Wagner: Satellite images reveal Belarus camp arrival

A ample convoy of suspected Wagner fighters has arrived from Russia astatine a caller campy successful Belarus, caller outer images reveal.

BBC Verify's investigation shows dozens of vehicles entering the campy astatine Tsel, a disused subject basal successful confederate Belarus - astir 64 miles (103km) from the superior Minsk.

The campy archetypal appeared soon aft an statement was reached to extremity Wagner's mutiny against the Russian subject successful precocious June. Part of the statement reportedly progressive Wagner troops agreeing to relocate to Belarus.

The latest images suggest Wagner has present begun to determination unit successful ample numbers.

Previous outer images obtained by BBC Verify showed astir 300 tents had been erected astatine Tsel implicit a two-week period.

Meanwhile, Wagner-linked channels connected Telegram - a fashionable societal messaging level - person posted footage claiming to amusement the group's flags being lowered astatine its main grooming basal astatine Molkino, successful the confederate Russian territory of Krasnodar.

The lowering of flags is sometimes done erstwhile a subject basal is being closed.

On Tuesday, Belarus's President, Alexander Lukashenko - an state of Russia - said Wagner "are presently successful their camps" wrong the country.

"If Belarus needs them, we volition instantly telephone upon the Wagner backstage subject institution to support the nation," Mr Lukashenko said.

One outer image, taken connected 17 July, shows a convoy of vehicles coming disconnected Belarus's M5 road and heading towards the camp.

Another, taken connected the aforesaid day, shows a convoy arriving astatine the camp.

Around the aforesaid time, video posted connected societal media showed a enactment of vehicles bearing the flags of Russia and Wagner heading towards Tsel connected the aforesaid highway.

The BBC has geolocated the footage to the M5's northbound carriageway conscionable extracurricular the metropolis of Babruysk, astir 44 miles (70km) southeast of Tsel.

Long convoys of vehicles bearing Wagner flags person besides been captured connected video wrong Russia heading towards Belarus.

It is presently unclear precisely however galore troops are relocating to Tsel.

The Belarusian investigative journalism outlet Hayun estimates that a full of 100 units - cars, trucks and coaches - and astir 600 radical mightiness person travelled to Tsel.

BBC Verify has counted 31 ample vehicles - astir apt trucks - successful the footage showing the convoy that arrived astatine Tsel connected Monday, though respective mightiness person been covered by trees.

In an code to the Russian federation connected 26 June - aft the extremity of the mutiny - President Vladimir Putin offered Wagner fighters the prime of signing contracts straight with the Russian Defence Ministry, oregon going to Belarus with person Yevgeny Prigozhin.