MOSCOW: Russian President Vladimir Putin has vowed to defend the country and its people from an armed rebellion declared by mercenary chief Yevgeny Prigozhin as he addressed the nation on Saturday.
Putin said the mutiny amounted to a deadly threat to the country’s statehood as he vowed “tough actions” in response. “All those who prepared the rebellion will suffer inevitable punishment. The armed forces and other government agencies have received the necessary orders,” Putin warned.
Without referring to the owner of the Wagner private military company by name, Putin called Yevgeny Prigozhin’s actions “a betrayal” and “a treason.” He urged “those who are being dragged into this crime not to make a fatal and tragic, unique mistake, to make the only right choice — to stop participating in criminal acts.”
Meanwhile, the head of Wagner mercenary group announced Saturday that he was inside the army headquarters in Rostov-on-Don in southern Russia, and that his fighters controlled the city’s military sites.
Prigozhin earlier said his men had crossed into Russia from the Ukrainian front, as he vowed to topple Russia’s military top brass. He said thousands of his men are “ready to die.”
Russia’s military headquarters in Rostov-on-Don is a vital logistical base for its attack on Ukraine.
“We are inside the (army) headquarters, it is 7:30 am (0430 GMT),” Prigozhin said in a video on Telegram. “Military sites in Rostov, including an aerodrome, are under control,” he added.
He said that planes participating in the Ukraine offensive “are leaving as normal” from the airfield.
“We took (the aerodrome) under control so that the attack aviation did not strike us, but strike Ukrainians,” Prigozhin added. He also called on Russians not to believe what they were being told on the state television.
Condemnation from Putin came at a time when, according to him, Russia was “fighting the toughest battle for its future” with its war in Ukraine. “The entire military, economic and information machine of the West is waged against us,” Putin said.
“This battle, when the fate of our people is being decided, requires the unification of all forces, unity, consolidation and responsibility.” An armed rebellion at a time like this is “a blow to Russia, to its people,” the president said.
“Those who plotted and organized an armed rebellion, who raised arms against his comrades-in-arms, betrayed Russia. And they will answer for it,” Putin said.
The Wagner chief confirmed Saturday morning that he and his forces have reached a key Russian city after crossing the Ukraine border. The Russian Defence Ministry denounced the actions as a “criminal venture” and called on Wagner fighters to return to their deployment point adding it would ensure their safety.
