Putin rages 'this is TREASON' as he accuses Wagner Group of 'stab in back' after mercenaries vow to march on Moscow | The Sun

VLADIMIR Putin blasted the Wagner mercenary army who have vowed to storm Moscow as "criminals" and their actions as "treason".

The Wagner group, led to by warlord Yevgeny Prigozhin, have seized a Russian military HQ and announced an "armed rebellion" against Russia's military.

Putin is today facing one of the biggest challenges to his iron-fist rule since he took power in the Kremlin more than two decades ago.

He has furiously declared Wagner's "internal mutiny" as a "mortal blow" to Russia – "a knife in the back of our people".

Wagner boss Prigozhin – known as Putin's "chef" – vowed to "punish" Russia after he blamed the Kremlin for a missile attack on a Wagner training camp in Bakhmut, Ukraine, which killed dozens.

Early on Saturday, he announced he had taken control of the Russian army HQ in the southern city of Rostov-on-Don, while vowed to to take the fight to Moscow.

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A Russian security source also claimed that Wagner fighters had now taken control of all military facilities in the city of Voronezh around 310 miles south of Moscow.

In the fuming tirade, he promised Wagner would topple Moscow's military leadership and claimed his 25,000 fighters were "ready to die".

Prigozhin – Putin's former pal – claimed his forces now had all military facilities in the city under their control – including the air field.

In a televised speech this morning, Putin responded directly to the challenge: "This is a criminal campaign. It is equivalent to armed mutiny. Russia will defend itself and repel this move.

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"We are fighting for the life and security of our citizens and our territorial integrity. Everything has to be done in order to put this danger to rest.

"It is an attempt to subvert us from inside. This is treason. In the face of those who are fighting on the front, this is a stab in the back of the troops and the people of Russia."

The Russian president also warned of "inevitable punishment" for those attacking "the motherland", vowing to defend Russia against "anarchy".

Extraordinary pictures show the Russian military building in Rostov surrounded by tanks and troops from the Wagner Group.

Prigozhin and his troops have been fighting in Putin's shambolic war in Ukraine – but the Wagner boss has become a vocal critic of Russia's military leadership.

In a furious video, he said: "We will destroy anyone who stands in our way… we are moving forward and will go until the end."

Prigozhin called for an armed rebellion aimed at ousting Russia's top generals and defence minister Sergei Shoigu.

Russia's security services responded to his declaration of an armed rebellion by calling for his arrest – and security was immediately ramped up in both Rostov and Moscow.

Footage from Moscow showed armoured vehicles racing along the streets – as US officials are "closely watching" events unfold.

Roadblocks manned by special forces were set up around the city as military officials launch a desperate bid to secure both the Kremlin and the Duma building, Russia’s parliament.

Earlier footage showed an armoured motorcade whisking Putin to the Kremlin for an emergency meeting.

Russia’s army chief General Valery Gerasimov reportedly fled shortly before Wagner surrounded Russia’s war command HQ in Rostov-on-Don.

The Wagner leader demanded Shoigu and army chief Gerasimov appear before him – or he would go to Moscow, with his forces already on the road.

He was seen flanked by Putin's humiliated deputy defence minister Yunus-Bek Yevkurov as he made the demand.

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"Until they're gone, we're here, we're blockading the city of Rostov and we're going to Moscow," Prigozhin warned.

Prigozhin claimed regular Russian troops are switching to his side in the coup bid.

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