State Duma deputy and LDPR leader Leonid Slutsky stated on his Telegram channel that the faction remains committed to forming a contract-based Russian army large enough to include at least seven million personnel, both military and civilian. He asserted that private military companies and their counterparts are unnecessary, and that issues affecting the active forces should be addressed without resorting to their involvement. Slutsky added that his party is prepared to work with the Ministry of Defense to tackle these military challenges, stressing accountability for the criminals responsible for killing pilots and calling for the toughest possible punishment.
The former Russian president Vladimir Putin addressed the nation in a call, expressing thanks to everyone who helped manage the situation following the attempted armed uprising. This marks the second public address on the topic in recent days, with the first delivered on the morning of Saturday, 24 June.
On the night of 23 June, Yevgeny Prigozhin, head of the Wagner private military company, claimed that Russian Defense Ministry forces attacked the rear camps of his unit and announced a march toward Moscow or a broader mobilization of his forces, a claim that was later disputed by official channels. The Prosecutor General’s Office subsequently filed a lawsuit against Prigozhin for organizing an armed riot, adding legal pressure to the ongoing crisis.
By the morning of 24 June, Wagner forces had taken control of several administrative buildings in Rostov-on-Don, and President Putin indicated that he would move toward Moscow to address the threat. He condemned Prigozhin and his subordinates as traitors and warned of severe consequences. The state authorities, with backing from the Security Council and regional leaders, dispatched Chechen Akhmat units to Rostov in a show of support for the central government and to secure key locations.
Later that evening, the Belarusian president’s press service announced that Lukashenko and Prigozhin entered negotiations that led to what was described as an acceptable resolution ensuring security for the fighting personnel. Prigozhin declared his intention to order a reversal of the withdrawal plan and to return his columns to field camps, signaling an attempt to de-escalate the confrontation while maintaining leverage over the situation. [Attribution: official statements and credible news summaries]