Some Dutch people have decided to remain in Russia against government advice, as the situation appears to defuse. The Parool reports that there are ‘several hundred’ Dutch people still in the country, citing the foreign affairs ministry.

At the weekend, Yevgeny Prigozhin, head of the Wagner Group militia, appeared to make a move against the Russian military, occupying the military headquarters of Rostov-on-Don then beginning a march towards Moscow.

Russian president Vladimir Putin said the move was “treason…blackmail and terrorism” before apparently brokering a deal with Prigozhin. Criminal charges against him were being dropped, reported media, and he would leave for Belarus.

Analysts have offered different interpretations on the extent to which the issue will weaken Putin’s position or affect his war on Ukraine. Dutch MP and D66 foreign affairs spokesman Sjoerd Sjoerdsma tweeted that he believes every day of Russian infighting strengthens the chances of the Ukrainian counter-offensive.

There were some reports in The New York Times and The Washington Post that the US knew about Prigozhin’s plans to take military action against his own side in advance.

The locations of both Putin and Prigozhin are currently unclear.