Russia urges unity behind Putin after the failed mutiny. After mercenaries briefly took a critical command center for its Ukraine war and marched on Moscow, Russia’s prime minister declared on Monday that Russia faces “a challenge to its stability” and must unite behind President Vladimir Putin.
On Monday, the Wagner Group’s weekend armed revolt ended with no apparent punishment for the culprits or their leader.
The unprecedented occurrences left administrations, sympathetic and opposed to Russia, scrambling for answers.
In a televised government meeting, Russian Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin called the situation “a challenge to its stability.”
“We need to act together, as one team, and maintain the unity of all forces, rallying around the president,” he stated.
Russia’s National Anti-Terrorism Committee declared the country was stable, and Moscow Mayor Sergei Sobyanin canceled a counter-terrorism regime in the capital.
On Sunday, a senior Russian ambassador visited China, which supported Moscow in maintaining national stability. Ukraine and some of its Western friends believed the turbulence showed fissures in Russia.
“The political system is showing fragilities, and the military power is cracking,” EU foreign policy director Josep Borrell told reporters in Luxembourg before meeting with ministers from the 27-member bloc.
German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock said Putin’s invasion of Ukraine, which he calls a “special military operation” to fight a threat from there and the West, was destroying Russia, and the West will support Kyiv.
Wagner mercenaries fighting in Ukraine who crossed into Russia on Saturday stopped their assault on Moscow, retreated from Rostov, and returned to their bases in the evening under an amnesty.
Under Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko’s accord, their commander, Yevgeny Prigozhin, requested Russia’s defense minister and army’s top general would move to Belarus.
Prigozhin wants to “restore justice” after accusing both individuals of severe ineptitude and corruption.
On Monday, the defense ministry released a video of Sergei Shoigu traveling in a plane with a colleague and hearing reports at a command post. It was silent and unidentified.
Putin hadn’t spoken publicly since Saturday, when he declared the rebellion threatened Russia’s survival and vowed to punish the rebels.
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