Vladimir Putin's grave mistake, Russia might see a New Prez soon; announces Wagner Group

• Image Credit: Google

• Jun 25, 2023 | Poonam Nath

The Wagner Group, a private military outfit with a long history of disputes with the country's military establishment, has declared...

Digital Desk: The Wagner Group, a private military outfit with a long history of disputes with the Russian military establishment, has declared an armed revolt aiming at overthrowing the government in a shocking blow to the Russian government. The Wagner Group, led by Yevgeny Prigozhin, has proclaimed its goal to change Russia's current administration and establish a new President.

Russian President Vladimir Putin objected to the rebellion shortly after it was reported, calling it a betrayal and a "stab in the back." The Wagner Group, on the other hand, stated that Putin had made a terrible error in his evaluation, emphasising their patriotism and commitment to their motherland. 

"The president was gravely misinformed about the betrayal of the motherland. We are patriots for our country. [Vladimir] Putin made the incorrect decision. Worse for him, Russia will soon have a new president," Wagner Group added to their statement.

According to reports, the Wagner Group has made substantial success in its attempt to depose the nation's military leadership, claiming possession of military installations in two Russian towns, Rostov-on-Don and Voronezh. They also boasted about successfully shooting down three Russian military helicopters, demonstrating their capacity to combat the country's armed forces.

In a statement posted on his Telegram channel, Yevgeny Prigozhin rejected President Putin's claims of treason and reaffirmed his soldiers' allegiance to their country. He claimed that they would not bow to Putin's demands, noting their refusal to tolerate a country riddled with corruption, deception, and bureaucracy.

Meanwhile, President Putin condemned the insurrection in a televised address, as Russia faced its most critical battle for the nation's destiny owing to the ongoing war in Ukraine. He highlighted that Russia was the target of a deliberate campaign by the West, which had deployed its full military, economic, and communications machinery against the country. 

Putin 'warned' that individuals who participated in the insurrection would face unavoidable retribution, implying that the military forces and other government agencies had received the required orders to put down the insurgency.

"All those who deliberately chose the path of betrayal, who planned an armed insurgency, who used blackmail and terrorist methods will face unavoidable punishment and will answer both to the law and to our people," Putin stated.

Beginning of the conflict that caused the rebellion-

On Saturday, a dispute between Moscow's armed forces and Prigozhin, the leader of the private mercenary outfit Wagner, erupted into an open insurgency. The Wagner commander accused Russia's military leadership of killing a "huge amount" of his mercenary soldiers in a camp attack and pledged retaliation. 

Security personnel have been deployed throughout western Russia, while regional governors have asked civilians to avoid the roadways, and a "counterterrorist operation regime" has been established in Moscow.

Latestly, new information has been carried out; it is said that Yevgeny Prigozhin, a rebellious commander of Russian mercenaries who had ordered his forces to march on Moscow before abruptly turning around, will relocate to neighbouring Belarus and won't be prosecuted, the Kremlin announced on Saturday. This is a segment of a compromise to defuse a crisis that posed President Vladimir Putin with the greatest challenge in his more than two decades in office.

According to Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov, the charges against Wagner Group leader Prigozhin for organising an armed uprising will be dropped, and the soldiers who joined him will also not be prosecuted. The Defence Ministry will also award contracts to fighters from his Wagner Group who did not take part in the uprising.