“Those who give in to this appeal will be dragged into a criminal adventure by deceit or threats, pushed onto the path of serious crime,” the Russian leader said in a televised address.

He assured that the Russian Armed Forces and other government agencies received precise orders. “The reaction will be harsh, the rebels will be punished, we will protect both our people and our State from any threat, even internal treason,” he said.

He also highlighted the heroism of the Russian military: “the country fights for the life and security of our people, for our sovereignty and independence, for the right to be and continue to be Russia, a State with a thousand-year history.”

Putin reported that the National Anti-Terrorist Committee imposed a regime of operations in the city of Moscow and the Moscow and Voronezh regions.

The Russian Ministry of Defense called fake the audios and images published on the networks on behalf of Prigozhin about alleged attacks by the military against Wagner while they were in their rear camps.

Following the launch of the call for armed rebellion, the Russian Federal Security Service (FSB) opened a legal file against the founder of the PMC.

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