Putin Praises Nation for Standing Together During Short-Lived Rebellion Led by Mercenary Group

Russian President Vladimir Putin on Monday thanked the nation for standing together in the face of a short-lived armed rebellion led by Yevgeny Prigozhin, the head of the Wagner mercenary group.

The uprising, which began last week, marked an extraordinary challenge to President Putin’s two-decade hold on power and could have had long-term consequences for his rule and his war in Ukraine.

Putin looked solemn and determined as he emphasized that steps were immediately taken to “neutralize the threat” and “avoid a lot of bloodshed.” He thanked the government and citizens for rallying behind “the fate of the Fatherland.”

The rebellion ended with Prigozhin’s troops beating a retreat over the weekend, and the mercenary leader’s announcement of a deal with the Kremlin dashed Ukrainian hopes for a government-toppling insurrection.

The incident caused a stir in Ukraine, with many describing feelings of incredulity and giddiness. However, the war in Ukraine remained the focus, and Putin said that time was taken to give those who made a mistake a chance to think again and understand their actions.