In a televised address, Vladimir Putin congratulated himself for having “avoided the bloodshed” that, according to him, Ukraine and the West wanted during the aborted rebellion of Wagner’s fighters.
Yevgeny Prigojine’s attempted rebellion continues to agitate Russia. Monday, June 26, Vladimir Putin met his security council, after addressing his population in a televised address. He addressed Wagner’s fighters, offering them to sign a contract with the Ministry of Defense, leave for Belarus or return home. Here’s what to remember today.
Putin convenes his security council
Russian President Vladimir Putin thanked state security officials for their work during the Wagner Group’s aborted armed rebellion at the start of a meeting, a short segment of which was broadcast on television. “I have brought you together to thank you for the work done during these few days and to discuss the situation”declared the Russian president, during this meeting which was held in the presence of the Minister of Defense Sergei Shoigu but in the absence of the chief of staff Valéri Guerassimov, the two declared enemies of the head of Wagner, Evguéni Prigozhin.
A few minutes earlier, in a televised address, the master of the Kremlin had congratulated himself on having “avoided bloodshed” what, in his view, Ukraine and the West wanted during the aborted rebellion of Wagner’s fighters. As for the fighters of this paramilitary group, he offered them to sign a contract with the regular army, to “to return to their families and loved ones” or to go to Belarus. The Russian authorities have endeavored during the day to give an image of normality in the country despite this serious blow in the space of 24 hours to the image of Vladimir Putin.
Prigozhin justifies his rebellion
Evguéni Prigojine, assured in an audio message, two days after his abortive rebellion, that he wanted to save his organization, and not seize power. Wagner’s boss also claimed that his attempt brought to light the “serious security issues” in Russia. According to him, his men were able to seize the army headquarters in Rostov-on-Don and several other military sites without much resistance, covering 780 kilometers before stopping “just over 200 km from Moscow”.
If the boss of Wagner did not go further, it is because he did not want “shed Russian blood”. He also assured that he had the support of the civilians he met during his epic. In his first audio message released after his revolt was abandoned, Prigozhin did not reveal his whereabouts, while the agreement reached on Saturday evening with the Kremlin through Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko provides that he s exile in Belarus.
Zelensky on the move in the Donetsk region
The Ukrainian president went for his part near the eastern front in Ukraine, at a time when his army is carrying out a counter-offensive in this area and in the south. Ukrainian President “visited units of the armed forces of the operational and strategic group of Khortytsia”alongside the commander of the Ukrainian ground forces, Oleksandre Syrsky, and decorated soldiers, according to the presidency.
The Ukrainian army also claimed to have liberated Rivnopil, a locality in the Donetsk region located on the southern front. “We move forward”, welcomed on Telegram the Deputy Minister of Defense, Ganna Maliar. Located about 100 km southwest of Donetsk, Rivnopil is in an area where Ukrainian forces are on the offensive and have retaken several villages after nearly two weeks of fighting.
Australia announces shipment of armored vehicles and howitzers to Ukraine
Australia’s Prime Minister announced new military aid to Ukraine, including the shipment of 28 M113 armored vehicles and 105mm howitzers for $74 million. “We support international efforts to ensure the failure of Putin’s aggression and to uphold the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Ukraine”said Anthony Albanese.
However, this military aid does not include additional Hawkei and Bushmaster armored vehicles, vehicles requested by kyiv. In mid-June, Ukraine also asked Canberra to send about forty F-18 fighters withdrawn from service and stored at a base near Sydney. Monday’s announcement makes no reference to these fighter jets.