Global Courant
Russian President Vladimir Putin vowed on Saturday to defend the country and its people against an armed uprising declared by Wagner Group chief Yevgeny Prigozhin, describing the call to action as an insidious decision that endangers the country’s survival .
In a televised address on Saturday morning, Putin said the mutiny amounted to “a mortal threat to our state”, promising “hard action” to follow.
“All those who have prepared the uprising will inevitably be punished,” Putin said. “The armed forces and other government agencies have received the necessary orders.”
Although he did not name Prigozhin, he described the uprising as a “criminal adventure, a serious crime, an armed mutiny” and encouraged those involved to “stop participating in criminal acts”.
RUSSIAN MILITARY LATER THREATS KREMLIN MILITARY OFFICIALS FOR ALLEGED ATTACK ON ITS TROOPS: REPORT
Russian President Vladimir Putin addressed the nation in Moscow on Saturday following the arrival of Wagner Group chief Yevgeny Prigozhin in Rostov-on-Don and the alleged takeover of the city’s military facilities. (Russian Presidential Press Service via AP)
He said participating would be a “fatal and tragic unique mistake” and that the “only right choice” is not to participate.
Putin’s condemnation of the uprising comes at a time when he claims Russia is “fighting the toughest fight for its future” with its war against Ukraine.
“The entire military, economic and information machine of the West is against us,” Putin said, claiming the armed uprising “is a blow to Russia, to its people”.
“This battle, in which the fate of our people will be decided, requires the unification of all forces, unity, consolidation and responsibility,” the Kremlin said. “Those who planned and organized an armed insurrection, who raised arms against his comrades-in-arms, have betrayed Russia. And they will answer for it.”
Yevgeny Prigozhin, the owner of the Wagner Group military company, arrived in Rostov-on-Don, Russia, on Saturday after calling for an armed uprising. (Prigozhin Press Service via AP)
RUSSIAN MERENCY CHIEF SAYS HIS TROOPS HAVE REACHED ROSTOV-ON-DON AFTER CALL FOR ARMED INSURANCE
Putin’s comments come a day after Prigozhin accused the Kremlin of authorizing an attack on his troops, who fight in Ukraine on behalf of Russia. The attack, which Russian authorities deny, resulted in several promises of retaliation during a series of angry audio clips posted by Prigozhin on Russian social media site VKontakte (VK).
Yevgeny Prigozhin, the owner of the military company Wagner Group, accused the Russian defense minister of launching an attack against his group, which fights in Ukraine on behalf of Russia. (Prigozhin Press Service via AP, File)
CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP
“This is not a military coup, but a march of justice,” Prigozhin declared. “The evil embodied by the country’s military leaders must be stopped.”
This is an evolving story.
Peter Aitken of Fox News and The Associated Press contributed to this report.
Sarah Rumpf-Whitten is a writer on Fox News Digital’s breaking news team. You can reach her on Twitter at @s_rumpfwhiteten.
