Russian President Vladimir Putin says an “armed mutiny” by the Wagner Group is treason, adding that “decisive action” will be taken against them.
The authorities in Moscow and the surrounding area say they have declared a “counterterrorism” state of emergency after Wagner boss Yevgeny Prigozhin claimed his forces were in control of military sites in Rostov.

President Vladimir Putin today described the ‘armed mutiny’ of Wagner mercenary group leader Yevgeny Prigozhin as a ‘deadly threat’, speaking of the risk of ‘civil war’ in Russia, who rebelled against the Russian military hierarchy.

“Russia is fighting the hardest battle for its future, the whole machinery of the West is against us. Russia will defend itself, this is treason and backstabbing and I am referring to the attempt to divide our society. The situation in Rostov is difficult, Russian army men have been ordered to neutralise the rebels. Any internal conflict must be ended during the operation in Ukraine,” continued the Russian president.

“Those who are responsible for the current situation will be punished. They will be brought before the law and the people of Russia to account. I believe we will preserve and defend what is dear and sacred to us. Together with our motherland, we will overcome every test and become even stronger. We will protect both our people and our statehood from any threat, including internal treason, and what we are dealing with is treason,” Putin added to add: “The situation in Rostov remains difficult, the work of government bodies has been blocked, but we will take the necessary steps to stabilize it.”

Putin recalled the blow Russia received with the uprising of 1917 when the country was fighting the First World War. “We will not let something like this happen again, we will protect both our people and our statehood from any threat,” the Russian president stressed.

Putin also mentioned that the Wagner fighters who fought in Ukraine were, in fact, betrayed by those who organized the uprising. “The heroes who liberated Soledar and Bakhmut in Donbas fought and gave their lives for the new Russia, for the unity of the Russian world

The reaction of the “Wagner” group to the threats launched by Putin through his speech, came immediately.

In a Telegram message, Yevgeny Progozin ‘s organisation made it clear to the Russian president that he “made the wrong choice” and announced developments in the country’s presidential race.

“Putin made the wrong choice. So much the worse for him. Soon we will have a new president” says the message of “Wagner”.

Earlier, the founder of the mercenary company announced that he is in the general headquarters of the Russian army in Rostov, a nerve center of operations in Ukraine and that his forces control various military installations.