Sergey Surovikin, Russia’s top commander in Ukraine, urged Wagner’s mercenary fighters on Friday night to “stop” and “obey the will” of President Vladimir Putin.
“I address Wagner’s leadership, commanders and fighters. Together with you, we have traveled a difficult and arduous path. We fight together, we take risks, we suffer defeats and we win together. We are of the same blood. We are warriors. I ask you to stop, the enemy is just waiting for the internal political situation to deteriorate in our country,” Surovikin is seen saying in a video posted on Telegram by a Russian state media reporter.
“You cannot play into the enemy’s hands at this difficult time for the country. Although it is not too late, please obey the will and orders of the President of the Russian Federation who was elected by the masses,” said Surovikin. “Stop the columns, bring them back to permanent deployment points and communication areas… Resolve all issues peacefully under the leadership of the Commander-in-Chief of the Russian Federation.”
Lieutenant General Vladimir Alekseev, a Russian intelligence officer, also posted a video criticizing Wagner’s actions on Friday, saying: “This is a coup d’état.” “What is happening now is a blatant act of insanity. I can’t explain it in other words,” Alekseev said in the video.
The statements came after threats made by the head of the Wagner Group, Yevgeny Prigozhin, against his own allies. He accused Russia’s military leadership on Friday of attacking one of its military camps and killing a “large amount” of its mercenary forces. Then he promised to attack official Russian forces as a reprisal.
“Our country is in the most difficult position right now,” he continued. “When the whole western world turns against us. When projectiles are coming from all over the world. These things, which you started to fulfill now under the idea of someone’s provocation, will lead to huge losses. First, huge political losses. Imagine the enthusiasm this will be taken by the West.”
“Only the president has the right to appoint the top leadership of the Armed Forces, and you are trying to invade his authority. This is a coup d’état. There is no need to do this now, because there is no greater damage to the image of Russia and its armed forces,” said Alekseev.
Threat from the Wagner Group
Wagner Group chief Yevgeny Prigozhin on Friday accused Russia’s military leadership of attacking one of its military camps and killing a “large amount” of its mercenary forces.
Prigozhin claimed that the Russian Ministry of Defense misled the Wagner Group and he promised to “respond to these atrocities”.
“They sneakily tricked us, trying to deprive us of the opportunity to defend our homes and instead hunt down Wagner. We were ready to reach an agreement with the Ministry of Defense to hand over our weapons and find a solution for us to continue to defend the country. But these scoundrels have not calmed down,” Prigozhin said in a voice note posted on Telegram.
Prigozhin promises retaliation: “Many tens, tens of thousands of Russian soldiers’ lives will be punished,” Prigozhin said. “I ask that no one put up resistance. Those who show such resistance, we will consider it a threat and destroy them immediately. This includes any roadblocks in our path, any aircraft seen over our heads.”
He urged people to stay at home and “keep calm, so as not to be provoked”.
Source: CNN Brasil
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