ussian President Vladimir Putin has referred to as an armed riot led by the Wagner mercenary group chief a "betrayal", and has promised to "defend the people" and Russia.

Mr Putin addressed the nation on Saturday morning after mercenary chief Yevgeny Prigozhin and his troops reached the important thing Russian city of Rostov-on-Don.

The Russian chief mentioned the transfer by the Wagner group had blocked civilian and army governing our bodies within the southern metropolis.

And Mr Putin warned that his nation is now going through "the toughest battle for its future".

He mentioned the mutiny amounted to "a deadly threat to our statehood", and vowed "tough actions" in response.

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"All those who prepared the rebellion will suffer inevitable punishment. The armed forces and other government agencies have received the necessary orders," Mr Putin mentioned.

He referred to as Mr Prigozhin's actions, with out referring to the proprietor of the Wagner personal army firm by title, "a betrayal" and "a treason".

Mr Putin urged "those who are being dragged into this crime not to make a fatal and tragic, unique mistake, to make the only right choice - to stop participating in criminal acts".

Mr Prigozhin, the proprietor of the Wagner personal army firm, claimed that his forces now management army services in Rostov-on-Don.

"We will destroy anyone who stands in our way," Mr Prigozhin mentioned in one in all a sequence of video and audio recordings posted on social media, starting late on Friday.

"We are moving forward and will go until the end," he added.

Mr Putin condemned the riot at a time when Russia was "fighting the toughest battle for its future" with its battle in Ukraine.

"The entire military, economic and information machine of the West is waged against us," the Russian chief mentioned.

"This battle, when the fate of our people is being decided, requires the unification of all forces, unity, consolidation and responsibility."

An armed riot at a time like that is "a blow to Russia, to its people", Mr Putin added.

"Those who plotted and organised an armed rebellion, who raised arms against his comrades-in-arms, betrayed Russia. And they will answer for it," the Russian President mentioned.

Russia's safety providers responded to Mr Prigozhin's declaration of an armed riot by calling for his arrest.

In an indication of how severely the Kremlin is taking the risk, safety was heightened in Moscow, Rostov-on-Don and different areas.

It shouldn't be instantly clear how Mr Prigozhin was in a position to enter the southern Russian metropolis or what number of troops he had with him.

Mr Prigozhin alleged that Wagner discipline camps in Ukraine have been struck by rockets, helicopter gunships and artillery fireplace on orders from the chief of the overall workers, Gen Valery Gerasimov, following a gathering in Rostov with Russian defence minister Sergei Shoigu at which they determined to destroy Wagner.

He additionally mentioned his forces shot down a Russian army helicopter that fired on a civilian convoy, however there was no unbiased affirmation of this.

Mr Prigozhin mentioned he had 25,000 troops underneath his command and would punish Mr Shoigu in an armed riot.

He and urged the military to not supply resistance, declaring: "This is not a military coup, but a march of justice."

While the end result of the confrontation continues to be unclear, it seems more likely to additional hinder Moscow's battle effort as Kyiv's forces have been probing Russian defences within the preliminary phases of a counter-offensive.

The dispute, particularly if Mr Prigozhin have been to prevail, additionally might have repercussions for Mr Putin and his capacity to take care of a united entrance.