Russian President Vladimir Putin made a televised address accusing Yevgeny Prigozhin of treason after the mercenary leader took control of the military command in Rostov-on-Don, and demanding a change in command of the Russian army. The head of the Kremlin said that he will defend the Russian people and the homeland, his response will be tough against the ambitions of “endemic forces”, which he accuses of having “stabbed him in the back”.

10:00 a.m Putin began his speech. The main statements of the head of the Kremlin:

• We must do everything to stop this movement
• This is treason
• It’s like a knife in the back
• Intrigues and all that led to mass unrest, and the tragedy of this war made the Russians its victim
• We will defend our Motherland, including overcoming obstacles
• It is about the ambitions of some endemic forces. The heroes who liberated the occupied territories of Ukraine are trying to regain control over them.
• This internal turmoil is a blow to our people
• As President and Commander-in-Chief, I am doing everything in my power to repel this attack
• Those who betrayed Russia, I appeal to those involved not to take part in any armed conflict. We will definitely protect the entire territory

Russian mercenary commander Yevgeny Prigozhin has said he wants to oust the leadership of Russia’s Defense Ministry for alleged incompetence and released a video showing him and his fighters in the southern Russian city of Rostov, home to one of its military headquarters.

The leader of Wagner’s paramilitary group said it had taken control of military facilities, including an airfield, in this key hub for Russia’s attack on Ukraine.

The Russian Defense Ministry said in a statement Saturday to Wagner Group mercenaries that they had been “deceived and involved in criminal activity” by Wagner’s boss Yevgeny Prigozhin.

In a statement published on Telegram, the ministry called on Wagner’s fighters to contact his representatives and law enforcement officers and promised to guarantee their safety.

Russia’s anti-terrorist committee said on Saturday it was imposing an anti-terrorist regime in and around Moscow amid an uprising by the Wagner mercenary group, the state-run RIA news agency reported.