Russian President Vladimir Putin on Saturday described the armed rebellion promoted by the leader of the Wagner paramilitary group, Yevgeny Prigozhin, as “treason to the homeland”, by promising to “defend the people” and Russia, in a statement broadcast on Russian television. .
“The one who organized and prepared the military rebellion betrayed Russia and will answer for it,” Putin declared during a speech to the nation broadcast on public television.
The Russian head of state declared that this betrayal was caused by “excessive ambitions of personal interests.”
Putin did not identify Prigozhin by name and wanted to distinguish him from the forces of the Wagner group, calling on “those who were pressured to provoke this military rebellion” to lay down their arms, in what he denounced as a “stab” against Russian troops and people.
“Our actions to defend the homeland from this threat will be very tough and those responsible will be brought to justice,” said the Russian president, who, however, confirmed that the situation in Rostov is “difficult” and that his forces are trying now. stabilize the situation.
Putin also called the Wagner group rebellion a “mortal threat” to the Russian state and said he would not “allow” a “civil war” to occur, calling for “unity.”
The Russian head of state said the country is fighting “the toughest battle for its future.”
“Any internal turmoil is a deadly threat to our state as a nation, it represents a blow to Russia, to our people and to the actions we are taking to protect our homeland,” he said.
“This battle, when the fate of our people is being decided, requires the union of all forces, unity, consolidation and responsibility. An armed rebellion at a time like this is a blow to Russia, to its people,” said.
The Russian president recalled that something similar happened in 1917, during the First World War, when “victory was stolen” from Russia through “intrigue, gossip, politics behind the backs of the people” that led to the disintegration of the state and the loss of huge territories. .
“As a result, the tragedy of the civil war, Russians killing Russians, brothers killing brothers, while various political adventurers took personal advantage, and foreign forces tore the country apart. We will not allow this to happen again, we will defend our people and our state from any threat,” he added.
The head of the Wagner group, Yevgeny Prigozhin, called for the rebellion against the Russian military command, which he accused of attacking his fighters.
This Saturday morning, Prigozhin announced that the paramilitary group controls military installations and the Rostov airfield, a key city for Russia’s attack on Ukraine.
The paramilitary group’s leader said he had 25,000 soldiers at his command and ready to die, urging the Russians to join them in a “march for justice.”
Prigozhin had earlier accused the Russian army of carrying out attacks on his mercenary camps, causing “a large number of casualties”, accusations denied by the Russian Defense Ministry.
Prigozhin’s accusations expose the deep tensions within Moscow’s forces over the offensive in Ukraine.
The leader of Wagner’s group had already claimed that the Russian army is withdrawing in various sectors of southern and eastern Ukraine, Kherson and Zaporizhia, respectively, and in Bakhmut, contradicting Moscow’s claims that the Kiev counteroffensive was a failure.
Source: TSF
