Live updates: Confusion reigns as Putin vows to defend Russia against Wagner rebellion

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• 6.40pm‘Armed mutiny’: Putin’s statement in full

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Wagner: ‘Soon we will have a new president’

The reaction from Wagner Group to Putin’s threats and statement was swift.

The Wagner Telegram Channel released a message that said: “Putin made the wrong choice. All the worse for him. Soon we will have a new president”.

This has been rapidly distributed by Ukrainian officials, including Anton Gerashchenko, an adviser to Ukraine’s Minister of Internal Affairs.

‘Armed mutiny’: Putin’s statement in full

Russia’s President Vladimir Putin responded to the Wagner agression with an address to the nation.

Putin said Wanger leader Yevgeny Prigozhin’s actions were a “betrayal,” “treason” and a “stab in the back.”

Notably, he did not use Prigozhin’s name.

Here is Putin’s full address according to the social media account War Translated, which specialises in translating into English communications relating to the war.

I have bolded the particularly relevant parts.

Russian President Vladimir Putin gives a televised address in Moscow,Credit: Reuters

“I appeal to the citizens of Russia, to the personnel of the armed forces, law enforcement and security services, fighters and commanders currently fighting on their positions, repelling the enemy attacks, doing it heroically. I spoke to the commanders in all directions last night,” Putin said.

“I appeal also to those who were deceptively pulled into the criminal adventure, pushed towards a serious crime of an armed mutiny.

“Russia today is leading the most difficult war for its future, repelling the aggression of neo-nazis and their handlers.

“Against us, the whole military, economical and information machines of the West are turned.

“We fight for the lives and security of our people. For our sovereignty and independence. The right to remain Russia, a state with 1000 years of history.

“It’s a battle where the fate of our people is decided requires uniting of all our forces, unity, consolidation and responsibility. Everything else that weakens us must be shoved to the side.

“Our external enemies are using any arguments to undermine us from within. Thus, actions splitting our unity is a betrayal of our people, our combat brothers who fight now at the frontline.

“It’s a strike in the back of our country and our people. Exactly this strike was dealt in 1917 when the country was in WW1, but its victory was stolen.

“Intrigues, and arguments behind the army’s back turned out to be the greatest catastrophe, destruction of the army and the state, loss of huge territories, resulting in a tragedy and a civil war.

“Russians were killing Russians, brothers killing brothers. But the beneficiaries were various political chevaliers of fortune and foreign powers who divided the country, and tore it into parts. We will not let this happen. We will protect our people and state from any threats, including internal betrayal.

“What we’re facing is exactly internal betrayal. Extraordinary ambitions and personal interests led to treason.

“Treason of their own country and people and of the case that fighters of Wagner were dying for alongside our soldiers. Heroes who liberated Soledar and Artemivsk, towns and cities of the Donbas.

“They fought and were giving lives to Novorossiya and the unity of the Russian world. Their name and glory were also betrayed by those who are trying to organise the mutiny, pushing the country into anarchy and brother-killing, to a defeat, in the end, and capitulation.

“Repeat: any internal mutiny is a deadly threat to our state, to us as a nation. It’s a strike against our nation, our people. And our actions to defend the fatherland from such a threat will be brutal.

“Anyone who consciously went on the path of betrayal, who prepared the armed mutiny, went on the path of blackmail and terrorist actions, will take an inevitable punishment. They will answer to the law and our people.

“The Armed Forces and other departments were properly instructed. Extra anti-terrorist measures are now being implemented in Moscow, Moscow region, and a number of other regions. Decisive actions will be taken to stabilise the situation in Rostov-on-Don.

It remains difficult. The operation of civilian and military control departments is practically blocked.

As a President of Russia and the Supreme Commander, as a citizen of Russia, I will do everything to defend the country, protect the Constitution, lives and safety, liberty of the citizens.

Those who prepared the military mutiny, who raise weapons against combat brothers, have betrayed Russia, and will pay for this.

And those who are being pulled into the crime, I’m asking to not make this crucial, tragic, unrepeatable mistake. Do the one right choice – stop participating in criminal actions.

I believe that we will defend and preserve what’s sacred for us. And together with the motherland, we will overcome all challenges, and become even stronger.“

Live coverage of Russian rebellion

Hello and welcome to our live coverage of the situation in Moscow, where President Vladimir Putin has vowed to defend Russia against a rebellion launched by the head of Wagner Group Yevgeny Prigozhin.

Russian President Vladimir Putin in a live national address on Saturday.Credit: AP

I’m Latika Bourke in London and I’ll be helming our live coverage of what is being described as “the most significant challenge to the Russian state in recent times.”

For months now Prigozhin has been openly feuding with Moscow over Russia’s failures on the battlefield.

This escalated into what the UK’s Defence Intelligence called “outright military confrontation” in the early hours of Saturday, June 24.

According to the UK’s Defence Intelligence:

• Prigozhin launched a self-described “march for freedom” and Wagner Group forces crossed from occupied Ukraine into Russia in at least two locations.
• Wagner is “almost certainly” occupying key security sites, including the headquarters at Rostov-on-Don that runs Russia’s military operations in Ukraine.
• Wagner units were moving north through Vorenezh Oblast on Saturday, almost certainly aiming for Moscow.
• There has been limited evidence of fighting, meaning some Russian forces have “likely remained passive, acquiescing to Wagner.”

Read more from our EU correspondent Rob Harris: ‘A stab in the back’: Putin says those involved in mutiny will be punished

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