Russian President Vladimir Putin addressed the nation Saturday and vowed to defend the country and its people from an armed rebellion declared by mercenary chief Yevgeny Prigozhin. Putin said the mutiny amounted to “a deadly threat to our statehood” and vowed “tough actions” in response. “All those who prepared the rebellion will suffer inevitable punishment,” Putin said. He said an armed rebellion at a time like this is a blow to Russia and to its people.

This armed conflict between the Russian Army and the Wagner Group may come to fruition due to allegations that the Russian Army opened fire on fellow Russians acting as mercenaries in the Wagner Group.

The Russian FSB, successor to the KGB, has accused the Wagner leader, Prigozhin of staging a military coup but Prigozhin has declared that it is not a coup but instead is justice for those who were killed in Wagner Group by the Russian Armed Forces.

Now Putin has weighed in and stated: “All those who prepared the rebellion will suffer inevitable punishment. The armed forces and other government agencies have received the necessary orders,"

While more war is not good, hopefully this gives Ukrainians an opening to reclaim more of their nation.

    • runekn@beehaw.org
      15·
      2 years ago

      Been following it since yesterday when it kicked off. Events so far:

      1. Wagner claimed that russian army shelled their base yesterday. The verdict is still open on that one.
      2. Supposedly this action, plus previous grievances, made ️Prigozhin decide to leave ukraine and enter Rostov in Russia. Rostov is a oblast capital and major military HQ for the invasion forces.
      3. The claimed mission was to punish the ministry of defence.
      4. Wagner captured Rostov with little to no resistance. And also drive towards Voronezh, another oblast capital.
      5. While army personnel are ordered to block wagner, they seem to either join them or let them pass without a fight at nearly all points.
      6. Russian air forces did engage wagner, and wagner seem to have downed several aircraft.
      7. Wagner also enter Voronezh unopposed, or bypass it on their way to moscow.
      8. Putin declares this a rebellion and treason, ask soldiers not to join wagner, and will respond with military action.
      9. ️Prigozhin and wagner bloggers seem to reject putin and some are now starting to call it a civil war. Possibilities of negotiation are looking very unlikely now.
      10. Russian helicopters are bombing oil/fuel depots in Voronezh to prevent wagner from using them. As well as threatening to blow bridges to moscow to slow wagner’s advance.
      • ZoeyBear@beehaw.org
        2·
        2 years ago

        Honestly this couldn’t get any better, yeah the dude is an absolute psycho but hopefully they just take each other out.

    • Recant@beehaw.orgOP
      14·
      2 years ago

      Yes Russians (Wagner Mercenaries) have started fighting the Russian Army.

      The leader of the Wagner Group, Prigozhin says his fight is against Russian defense leadership. He has not openly said anything against Putin at least from what I’ve seen.

      However, don’t mistake this guy for some sort of “freedom fighter” he is still very much in support of the invasion of Ukraine and just thinks the Russian defense leadership has lost its focus and is using the conflict mostly for career advancement.

  • sunbeam60@lemmy.one
    4·
    2 years ago

    My gut reaction is “great, what’s bad for Russia is good for Ukraine” but I guess you have to be careful what you wish for.

  • Rentlar@beehaw.org
    2·
    2 years ago

    This is quite the own-goal on Putin’s part.

    I don’t like the direction things are going in Russia as the warlord Prigozhin could be eyeing control of Russia or part of it, but it does take pressure off of Ukraine.