TOP HEADLINES

• The Kremlin's website shared Russian President Vladimir Putin's first statement since an armed mutiny by the Wagner mercenary group, congratulating participants of an industrial forum. It was not immediately clear when or where Putin's statement was recorded. 

• Russian state television broadcast footage of Defence Minister Sergei Shoigu inspecting Russian troops, in his first public appearance since a failed mutiny by Wagner forces. Shoigu - the target of fierce criticism by the mercenary group's chief Yevgeny Prigozhin - went to a command post for Russian forces in Ukraine and held a meeting there with the leader of one of the units, according to images shown by the broadcaster. READ MORE BELOW

• The head of the Wagner group is still under investigation for trying to organize an armed rebellion, Russian news agencies reported, despite a deal to end his mutiny announced earlier by the Kremlin. "The criminal case against (Yevgeny) Prigozhin has not been dropped," the three main Russian news agencies quoted a source in the prosecutor's office as saying.

• Moscow lifted an "anti-terrorist" security regime it had imposed over the weekend when mutinous Wagner mercenaries threatened to storm the city. The city's mayor, Sergei Sobyanin, announced the decision on his Telegram account, thanking Muscovites for their "calm and understanding" during the crisis.

• Wagner's aborted mutiny shows Moscow's offensive in Ukraine is splintering Russian power, EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell told a meeting of the bloc's foreign ministers, warning of the risk of instability. 

• NATO head Jens Stoltenberg said the weekend mutiny by mercenary troops in Russia showed that Putin's offensive in Ukraine was a "mistake." "We are monitoring the situation in Russia. The events over the weekend are an internal Russian matter, and yet another demonstration of the big strategic mistake that President Putin made," Stoltenberg told reporters.

• Russian officials said that houses and roads had been damaged because of the rebellion by the Wagner mercenaries. Maksim Yantsov, an official in the southern region of Voronezh, said 19 houses had been damaged in the village of Yelizavetovka as a result of a firefight involving Wagner forces.

• Ukrainian soldiers returning from the frontline said the revolt by Russian mercenary group Wagner had not noticeably affected fighting around the town of Bakhmut in eastern Ukraine. "Most people, most military, understand very well that the circus from Russia is still here. They didn't go out. They stay in the same positions," said a soldier, parked at a service station on a road leading out of the area.

• Russian Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin said the country had faced "a challenge to its stability" and must remain united behind President Vladimir Putin following Saturday's abortive mutiny. "The main thing in these conditions is to ensure the sovereignty and independence of our country, the security and well-being of citizens," said Mishustin, a technocrat who was appointed prime minister in 2020.

• More than 17,000 Ukrainian recruits have been trained by the UK  and other allies over the last year to help Kyiv fight Russia's offensive, the UK Ministry of Defense said. The recruits, from many different walks of life, all went through a "grueling" five-week program which the ministry said had transformed them "from civilians to soldiers."

IN DETAIL

Moscow shows a return to business after weekend mutiny

Moscow is striving to portray a return to business as usual after a weekend mutiny by mercenary troops threatened Kremlin chief Vladimir Putin's grip on power.

Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu, one of the main targets of Wagner warlord Yevgeny Prigozhin's revolt, appeared in pre-recorded footage on state television, visiting troops in Ukraine.

The Kremlin's website has now shared Russian President Vladimir Putin's first statement since the armed mutiny, congratulating participants of an industrial forum. It was not immediately clear when or where Putin's statement was recorded. 

Officials in Moscow and in the Voronezh region south of the capital lifted "anti-terrorist" emergency security measures imposed to protect the capital from rebel assault. 

Moscow mayor Sergei Sobyanin proclaimed the situation in the city "stable", and thanked Muscovites for their "calm and understanding" during the crisis.

Meanwhile, Shoigu appeared on state television visiting a Russian command bunker in Ukraine and flying in a helicopter to inspect troops battling an Ukrainian counteroffensive. 

During the meeting, the minister highlighted "great efficiency in the detection and destruction" of Ukraine's weapons systems and soldiers, the ministry of defense said.

It was not possible, however, to independently confirm whether the report had been filmed before or after the Wagner revolt. 

Ukrainian military leaders, however, insisted they were making progress in a multi-direction offensive targeting Russian lines in the south and east of the country.  

"We are knocking the enemy out of his positions on the flanks of the city of Bakhmut," ground force commander Oleksandr Syrskyi said. 

"Ukraine is regaining its territory. We are moving forward," he said. 

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