By Anthony Marcus, special correspondent for Eurasia Business News, June 24, 2023

Russian President Vladimir Putin in his address at 10:00 AM today called on Russian citizens to discard strife during the special operation in Ukraine, saying that the fate of the country at the moment requires the unity of all forces. He considers the rebellion of armed group Wagner “a stab in the back to Russia and its people”.

“I appeal to the citizens of Russia, to the personnel of the Armed Forces, law enforcement agencies and special services, to the soldiers and commanders who are now fighting in their combat positions, repelling enemy attacks, doing it heroically – I know, tonight I spoke again with the commanders of all directions. I also appeal to those who, by deception or threats, were dragged into a criminal adventure, pushed onto the path of a serious crime – an armed rebellion, “the appeal says, the text of which is posted on the official website of the Kremlin.

“Russia today is waging a tough struggle for its future, repelling the aggression of neo-Nazis and their masters. Virtually the entire military, economic, and information 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, when the fate of our people is being decided, requires the unity of all forces, unity, consolidation and responsibility. When everything that weakens us must be thrown aside, any strife that our external enemies can and use to undermine us from within.”

“That is why the actions that split our unity are, in fact, apostasy from our people, from our comrades-in-arms who are now fighting at the front. This is a stab in the back to our country and our people,” Putin stressed.

“It was such a blow that was inflicted on Russia in 1917, when the country was waging the First World War. But the victory was stolen from her. Intrigues, squabbles, politicking behind the backs of the army and the people turned into the greatest shock, the destruction of the army and the collapse of the state, the loss of vast territories. As a result, the tragedy of the civil war.”

“Russians killed Russians, brothers killed brothers, and all sorts of political adventurers and foreign forces that divided the country and tore it apart extracted selfish benefits“, said the Russian President.

“We will not let this happen again. We will protect both our people and our statehood from any threats. Including – from internal betrayal.”

And what we are facing is precisely betrayal. Exorbitant ambitions and personal interests led to betrayal. To the betrayal of their country, and their people, and the cause for which, side by side with our other units and subunits, the fighters and commanders of the Wagner Group fought and died. The heroes who liberated Soledar and Artemovsk, the cities and towns of Donbass, fought and gave their lives for Novorossia, for the unity of the Russian world. Their name and glory were also betrayed by those who are trying to organize a rebellion, pushing the country towards anarchy and fratricide. To defeat, in the end, and surrender.

I repeat, any internal turmoil is a mortal threat to our statehood, to us as a nation. This is a blow to Russia, to our people. And our actions to protect the Fatherland from such a threat will be tough. All those who deliberately embarked on the path of betrayal, who prepared an armed rebellion, embarked on the path of blackmail and terrorist methods, will be inevitably punished, will answer both before the law and before our people,” the president warned.

“The Armed Forces and other state bodies have received the necessary orders, additional anti-terrorist measures are now being introduced in Moscow, the Moscow Region, and a number of other regions. Decisive action will also be taken to stabilize the situation in Rostov-on-Don. It remains difficult, in fact, the work of civil and military authorities is 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, the lives, security and freedom of citizens,” the Russian leader promised.

“Those who organized and prepared a military rebellion, who took up arms against their comrades-in-arms, betrayed Russia. And they will answer for it. And I urge those who are trying to be drawn into this crime not to make a fatal and tragic, unique mistake, to make the only right choice – to stop participating in criminal actions.

“I believe that we will preserve and defend what is dear and sacred to us, and together with our Motherland we will overcome any trials, we will become even stronger,” President Vladimir Putin concluded.

Wagner Group leader Yevgeny Prigozhin launched an armed ‘mutiny’ against the Russian state yesterday evening, on Friday June 23.

Yevgeny Prigozhin, the head of the Wagner mercenary group, has been accused of leading an armed mutiny against the Russian government. Prigozhin has accused Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu and Russia’s top general, Valery Gerasimov, of rank incompetence and of denying Wagner ammunition and support in its battles in Ukraine. The Russian government has denied orchestrating an attack on Wagner fighters yesterday. Russian President Vladimir Putin has vowed to crush the mutiny and has ordered the military to act against the Wagner paramilitary group, to protect to the constitutionnal order of the Russian Federation. The situation is complicated and security has been tightened in Moscow, with military vehicles in the main strategic points. The FSB (the Russia’s domestic intelligence service), released a statement in which it described the mutinery of Prigozhin as a crime and betrayal and called on the fighters of the Wagner PMC to take measures to detain him.

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