Putin slams traitors who orchestrated a failed uprising as a threat to Russia

 Vladimir Putin, the president of Russia, has denounced the recent uprising headed by the Wagner mercenary gang and expressed thanks to anyone who helped keep the country united and avert bloodshed. 

Yevgeny Prigozhin, the leader of Wagner, coordinated the uprising, which represented a substantial challenge to Putin's long-standing power and threatened to topple his leadership.

In an address to the country that was broadcast on television, Putin called the revolt's organisers "traitors" who had helped the Ukrainian government and its allies. He emphasised the seriousness of the issue by claiming that the insurrection directly endangered Russia's survival. Putin congratulated the rank-and-file mercenaries for their patience, prevented the situation from degenerating into chaos and bloodshed, and promised retribution for those responsible.

"I want to express my gratitude to the commanders and soldiers of the Wagner group who avoided bloodshed," Putin noted, acknowledging the united front displayed by the nation during the crisis. His address focused on the resilience and patriotism of the Russian people, underscoring the futility of attempts to sow unrest within the country.

From the rebel leader's perspective, Prigozhin defended the short-lived insurrection, denying any intention to overthrow the Russian government. He taunted the military but stressed that his goal was to prevent the destruction of his Wagner militia and hold accountable the commanders responsible for mishandling Russia's military campaign in Ukraine. Prigozhin regretted the necessity of engaging Russian aircraft that fired upon his fighters and claimed that their halt in operations near Moscow was prompted by the realisation that further violence would ensue.

There was no definite information on the accord that put a stop to the mutiny or the whereabouts of Prigozhin. His prior declaration that he would travel to Belarus as part of an agreement mediated by President Alexander Lukashenko was not confirmed. Prigozhin was not specifically mentioned by Putin, but he blamed the attempted mutiny on adversaries of Russia who wanted to sow discord and set Russian soldiers against one another.

Putin met with top military, law enforcement, and security officials as the crisis developed, adopting a business-as-usual stance in the wake of the uprising. 

In a video assessing soldiers in Ukraine, Defence Minister Sergei Shoigu, whose dismissal Prigozhin had requested, also made an appearance, demonstrating his ongoing presence and support inside the Russian military.

The Wagner Group of Prigozhin and the Russian military hierarchy have long been at odds during the continuing struggle. The Wagner ranks were increasingly unsatisfied, and this dispute culminated in the mutiny, which saw mercenaries temporarily control a military headquarters in Rostov before quickly fleeing.