Lipetsk eases restrictions after Wagner march stops

Authorities in the southern Russian region of Lipetsk on Saturday began lifting restrictions after the rebel mercenary group Wagner, which had entered the province earlier, announced it would fall back.

“We are beginning to lift restrictions introduced today,” Governor Igor Artamonov said on Telegram.

Authorities in Russia’s southwestern Lipetsk region had earlier urged residents to stay at home after the Wagner mercenary group had vowed to take up arms to topple the country’s military leadership early on Saturday.

“To ensure law and order and the safety of the citizens of the Lipetsk region, the operational headquarters of the region asks residents without urgent need not to leave their homes and refrain from any travel by personal or public transport,” the press service of the regional government said in a statement on social media.

The announcement came as the governor of the neighboring region of Voronezh, where the army said it was leading “combat” operations, voiced support for President Vladimir Putin after officials said an oil depot was on fire there.