Sputnik – Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said earlier that Russia’s President Vladimir Putin had been informed about the situation regarding the founder of Wagner PMC, Yevgeny Prigozhin, and “necessary measures are being taken”.
Russia’s authorities will not allow the country to be split, and will protect its people, President Vladimir Putin said, addressing the situation in the wake of the Wagner mutiny attempt.
In a televised address to the nation, Putin vowed to do everything to defend the constitutional order of Russia.
“As President of Russia and Commander-in-Chief – as a citizen of Russia – I will do everything to defend the country, to protect the constitutional order, the lives, security and freedom of citizens,” he stated.
The President described Wagner PMC chief Prigozhin’s armed mutiny attempt as a betrayal of Russia and Wagner fighters themselves. He addressed Russians, the military and security services, as well as those “who have been forced onto the path of armed insurrection by deception and threats”.
“I appeal to the citizens of Russia, to the personnel of the armed forces, law enforcement agencies and special services, to the fighters and commanders who are now fighting in their combat positions, repelling the enemy’s attacks and doing so heroically, I know that – today I spoke again to the commanders of all units. I also appeal to those who, through deception or threats, were drawn into this criminal venture and forced to take the path of the grave crime of armed insurrection,” Putin said in his address.
According to the Russian leader, it was excessive ambition and personal interests that led to this betrayal of the country and its people.
“Let us defend both our people and our statehood against all threats, including internal treason, and what we have encountered is precisely this treason. Excessive ambition and personal interests have led to betrayal, betrayal of our country, our people and the cause for which the fighters and commanders of the Wagner Group fought and died side by side with our other units and detachments,” Putin said on Saturday.
The Russian President referred to the Wagner Group fighters as “heroes who liberated Soledar and Artyomovsk [Bakhmut], the cities and towns of Donbas, fought and gave their lives for Novorossiya, for the unity of the Russian world”.
