Speaking during an emergency televised address in Moscow on Saturday, President Vladimir Putin vowed that he would not allow Russia to descend into civil war, after Yevgeny Prighozin, the leader of Wagner’s mercenary forces, seized a key headquarters of the military in charge of the offensive in Ukraine. .
Below is the full transcript of Putin’s address:
“I appeal to the citizens of Russia, to the personnel of the armed forces, law enforcement and security services, fighters and commanders who are now fighting in their positions, repelling enemy attacks, making it that hero.
I spoke to commanders in all directions last night. I also appeal to the deluded who are drawn into criminal adventure, driven to a serious crime by an armed mutiny.
Now Russia is fighting hard for its future, rejecting the aggression of the neo-Nazis and their handlers. The entire military, economic and information machines of the West are directed against us.
We are fighting for the life and security of our people; for our sovereignty and freedom; for the right to remain in Russia, a state with a thousand-year history.
This war, in which the fate of our people is decided, requires all our forces to be united; unity, consolidation and responsibility. Everything that weakens us must be put aside, any differences that our enemies can use or use to disturb us from within.
Therefore, actions that divide our unity are a betrayal of our people, our brothers in battle who are now fighting on the front line. This is a stab in the back of our country and our people.
It was a blow that struck Russia in 1917 when the country fought in World War I, but its victory was stolen.
The intrigues, disputes and politicization behind the army and the people became the greatest disaster, the destruction of the army and state, loss of large territories, resulting in a tragedy and civil war.
Russians kill Russians, brothers kill brothers. The beneficiaries of that are the various political chevaliers of fortune and foreign powers that divide the country, and tear it into parts.
We will not allow this to happen again. We will protect our people and state from any threat, including internal treason. What we are dealing with is betrayal.
Big ambitions and personal interests lead to betrayal. Betrayal of one’s own country and people and the cause that Wagner’s fighters killed along with our soldiers. Heroes who liberated Soledar and Artemovsk, towns and cities of Donbas, who fought and gave their lives for Novorossiya and for the unity of the Russian world. Their name and glory were betrayed by those who tried to organize the mutiny, which drove the country to anarchy and fratricide, to defeat, finally, and capitulation.
I repeat: any internal mutiny is a deadly threat to our state, to us as a nation. This is a blow against Russia, against our people. And our actions to protect the homeland from such a threat will be brutal.
Anyone who consciously went down the path of treason, who prepared armed mutiny, went down the path of blackmail and terrorist actions, will inevitably be punished. They will answer before the law and our people.
The armed forces and other departments have received the necessary orders. Additional anti-terrorist security measures are currently being implemented in Moscow, the Moscow region, and many other regions. Decisive actions will be taken to stabilize the situation in Rostov-on-Don, which remains difficult. The operation of the civilian and military control departments was practically blocked.
As a president of Russia and the commander-in-chief, as a citizen of Russia, I will do everything to protect the country, protect the Constitution, life and safety, freedom of citizens.
Those who organized and prepared the military uprising, who turned to arms against their comrades-in-arms, betrayed Russia, and are responsible for that.
And those who are drawn to crime, I call on you not to make this crucial, terrible, unrepeatable mistake.
Make the only right choice – stop participating in criminal actions.
I believe that we protect and preserve what is sacred to us. And together with the motherland, we will overcome all challenges, and become even stronger.”
