Russia’s Putin Orders Military to Crush Wagner Power Grab, Calls It Treason

Russian President Vladimir Putin said Saturday he ordered his military to act against the Wagner paramilitary group that seized the southern Russian city of Rostov, describing its actions as treason that put the country’s survival in peril.

The crisis unfolding in Russia represents the most serious challenge to Putin’s 23-year rule—a direct consequence of the strains put on Russian society and armed forces by the war that he unleashed against Ukraine in February last year.

If the Wagner insurrection isn’t put down swiftly, the strife could significantly undermine Russia’s front-line troops in Ukraine just as Kyiv carries out a Western-backed offensive to reclaim occupied lands.

Wagner troops, led by Yevgeny Prigozhin, earlier in the day took over the main military headquarters for southern Russia, in Rostov, and other installations there, encountering virtually no resistance from the regular armed forces. Wagner also sent columns of troops northward toward Moscow, as the Russian army rushed to cut off highways and defend the capital city.
 

 
Wagner paramilitary troops led by owner Yevgeny Prigozhin seized the military headquarters in Rostov, the main logistics hub for Russian forces operating in Ukraine. Prigozhin had called on his troops to remove the country’s military leadership. Photo: Agence France-Presse/Getty Images

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Until Saturday, Prigozhin focused his diatribes on Russia’s military leadership, avoiding direct attacks on Putin. But, responding to the Russian president, he said that Wagner’s men are not traitors but real patriots of Russia. Putin, Prigozhin added, is “profoundly mistaken,” and Wagner won’t follow his orders as it pursues the fight against “those who had gathered around scoundrels.”

“Whatever happens now, what we’re seeing is historic and it will have serious consequences for Putin,” said Abbas Gallyamov, a former speechwriter for Putin who is now a regime critic living outside Russia. “This feels like the initial phase of a revolution.”

In a televised speech Saturday morning, Putin—while not naming Prigozhin by name—described his moves as a “criminal adventure, a grave crime, an armed mutiny.” Wagner’s power grab, he added, is reminiscent of the 1917 revolution that destroyed the Russian Empire, “when the country was waging World War I but its victory was stolen,” leading to the loss of huge territories.
 

Russian President Vladimir Putin said Saturday he ordered his military to act against the Wagner paramilitary group after it seized the southern city of Rostov. He described the actions as “treason” that put the country’s survival in peril. Photo: Kremlin Pool/Zuma Press

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“We will not let this be repeated. We will defend our people and our state against all the threats, including internal treason. And what we are facing is precisely treason,” Putin said. “Any internal strife will be a mortal threat for our statehood, for us as a nation. Our actions to defend the motherland against this danger will be harsh.” The military and other security forces, he added, have already received appropriate orders, including to regain control over Rostov.

Putin’s onetime chef and confidant, Prigozhin moved his forces to Rostov after claiming that the Russian military killed “an enormous amount” of his troops in strikes on Wagner camps on Friday. The military denied these strikes had occurred, and there was no independent evidence to back up his claim. Russian authorities issued an arrest warrant for him on mutiny charges.

Prigozhin also said that the war on Ukraine was launched on false pretenses and accused Russia’s military of hiding the true scale of casualties among Russian forces on the front. Hundreds of thousands of Russian men have been mobilized and sent to fight in Ukraine since last fall. “Justice in the armed forces will be restored, and after that justice in all of Russia,” Prigozhin said.

A senior Eastern European intelligence official said the service was scrambling to get a clear picture of events but added that “time is not on Putin’s side.” 

 
Russian President Vladimir Putin said Saturday he ordered his military to act against the Wagner paramilitary group after it seized the southern city of Rostov. He described the actions as “treason” that put the country’s survival in peril. Photo: Kremlin Pool/Zuma Press

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“We will not let this be repeated. We will defend our people and our state against all the threats, including internal treason. And what we are facing is precisely treason,” Putin said. “Any internal strife will be a mortal threat for our statehood, for us as a nation. Our actions to defend the motherland against this danger will be harsh.” The military and other security forces, he added, have already received appropriate orders, including to regain control over Rostov.

Putin’s onetime chef and confidant, Prigozhin moved his forces to Rostov after claiming that the Russian military killed “an enormous amount” of his troops in strikes on Wagner camps on Friday. The military denied these strikes had occurred, and there was no independent evidence to back up his claim. Russian authorities issued an arrest warrant for him on mutiny charges.

Prigozhin also said that the war on Ukraine was launched on false pretenses and accused Russia’s military of hiding the true scale of casualties among Russian forces on the front. Hundreds of thousands of Russian men have been mobilized and sent to fight in Ukraine since last fall. “Justice in the armed forces will be restored, and after that justice in all of Russia,” Prigozhin said.

A senior Eastern European intelligence official said the service was scrambling to get a clear picture of events but added that “time is not on Putin’s side.” 
 

Russian President Vladimir Putin said Saturday he ordered his military to act against the Wagner paramilitary group after it seized the southern city of Rostov. He described the actions as “treason” that put the country’s survival in peril. Photo: Kremlin Pool/Zuma Press

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