Russia: Prigozhin Hits Back After Putin Threatens Punishment for Wagner ‘Mutiny'
Chechen leader Ramzan Kadyrov said Saturday his troops are heading off to support the Kremlin against the armed uprising by the Wagner Group.
Earlier on Saturday, Russian President Vladimir Putin addressed the nation, where he spoke of an armed “mutiny” and announced that he would punish those who rebel.
“I support every word of Vladimir Putin” Kadyrov said.
Chechen fighters are currently deployed with the Russian military in the war against Ukraine and, until recently, were fighting alongside Wagner mercenaries.
A fuel depot was on fire in Russia’s southern city of Voronezh on Saturday, the local governor announced after Moscow said the army was leading “combat” in the region amid a mutiny from Wagner mercenaries.
Voronezh authorities are “extinguishing a burning fuel depot,” Governor Alexander Gusev said on Telegram. “There are 100 firefighters and more than 30 vehicles at the scene,” he added, saying there were “no victims according to initial data.”
Some media have published a video showing a military helicopter in the area before an explosion.
Earlier on Saturday, Britain said the Wagner Group had crossed from Russian occupied parts of Ukraine to Russia in at least two locations, and had “almost certainly” occupied key security sites in Rostov-on-Don.
“Further Wagner units are moving north through Voronezh Oblast, almost certainly aiming to get to Moscow,” British intelligence said.
“With very limited evidence of fighting between Wagner and Russian security forces, some have likely remained passive, acquiescing to Wagner.”
Sunak urges ‘all parties’ to protect civilians
British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak has called on “all parties” in Russia to protect civilians after the Wagner Group captured territory in Rostov and other regions.
“The most important thing I’d say is for all parties to be responsible and to protect civilians,” Sunak told the BBC in an interview.
“We’re keeping a close eye on the situation and how it’s evolving on the ground as we speak,” he added.
He also said he would speak with allies about the situation later on Saturday.
‘Russia’s weakness is obvious’: Zelenskyy
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said on Saturday that the growing unrest in Russia is a result of its invasion of Ukraine.
“Russia’s weakness is obvious. Full-scale weakness,” he said in statement posted to social media after the Wagner Group captured territory in several Russian regions.
“The longer Russia keeps its troops and mercenaries on our land, the more chaos, pain, and problems it will have for itself later.”
Zelenskyy implied that Putin was unable to stop his troops from “fleeing and betraying when lift resists” in Ukraine.
Putin allies rally in support of Russian president
Some of Vladimir Putin’s closest allies rallied round in support of the Russian president on Saturday in the wake of the threat posed by the Wagner Group.
Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev spoke to Putin by telephone and described the events in Russia as an internal affair while saying rule of law was necessary to maintain order.
The leader of Russia’s Orthodox Patriarch Kirill has called for “unity” and voiced support for Putin.
“Today, when our brothers are fighting and dying on the frontlines… any attempt to sow discord within the country is the greatest possible crime that has no justification,” Patriarch Kirill said in a statement. “I support the efforts of the head of the Russian state, aimed at not allowing turmoil in our country.”
Wagner leader hits back at Putin
Wagner chief Yevgeny Prigozhin has responded to President Vladimir Putin’s “betrayal” comments, suggesting in fact that the mercenary group’s soldiers are Russian “patriots.”
“The president makes a deep mistake when he talks about treason,” Prigozhin said in an audio message.
Prigozhin also said that Wagner forces would not be “turning themselves in and confess at the order of the president, the FSB (security service) or anyone else. Because we don’t want the country to continue to live any longer in corruption, deceit and bureaucracy.”
Earlier on Saturday, Putin said Wagner fighters were traitors who must be punished.
Wagner assault ‘unprecedented’ in Russia
DW International Correspondent Roman Goncharenko said the reports of a Wagner Group mutiny could be a turning point for Russia.
“We’ve never seen anything like this in recent Russian history,” he said.
“Taking control of Rostov-on-Don, or at the least part of Rostov-on-Don where the headquarters of the Russian army is, is an unprecedented move and it shows how weak the Russian military is,” he added.
The Wagner Group has taken on semi-official military responsibilities since Russia invaded Ukraine in February 2022, but in recent months Yevgeny Prigozhin has turned against Putin and blamed Russia’s armed forces for losses on the battlefield.
“It is a gigantic experiment that (Putin) started by invading Ukraine, and now things are developing in a very bad direction for him,” Goncharenko said.
In an address early on Saturday, Putin made comparisons to how World War I led to revolution and civil war inside Russia in 1917.
“Putin is absolutely right to draw comparisons,” Roman Goncharenko said. “This is where Russia is heading now, but we are not there yet.”
Russia fighting for ‘its future’ says Putin
Russian President Vladimir Putin has responded to the Wagner Group’s rebellion, telling the nation it was facing its “toughest battle for its future.”
In an address to the country, Putin described Yevgeny Prigozhin’s actions — in calling for an uprising against the Kremlin — an “armed mutiny” and told the rebels they will face “inevitable punishment.”
Putin did admit the situation in Rostov-on-Don was “difficult” following Wagner claims it had seized control of the airport and army headquarters in the city near the Ukrainian border.
“There will be decisive measures taken on stabilizing the situation in Rostov-on-Don,” Putin told the nation.
Poland ‘monitors’ while UK says Russia facing ‘most significant challenge in recent times’
Britain’s defence ministry said in an intelligence update that “the coming hours” may be decisive as “to how this crisis plays out” as Russian security forces face a test of “loyalty” to the Kremlin over the “feud” between Wagner and Moscow’s military.
Meanwhile, on Saturday morning, Poland’s president held “consultations” with the prime minister and defence ministry about “the situation in Russia.”
“The course of events beyond our eastern border is monitored on an ongoing basis,” Andrzej Duda wrote on Twitter.
Russia will ‘guarantee safety’ of Wagner fighters who stop rebelling
The Russian army on Saturday said it would “guarantee the safety” of Wagner mercenaries who stop rebelling against the Russian government and its military.
“We are appealing to the fighters of assault squads of PMC Wagner. You were deceived into (Wagner chief’s Yevgeny) Prigozhin’s criminal venture and participation in an armed rebellion,” the army said in a statement. It called on the fighters to ask for help to return to “places of permanent deployment.”
“We ask you to show reason and get in touch with representatives of Russia’s defence ministry or law enforcement. We guarantee safety for all.”
0 Comments