Russian Officials Respond to Wagner PMC Incidents and Kremlin Statements
Officials in Moscow clarified that Dmitry Medvedev, Deputy Chairman of the Security Council of the Russian Federation, did not relocate from the Moscow region because of a change in the secretariat. Oleg Osipov, the deputy head of the Security Council, told reporters that Medvedev and his deputies, along with the secretariat, remain at their posts and continue to carry out their duties. This information was reported by TASS and subsequently echoed on social platforms.
Medvedev’s aides and the broader security leadership are described as active at their workplaces, maintaining the operations of the Security Council and fulfilling delegated responsibilities while the political situation evolves. A former spokesperson for the Russian president, Dmitry Peskov, who is familiar with Vladimir Putin, indicated that Putin is currently working from the Kremlin as usual. Source: official Kremlin communications and familiar press guidance reported through media outlets.
In Rostov-on-Don, early on June 24, Wagner PMC units moved into the city. Photographs showing military equipment and Wagner fighters in streets circulated widely on social media and were carried by TASS, illustrating the scale of the movement. President Vladimir Putin addressed the nation, describing the events as a serious breach of loyalty and warning that any individual who knowingly engages in treason would face punishment. The president’s remarks framed the events as a grave threat to social cohesion and state integrity, reinforcing the stance that treason would be decisively dealt with. Source: presidential address and official briefings reported by state media.
Following the assertions from Yevgeny Prigozhin, founder of Wagner PMC, the Russian Ministry of Defense issued a clarifying statement. It asserted that reports and videos alleging that the Ministry’s forces attacked Wagner’s rear camps were not accurate and constituted informational provocation. The Defense Ministry emphasized that the published claims did not reflect on-the-ground realities and urged the public to rely on verified information from official channels. Source: Ministry communiqués transmitted through official channels.
In the aftermath, the National Counter-Terrorism Committee announced that it had filed a suit alleging incitement to military rebellion. The action highlighted the state’s concern about attempts to destabilize military discipline and to inflame public opinion through hostile messaging. The committee underscored the seriousness of any such incitement and indicated that legal measures would be pursued in response. Source: official statements from counter-terrorism authorities and related legal filings.