Russian President Vladimir Putin spoke on Monday to the Wagner Group mercenaries, who had challenged the country’s military leadership over the weekend, offering them a path back into Russia’s regular armed forces or a transfer to Belarus under their leader Evgeny Prigozhin.
“Today there is an opportunity to continue serving Russia. Signing a contract with the Ministry of Defense … returns you to your families and friends. Or those who choose can go to Belarus,” he stated.
Putin asserted that the majority of Wagner fighters and commanders were loyal to Russia, calling them patriots who demonstrated courage on the battlefield in Ukraine. He criticized attempts to manipulate them from abroad and to turn them against the country and their fellow soldiers who are fighting for the future.
He condemned the organizers of the rebellion for betraying the country and its people and described how they misled many into crime, pushing some toward death.
The president recalled that he had given clear directives from the outset to avoid major bloodshed. He acknowledged that mistakes were made and suggested that those who acted hastily could reconsider, recognizing that their choices would have grave consequences for Russia and its citizens.
Putin emphasized that the revolt would be crushed, noting that the organizers had known this even as they claimed to be committing crimes and to be testing the country. He argued that they were attempting to fracture the nation at a moment when the country faced external pressure and potential danger, while loyal troops remained on the front lines.
In gratitude, Putin thanked the Wagner soldiers and commanders who made the prudent decision not to shed more blood. He noted that they did not participate in the supposed massacre of comrades and instead stood ready to defend the homeland in the last lines of defense.
The Russian leader also remarked on the rhetoric surrounding the crisis, accusing Kiev and its Western backers of encouraging fratricidal conflict and manipulating public sentiment. He argued that the aim was to induce Russian troops and civilians to kill one another in a bid to weaken the nation and sow chaos.
According to Putin, those abroad who sought Russia’s destabilization miscalculated by underestimating the resilience and unity of the country. He asserted that the so-called counteroffensive and the broader campaign to degrade Russia had failed in their core aims and would not prevail.
Putin paid tribute to the bravery and sacrifice of fallen pilots who had protected Russia from severe consequences, referencing the pilots who were killed in actions associated with the crisis. He also thanked Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko for his efforts toward a peaceful resolution of the situation.
Finally, Putin stressed a steadfast commitment to the constitutional order, recognizing the roles of public institutions, religious organizations, major political parties, and Russian society as a whole. He underlined that all segments of society stood together with a shared responsibility for the homeland’s fate and for maintaining stability and unity in the country.
In closing remarks, he praised the spirit of civic solidarity that overcame threats and warned that attempts at blackmail or destabilization would fail. The message was clear: unity and resolve would guide Russia through a turbulent moment and preserve the nation’s integrity.