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Russian President Vladimir Putin said in an emergency televised address on Saturday that an "armed mutiny" by the Wagner private military group was treason, and that anyone who had taken up arms against the Russian military would be punished.
In response to Putin's remarks, Wagner chief Yevgeny Prigozhin said in an audio note that the president "was deeply mistaken" in calling him a traitor, saying that members of the private military group are "patriots."
Putin said he would do everything to protect Russia, and that "decisive action" would be taken to stabilize the situation in Rostov-on-Don, a southern city where Prigozhin said his forces had taken control of all military installations.
Prigozhin, 62, announced earlier that his Wagner fighters had crossed the border into Russia's Rostov from Ukraine and were prepared to go "all the way" against Moscow's military.
Putin warned that "all those who deliberately stepped on the path of betrayal, who prepared an armed insurrection, who took the path of blackmail and terrorist methods, will suffer inevitable punishment, will answer both to the law and to our people."
The Wagner chief vowed that he and his men would not turn themselves in on the orders of Putin.
The audio message marks the first time that Prigozhin has directly spoken out against the Russian president, the Guardian reported.
(With input from Reuters)
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Disinformation report hotline: 010-85061466