ramzan Kadyrov, an ally of Russian President Vladimir Putin, condemned the actions of Wagner chief Yevgeny Prigozhin in a Telegram post on Saturday, saying, “bloodshed could have happened.” “As a nuclear power, Russia has a special responsibility to maintain command, control, and custody of its nuclear forces and to ensure that no actions are taken that imperil strategic stability,” the State Department spokesperson said.Īnd as the US continues to monitor the situation in Russia the US diplomatic presence in the country has remain unchanged. This has meant that the two nations are no longer sharing certain notifications with one another which were required under the treaty, including updates on the status or location of treaty-accountable items such as missiles and launchers. The US has continued to monitor Russia’s nuclear posture throughout the Ukraine War despite Russia this year suspending participation in the single lasting nuclear arms control treaty between the US and Russia. US President Joe Biden called the move “absolutely irresponsible.” Putin said earlier this month that the first tactical nuclear weapons to be stored in Belarus had arrived. President Putin has repeatedly engaged in nuclear saber-rattling over the course of the Ukraine war. We have long-standing, established communication channels with Russia on nuclear issues.” “We have not seen any changes in the disposition of Russian nuclear forces,” a State Department spokesperson said, adding that the US has “no reason to adjust our conventional or nuclear force posture. The United States has not seen a change to Russia’s nuclear posture since Wagner chief Yevgeny Prigozhin began his insurrection challenging the Kremlin’s leadership, two US officials told CNN. I think we’ve got a lot more questions that are not answered right now.”Įarlier Saturday, Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov said Wagner fighters will not face legal action for taking part in the march toward Moscow, saying that the Kremlin has “always respected their heroic deeds” on the front lines in Ukraine. He added: “Maybe some will splinter off. Maybe some will decide to defect and provide information to Ukraine. Those people are loyal to the man, Prigozhin, not to the country, not to the mission. So I think there is going to be an issue.” “I don’t think they’ll be easily assimilated into the Russian military and sent back to the front there. “They’re an independent fighting company. They were given better rations. They dressed differently,” said Major Mike Lyons (Ret.) US Army. CNNĪ retired major in the the US Army said there are many questions to be asked about the future facing Wagner fighters after their short-lived uprising. Major Mike Lyons speaks to CNN's Anderson Cooper on June 24.

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