Shoigu for the first time commented on the attempted rebellion by Wagner PMC

The attempted armed coup in Russia was unsuccessful due to the loyalty of the personnel of the Armed Forces to the oath. About it informed Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu during a conference call with the leadership of the Russian Armed Forces.

“These plans failed primarily because the personnel of the Armed Forces showed loyalty to their oath and military duty. The provocation did not affect the actions of the groupings of troops. The servicemen courageously and selflessly continued to solve the tasks assigned to them,” he said.

The Minister of Defense also thanked the personnel of the Russian Armed Forces for their conscientious service. This is Shoigu’s first comment after the attempted armed coup in Russia.

On the night of June 24, an armed rebellion was attempted in Russia by Wagner PMC and its founder Yevgeny Prigozhin. During the day, Wagner PMC took control of military facilities in Rostov-on-Don and blockaded the city, Prigozhin also announced a campaign against Moscow. In the evening, the Kremlin reported on the agreements reached with the founder of the PMC to de-escalate the situation, in which Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko played a key role.

In particular, according to the agreements, the criminal case initiated against Prigogine under Art. 279 of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation (the organization of an armed rebellion), should be stopped, and he himself “will go to Belarus.” June 27 FSB stopped criminal case, explaining his decision by the fact that the participants in the armed rebellion had stopped illegal actions.

On the morning of June 24, Russian President Vladimir Putin spoke with an appeal to the citizens of Russia against the backdrop of an armed rebellion by the Wagner PMC. The President called what is happening “apostasy from his people”, “a stab in the back” to the country and “internal betrayal.” Putin recalled the events of 1917 and stressed that he would not allow a repetition of the tragedy of the civil war. The Russian leader stressed that the actions against the organizers of the military rebellion will be tough, they will suffer “inevitable punishment.”

On the evening of June 26, Putin spoke with another address following the results of the military mutiny, during which he thanked the citizens of Russia for “restraint, solidarity and patriotism.” Putin also said that the fighters and commanders of the Wagner group would be able to conclude contracts with the Armed Forces or other special services, or, if they decide to do so, go to Belarus. The head of state stressed that PMC fighters “are also patriots of Russia, devoted to their people and state,” which they proved by their participation in the special operation.

The next day, Putin, speaking on the Cathedral Square of the Moscow Kremlin in front of the military and law enforcement officers who ensured order during the armed rebellion of the Wagner PMC, declaredthat the military “virtually stopped the civil war”. The head of state noted that units of the Ministry of Defense, the National Guard, employees of the Ministry of Internal Affairs and special services during the events of June 24 ensured the reliable operation of “the most important control centers”, strategic facilities, as well as the security of border regions.

Putin also honored the memory of the dead pilots who opposed the Wagner PMC with a minute of silence. “They did not flinch and honorably fulfilled the order and their military duty,” he said, offering to honor their memory with a minute of silence. Putin did not name the number of dead and their names. Later, during a meeting with the military, the president promised that the families of the dead soldiers would be supported. Later it became known that on June 24, in the performance of military duty died two pilots of the Ka-52 crew from the Pskov region, as well as the crew of the Il-22 aircraft, which based in the Ivanovo region. The names and the exact number of those who died from the Ivanovo region were also not specified.