The Wagner fighters were cheered enthusiastically by residents in Rostov-on-Don on Saturday when they briefly took control of the southern Russian city.

Russian President Vladimir Putin has said Wagner fighters were free either to move to Belarus, join the Russian military or go home, following the mutiny, which he said had threatened to bring civil war to Russia.

Alexander Lukashenko has allowed his territory, which borders Ukraine as well as EU and Nato members Poland and Lithuania, to serve as a staging ground for Russia's Ukraine offensive.

A staunch ally of Russia, Lukashenko has not been pictured in public since May 9 when he reviewed Russia's annual military parade on Moscow's Red Square as a guest of President Vladimir Putin.

Russian President Vladimir Putin says that Moscow will look to deploy tactical nuclear weapons in neighbouring Belarus, a staunch ally, escalating a standoff with the West.

Putin says the move to deploy tactical nuclear weapons to Belarus is 'nothing unusual'.

The sanctions target senior security and justice officials, prominent media figures, a son of Belarus strongman Alexander Lukashenko, defence-related firms and a major fertiliser exporter.

She was bundled to the airport, where she received a message from her grandmother telling her it was too dangerous for her to come home.

She said she's afraid to return to Belarus and is now reportedly considering seeking asylum in Europe.

EU leaders also warn they will adopt further 'targeted economic sanctions' against the Belarusian authorities.

Belarus media said a fighter jet escorted the passenger aircraft to Minsk because of a bomb scare but no explosives were found.

Border officials claimed she had been trying to flee the country, but colleagues said authorities want to exile her as this is necessary to de-escalate the situation in Belarus.