Russian President Vladimir Putin addresses the nation, in which he ordered the country's armed forces to neutralize those who organized an armed rebellion of the Wagner private military group, June 24, 2023. (KREMLIN POOL PHOTO VIA AP)
MOSCOW – Russian President Vladimir Putin on Saturday ordered the Russian Armed Forces to neutralize those who organized the armed rebellion of the Wagner private military group.
"Any internal turmoil is a deadly threat to our statehood, to us as a nation. This is a blow to Russia, to our people. And our actions to protect the motherland from such a threat will be tough," Putin said in a televised address to the nation.
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I urge those who are being dragged into this crime not to make a fatal and tragic mistake, but to make the only right choice – to stop participating in criminal acts.
Vladimir Putin, President, Russia
"All those who deliberately embarked on the path of betrayal, who prepared an armed rebellion, who embarked on the path of blackmail and terrorist methods, will suffer inevitable punishment and answer both before the law and before our people," he said.
The Russian leader urged those “who are being dragged into this crime not to make a fatal and tragic mistake, but to make the only right choice – to stop participating in criminal acts”.
The order came after several audio recordings were posted on the Telegram channel of Yevgeny Prigozhin, head of Wagner private military group. In the recordings, Prigozhin claimed that his units had allegedly come under attack, accusing Russia's military leadership of orchestrating the strikes, according to Russia's TASS news agency.
In the wake of these developments, security measures have been significantly reinforced in Moscow.
Vital facilities, state institutions, and transportation infrastructure have been placed under heightened protection, with police and response units on high alert, said a TASS report.
Russia's National Anti-terrorism Committee announced that a counter-terrorist operation regime has been launched in Moscow city, the Moscow region and the Voronezh region to prevent possible terrorist acts, after the Wagner group was accused of trying to organize an armed rebellion.
The defense ministry urged Wagner fighters to surrender.
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“We ask you to be prudent and get in touch with representatives of the Russian Defense Ministry or law enforcement agencies as soon as possible. We guarantee everyone's safety," the ministry said in a statement.
A criminal case is initiated against Prigozhin for incitement to armed insurrection, said the Public Relations Center of the Russian Federal Security Service.
