2023-06-26 15:13:38
Prigozhin: The goal of the rebellion was to save Wagner, not to overthrow the Russian government
Rebellion in Russia
Prigozhin breaks his silence following the Wagner Group mutiny with an 11-minute audio message
Moscow – AFP
Posted on: June 26, 2023: 06:05 PM GST Last updated: June 26, 2023: 07:23 PM GST
Wagner’s commander, Yevgeny Prigozhin, broke his silence on Monday following his forces’ mutiny, with an 11-minute audio message.
Wagner’s commander said, “Our move was not aimed at overthrowing the Russian leadership,” noting that “our march proved the existence of security mistakes in Russia.”
He added, “Russian cities greeted us with flags, and the population was happy with our presence,” adding that “our march showed the extent of the organization that the Russian army must have.”
Prigozhin revealed that the march was aimed at “preventing the group’s destruction,” and expressed regret that “we had to shoot down Russian planes.”
He stressed that “our cessation of action came to prevent the bloodshed of Russian soldiers,” calling for “holding accountable those responsible for mistakes during the military operation in Ukraine.”
And the commander of Wagner continued: “We did not kill any Russian soldier during our advance, and we took full control of the city of Rostov.”
Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said today, Monday, that the US ambassador to Moscow “gave signs” that the United States is not involved in the Wagner private military group’s rebellion, and that it hopes for the safety of the Russian nuclear arsenal, according to the Russian news agency “Tass”.
Lavrov also quoted the US ambassador as saying that the rebellion of Wagner’s mercenaries, on Saturday, is an internal Russian matter.
Fighters from the Wagner Group, led by its chief Prigozhin, advanced on Moscow on Friday to topple what they called Russia’s “corrupt and incompetent” military leadership, before abruptly withdrawing to a Russian-controlled region of eastern Ukraine following a deal with the Kremlin brokered by Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko.
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