Putin has claimed that the Wagner mutiny’s commanders wanted “to see Russia choked in bloody strife” by their actions last weekend.

Mr. Putin threatened to bring the revolt’s organizers “to justice” in a brief but venomous speech.

However, he referred to the regular Wagner forces as “patriots” who were free to enlist, travel to Belarus, or return home.

Yevgeny Prigozhin, the head of Wagner, who had before denied wanting to topple Mr. Putin’s government, was not specifically mentioned by him.

Alongside the Russian army’s regular forces in Ukraine, Wagner is a private mercenary army.

Prigozhin claimed in an 11-minute audio statement posted on Telegram on Monday that the brief uprising, which saw Wagner fighters seize a significant Russian city before traveling north towards Moscow in a column of military vehicles, was a response to government plans to take direct control of Wagner.

In a move largely viewed as a challenge to Prigozhin’s hold on Wagner, Russia announced in June that “volunteer formations” would be required to sign Ministry of Defence contracts.

The leader of the mercenaries said that his uprising was partly a protest against errors made by defense officials during the conflict with Ukraine.

He emphasized, though, that Wagner had always and only operated in Russia’s best interests.

These were Prigozhin’s first public remarks following the agreement of a deal to put an end to the uprising, a settlement that purportedly included his departure for Belarus with all criminal accusations against him dropped, while Russian state media, quoting officials, has stated he still faces an inquiry.

He added that several Russian civilians were sad the march had ended and claimed he put a halt to the mutiny to stop “spilling the blood of Russian soldiers.”

But he was careful to emphasize that he had no desire to try to overthrow Russia’s democratically elected leaders.

Since there was only audio, it is unclear what Prigozhin would do next or where he is right now.

SOURCE OF IMAGE: REUTERS
Yevgeny Prigozhin, author of the image

In a brief speech to the Russian people, Mr. Putin promised that the march’s organizers would be “brought to justice” and accused his former comrade Prigozhin of betraying Russia by stabbing it in the back.

In an effort to dispel the now-famous notion that his response to the Wagner mutiny was inadequate, he used the speech to try to reinforce his authority once more. In the brief recorded address, his tone was enraged and his lip was curling.

The president’s message was that those who planned an uprising had forsaken their nation and people and were attempting to pull Russia into violence and division on behalf of all of its foes.

While US President Joe Biden stated at a press conference on Monday that the US and its allies were not involved in Wagner’s failed uprising, he claimed that the West wanted Russians to “kill each other.”

Mr. Putin claimed that by handling the problem alone, a catastrophe had been avoided. But many Russians did not witness it over the weekend, and it is unlikely that this performance will persuade them.

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Additionally, he declared that he would follow his word and permit Wagner forces who did not “turn to fratricidal blood” to go for Belarus.

“I thank those soldiers and commanders of the Wagner Group who made the only right decision — they did not turn to fratricidal bloodshed, they stopped at the last line,” he added.

You now have the choice to either return to your family and close friends or to continue serving Russia by signing a contract with the [Ministry of Defense] or other military and law enforcement organizations.

“Those who wish to travel to Belarus may do so. I’ll follow through on my pledge.

At the outset of the mutiny, according to Mr. Putin, “steps were taken to avoid a lot of bloodshed,” and those behind it “realised their actions were criminal.”

He complimented the cohesiveness of Russian society and hailed Alexander Lukashenko, the president of Belarus, who is credited with brokering the agreement to put a stop to the mutiny, for his efforts to find a peaceful solution.

The president’s claims of a united nation behind him stand in stark contrast to Saturday’s photographs from Rostov, a city in the south where the Wagner group had taken control and residents cheered fighters in the streets, hugged them, and took selfies with them.

Because of this, Mr. Putin presumably offered the Wagner members a way out by implying that they had been tricked and exploited.

an image caption

Ros Atkins, analysis editor for the BBC, examines the effects of the attempted Wagner mutiny.

Following months of escalating hostilities between Wagner and Russia’s military leadership, there was a mutiny last week.

Wagner mercenaries arrived Rostov-on-Don, a city in southern Russia where Russia’s war is being led, on Friday night after crossing the border from their field camps in Ukraine.

A column of military trucks then drove north towards Moscow as they apparently assumed control of the local military leadership.

According to Prigozhin, his “march of justice” exposed “serious security issues across the nation.”

Additionally, he noted the role that Mr. Lukashenko had played in mediating the agreement to put an end to the mutiny, claiming that the leader had provided Wagner with a means of continuing to operate in a “legal jurisdiction”.

When Wagner troops shot down advancing helicopters, the mercenary boss admitted his march had caused the deaths of some Russian soldiers.

“Not a single soldier was killed on the ground,” he continued.

We regret having to attack the aircraft, but they were launching bombs and missiles at us, he said.