Wagner mercenaries reportedly claimed that Vladimir Putin made the wrong decision during his address and that the country will soon have a new president after Putin pledged to put an end to the armed uprising. Yevgeny Prigozhin-led mercenaries have seized two Russian cities as part of their campaign to topple the military hierarchy. Wagner asserted that the group has taken out three Russian helicopters and has only seen minor National Guard resistance.
“This is a stab in the back to our country, to our nation,” Putin said in an address to the nation
In an address to the nation, a visibly miffed Putin said that the armed mutiny by Wagner mercenaries was a “stab in the back” and that the group’s chief Prigozhin had “betrayed” Russia. “This is a stab in the back to our country, to our nation,” Putin said in an address to the nation. “What we have been faced with is exactly betrayal. Extravagant ambitions and personal interests led to treason,” Putin said referring to Prigozhin. “All those who consciously stood on the path of betrayal, who prepared an armed rebellion, stood on the path of blackmail and terrorist methods, will suffer inevitable punishment, before the law and before our people,” he added.
“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.