President Putin responded to the failed uprising by the Wagner mercenary army last Saturday in a televised speech.
He did not mention the name of Wagner leader Prigozhin. In the about five-minute speech, which was recorded earlier, Putin again called the Wagner leaders traitors, enemies and neo-Nazis who wanted to destroy Russian society. According to Putin, they knew the mutiny was a hopeless mission. Its "unanimous rejection by society" was decisive, Putin also said. At the same time, he thanked Wagner mercenaries for their efforts in the war against Ukraine. "They proved their courage, liberated the Donbas and fought for the country," Putin claimed. He also said they avoided bloodshed by turning right around before Moscow. Wagner's mercenaries who want to do so will go to Belarus, Putin said. Those who do not want to can sign a contract with the Russian army, which will take over authority over all private armies from 1 July. They may also return to their families, the Russian president said.
Very weak speech in my view.