When I published my last update on the Wagner mutiny in Russia, it was 8 am in Moscow. Prigozhin took control of Rostov-on-Don and Wagner troops have been seen moving further in the direction of Moscow. His actions were called criminal and treasonous by the FSB, but there was no word from the president.
The president did speak up at about 10 am. He didn’t mention Prigozhin by name — same as he never mentions Navalny — but he was pretty clear in his assessment of Prigozhin’s actions: it’s treason. He also, as is his wont, talked about history.
Putin, at 10 am:
Russia today is engaged in a harsh stuggle for its future. It resists aggression from neo-Nazis and their masters. Effectively, the entire military, economic, and informational machine of the West is directed against us. We are fighting for the lives and security of our people. For our sovereignty and independence. For the right to be and remain Russia, a state with a thousand-year history.
This battle, which is going to decide the fate of our people, requires the unification of all forces. Unity, consolidation, and responsibility. Everything that weakens us should be cast aside. Any discord that our external enemies could and do use to undermine us from within. And so, actions that break our unity are, in essence, a defection from one's people, from comrades-in-arms who are now fighting on the front lines. It's a stab in the back of our country and our people.
This is precisely the kind of blow that was dealt to Russia in 1917, when the country was engaged in World War I, but its victory was stolen. Intrigue, quarrels, and politicking behind the army and people turned into the greatest upheaval, the destruction of the army, and the collapse of the state, the loss of vast territories, and as the final result, the tragedy of the Civil War. Russians killed Russians, brothers killed brothers. And various political adventurers and foreign forces that divided the country, tore it apart, benefited. We will not let this happen again. We will protect our people and our statehood from any threats, including internal betrayal.
What we are facing is betrayal indeed. Disproportionate ambitions and personal interests led to treason, a treason against their own country, their own people, and the cause for which the fighters and commanders of the Wagner group fought and died side by side with our other parts and subdivisions. Heroes who liberated Soledar and Artemovsk, cities and towns of Donbass, fought and gave their lives for Novorossiya, for the unity of the Russian world. Their name and glory were also betrayed by those who try to organize a mutiny and push the country to anarchy and fratricide. To defeat, in the end, and to surrender.
I repeat, any internal unrest is a deadly threat to our statehood, to us as a nation. This is a blow to Russia, to our people. And our actions to protect the homeland from such a threat will be tough. Everyone who consciously embarked on the path of betrayal, who prepared an armed mutiny, embarked on the path of blackmail and terrorist methods, will face inevitable punishment. They will answer both before the law and before our people.
The armed forces and other state bodies have received the necessary orders. Additional anti-terrorist measures are being introduced now in Moscow, the Moscow region, and a number of other regions. Decisive actions will also be taken to stabilize the situation in Rostov-on-Don. It remains difficult, the work of civil and military management bodies is effectively blocked.
As the President of Russia and the Supreme Commander-in-Chief, as a citizen of Russia, I will do everything to defend the country, protect the constitutional order, lives and security, freedom of citizens.
Those who organized and prepared this mutiny, those who raised their arms against comrades-in-arms, have betrayed Russia. And they will answer for it. And to those who are being drawn into this crime, I urge you not to make a fatal and tragic, irreparable mistake. Make the only right choice: stop participating in criminal actions.
I believe that we will preserve and defend what is precious and sacred to us. And together with our homeland, we will overcome any trials, we will become even stronger.
This was an important turn. Theoretically, Putin could have sacrificed his military command and made a deal with Prigozhin — given the Russian propensity to conspiratorial thinking, I bet a lot of people would have thought this was his plan to begin with — but he chose against it.
In his responses, published, as usual, as a sequence of audio messages in Telegram, Prigozhin did not sound impressed.
Prigozhin, at 12:18 pm:
Regarding the betrayal of the Homeland, the president is deeply mistaken. We are patriots of our Homeland. We fought and continue to fight, all the fighters of the Wagner PMC, and no one is going to come with an apology at the request of the president, the FSB, or anyone else. Because we don't want the country to continue to live in corruption, deception, and bureaucracy.
When we fought in Africa, we were told that we needed Africa, but then it was abandoned because all the money that was supposed to go for aid was stolen.
When we were told that we were fighting with Ukraine, we went and fought. But it turned out that the ammunition, weapons — all the money that was supposed to be spent on that is also being stolen, and the bureaucrats are sitting, saving it all for themselves, just for such a case that has come today, when someone is marching on Moscow. Now they are not saving anything, they are using planes and helicopters to attack the convoys that are moving along with civilians. And they end up attacking civilians because they miss and hit randomly.
So, we are patriots, and those who are opposing us today are those who have gathered around scoundrels.
Prigozhin, at 2:46 pm:
Why does the country support us? Because we marched with the march of justice, and though we were struck — first by artillery, then by helicopters — we went without a single shot, we didn't touch a single conscript, we didn't kill a single person on the way. We were targeted by aircraft, helicopters, planes — we made it to Rostov. Without a single shot, we captured the headquarters building. We did not interfere with the work of a single person.
On the street, there are people unfurling the flags of Wagner PMC. When our guys cross the road to go to the store, people ask them not to pay for themselves, because they want to do something nice. Complimentary words are being spoken.
And one more point: the media is spreading information about some sort of mine barriers. When we came here, in the morning, we removed the mine barrier from the gates adjacent to the headquarters building. It was clumsily laid out, it was just a unprofessional venture, and not very useful. So, it was us who removed this barrier.
In Moscow and Voronezh, the authorities have introduced a “counter-terrorism operation regime.”
Reports of the Russians armed forces losing 3 helicopters and one plane have been circulated.
A video showed an explosion at an oil depot near Voronezh.
The newly built Wagner Center in St. Petersburg was raided by the police.
Prigozhin at 3:23 pm:
Some media outlets are spreading the following information: “During the search at Prigozhin's office, a van with money was found.” Not just one van was found at my place. A van and two little buses were found, containing money that was to be distributed as salaries, so-called compensations for Cargo 2001 and other similar matters.
The Wagner PMC has been operating for 10 years, using exclusively cash, as stated in the contract, and I meticulously adhere to this. When we were working in Africa, Ukraine, and other countries, and when we were terrifying America, everyone was fine with cash. And now they've come with searches.
No big deal. Indeed, cash was found.
By 4 pm, Wagner troops have been seen around Lipetsk, some 400 km from Moscow.
Excavators were used to dug up the highway leading to Moscow, creating a (seemingly not insurmountable) barrier for Prigozhin’s people.
Chechen troops have been seen near Rostov, which is still under Wagner’s control.
Military vehicles and soldiers armed with machine guns are seen in Moscow. Local authorities declared Monday to be a non-working day.
The president’s airplane left Moscow and disappeared from the radar around Tver. The Kremlin claims Putin hasn’t left.
He signed at least 10 new laws, including one on fines and arrest up to 30 days for violation of martial law; one on exempting mobilized personnel and contractors from criminal liability; and one on allowing those with limited health fitness and those with criminal records to serve in the army under contract.
This is about it for now. It seems that only a few hours separate Wagner from approaching the country’s capital. What happens then is hard to predict.
How’s your day been so far?
UPDATE
Lukashenka’s press service, 8:10 pm:
This morning, Russian President Vladimir Putin informed his Belarusian counterpart about the situation in the south of Russia with the private military company Wagner. The heads of state agreed on joint actions.
In development of the agreements, the President of Belarus, after further clarifying the situation through his own channels, held negotiations with the head of Wagner PMC, Yevgeny Prigozhin, in agreement with the President of Russia.
The negotiations lasted all day. As a result, they agreed on the inadmissibility of unleashing a bloody massacre on Russian territory.
Yevgeny Prigozhin accepted the proposal of the President of Belarus, Alexander Lukashenko, to stop the movement of Wagner's armed personnel on Russian territory and further steps to de-escalate tensions.
At the moment, there is an absolutely beneficial and acceptable solution on the table, with safety guarantees for Wagner PMC fighters. As reported earlier, the President of Belarus also held two meetings with the country's security block about this situation today.
Prigozhin at 8:25 pm:
They were going to dismantle Wagner PMC. We set out on the March of Justice on June 23. Within a day, we managed to get within 200 kilometers of Moscow without shedding a single drop of our fighters' blood. Now the moment has come when blood might be spilled. Therefore, understanding all the responsibility for the fact that Russian blood will be shed from one side or another, we are turning our columns around and moving back to the field camps according to plan.
Dead soldiers.
Thanks Nikita for the excellent reporting, with translated primary sources and photos. Gold.
Thank you bringing me / us this information !