Putin Blasts Wagner 'Treason, Betrayal' As Clashes Erupt In Southern Russia
In his first speech addressing the crisis of Wagner's armed rebellion on Saturday morning, Russian President Vladimir Putin has vowed to crush what he called Yevgeny Prigozhin's "betrayal". Southern governors, for example Alexander Gusev who oversees the city of Voronezh, has since confirmed armed clashes between regular military forces and Wagner fighters within Russian territory. He described necessary **"combat measures" as part of counter-terror operations in the southern city**.
What was unclear by Friday night is very clear Saturday: **all hell is breaking loose** in this first significant moment in over two decades that **Putin's iron grip on power is threatened by armed mutiny**. "Any internal turmoil is a deadly threat to our statehood and to us as a nation. This is a blow to Russia and to our people," Putin said (https://www.yahoo.com/news/putin-slams-betrayal-wagner-boss-085742636.html) in the televised speech. "This battle, when the fate of our people is being decided, requires the unification of all forces."
\_In Rostov-on-Don military command HQ. Via Wagner Telegram/Reuters_ (
)"What we have been faced with is **exactly betrayal**. Extravagant ambitions and personal interests led to **treason**," Putin said, referring to Prigozhin, head of the most powerful private military firm in Russia. "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," Putin vowed.
He further in fiery language denounced the **"stab in the back of our country and our people,"** after Prigozhin the day prior declared war against the defense ministry, urging all Russians to join his 25,000 fighters as they seek to "stop" and overthrow Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu and other top commanders.
In response to Putin's blistering speech, Prigozhin released a Telegram statement calling the president "deeply mistaken" regarding his assessment of betrayal of the motherland, refusing to surrender. The audio message released by his press service said as follows (https://www.cnn.com/europe/live-news/russia-ukraine-war-news-06-24-23/index.html):
> _"Regarding the ‘betrayal of the motherland,’ the president is deeply mistaken. We are patriots of our Motherland, we fought and are fighting, all the fighters of the PMC Wagner."_
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> _“And no one is going to turn themselves in at the request of the president, the FSB or anyone else,” he added._
> BREAKING: Putin addresses nation, responds to Wagner threats: "This is a criminal campaign. It is equivalent to armed mutiny. Russia will defend itself and repel this move. We are fighting for the life and security of our citizens."pic.twitter.com/GNzPsNWMWB (https://t.co/GNzPsNWMWB)
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> — Insider Paper (@TheInsiderPaper) June 24, 2023 (https://twitter.com/TheInsiderPaper/status/1672505378368802816?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw)
This marks the first time he's directed criticism precisely in response to Putin, as before he appeared to carefully avoid direct references to Putin in his denunciations of military planning and Kremlin decision-making. Below summarizes fast-moving events of the last few hours (https://twitter.com/Joyce_Karam/status/1672579431368384515):
- Putin 5 min speech: accuses Prigozhin of betrayal, vows decisive action
- Wagner controls facilities in Rostov & Voronezh, **M4 highway disrupted**. Rebellion continues
- **Chechen Kadyrov mobilizes to help Putin**. Russia FM warns of ‘civil strife’
> The Wagner PMC Group has announced that they have Captured the Southern Military District Headquarters within the the City of Rostov-on-Don in the Rostov Region of Southwestern Russia. pic.twitter.com/730rL9uetq (https://t.co/730rL9uetq)
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> — OSINTdefender (@sentdefender) June 24, 2023 (https://twitter.com/sentdefender/status/1672431977503367168?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw)
Civilians have reportedly been ordered away from all military command centers in the now Wagner-held city center of Rostov-on-Don.
> In Rostov (not sure what time) they ran from an explosion near the military district that Wagner took over. The interview following is in English. pic.twitter.com/PJfCq5qlYp (https://t.co/PJfCq5qlYp)
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> — 🌻 Fertilizer Finder 🌻 (@ManiacMagic1) June 24, 2023 (https://twitter.com/ManiacMagic1/status/1672576637802622977?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw)
The Wagner chief in his response harped on the familiar theme's of the defense ministry's "corruption, deceit, and bureaucracy" and that his own fighters are patriotic and doing their duty.
> “When we…
https://www.zerohedge.com/geopolitical/putin-blasts-wagner-treason-betrayal-clashes-erupt-southern-russia