In an address to the people of Russia this morning, Russian President Vladimir Putin called the insurrection ostensibly led by PMC Wagner founder Yevgeny Prigozhin an armed mutiny against the state. “Today, Russia is waging a tough struggle for its future, repelling the aggression of neo-Nazis and their patrons,” Putin said. “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.” (http://en.kremlin.ru/events/president/news/71496 )
“This battle, when the fate of our nation is being decided, requires consolidation of all forces. It requires unity, consolidation and a sense of responsibility, and everything that weakens us, any strife that our external enemies can use and do so to subvert us from within, must be discarded.
“Therefore, any actions that split our nation are essentially a betrayal of our people, of our comrades-in-arms who are now fighting at the frontline. This is a knife in the back of our country and our people.”