President Putin spoke on television, asserting that Wagner’s rebellion was an act of treason and that those involved would be punished.
“What we are facing is treason. Excessive self-interest and ambition have led to acts of betraying the country and its people. It also betrays the common cause of the members. And the commander of the Wagner Group fought and died in pursuit,” Russian President Vladimir Putin said today on national television, referring to the recent activities of the Wagner paramilitary organization led by the Wagner group. Yevgeny Prigozhin took the lead.
Putin emphasized that Wagner was instrumental in helping Russia control Bakhmut, but “their name and glory have been betrayed by those who are trying to organize a rebellion.”
“All who go down the path of treason will be punished and held accountable. The armed forces have received the necessary orders,” the Kremlin boss declared, calling the rebellion “a blow.” backstabbing” for Russia.
“The organizers of the rebellion will be held accountable. Those who are embroiled in this, I urge you to stop your criminal acts,” he said.
The Russian leader stressed that as president and commander-in-chief, he would “do everything possible to defend the country” and that the authorities would take “decisive actions” to stabilize the situation in Rostov-on in the south of the country, where Prigozhin claims Wagner has control of all military facilities there.
Putin also said that Russia is waging an uphill struggle for the future when the entire Western military and information apparatus is turned towards the country.
“This is a struggle in which the fate of our people will be decided, it requires the solidarity of all forces, consensus, unity and responsibility,” the Russian president stressed.
Russia’s Security Service (FSB) announced on June 23 that it had opened an investigation into Prigozhin for “inciting sedition” by calling Wagner forces to oppose the Ministry of Defense.
The FSB announced the decision to prosecute after Prigozhin accused Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu of flying to Rostov to direct a missile strike on Wagner’s training camp, causing massive casualties, which the Russian military had negated.
Boss Wagner announced sending 25,000 troops to Rostov to question Minister Shoigu about the attack and asserted that this was “an operation for justice, not a coup” and that this action “did not hinder the Russian army.”
The FSB said Mr. Prigozhin’s statements and actions “constitute an act of inciting armed conflict on Russian territory, betraying the soldiers fighting with pro-fascist Ukrainian forces “.
Prigozhin on the morning of June 24 announced that Wagner had control of all military facilities in Rostov-on-Don, and asked the Chief of the General Staff of the Russian Armed Forces Valery Gerasimov and Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu to come to see him. “If they don’t come, we will stay here; we will blockade the city of Rostov-on-Don and move on to Moscow,” he said in a video.
Wagner later announced they had taken control of additional military facilities in the city of Voronezh, 500 kilometers from Moscow. Russia announced the opening of an anti-terrorist operation in the region.
Before Putin’s speech, the Russian Defense Ministry also issued a message calling on Wagner gunmen to stop rebelling, saying that they were being drawn into criminal activity by tycoon Prigozhin. Russia announced the imposition of an anti-terror mechanism in Moscow as a precautionary measure.
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