Vladimir Putin thanked the military and security forces who stopped the attempt of an armed rebellion
Russia did not have to withdraw combat units from the zone of its own because of the attempted mutiny, Vladimir Putin said on June 27, speaking to representatives of law enforcement agencies that ensured order and legality during Saturday's events. This became possible thanks to the coordinated work of the military and security forces, who were able to stabilize the situation. Also, their precise work made it possible to avoid casualties among the population. As a result, the people who were drawn into the rebellion realized "that the army and the people are not with them," the president stressed. On the same day, he held a separate meeting with servicemen of the Ministry of Defense, at which he spoke about the failures of the Ukrainian counteroffensive and clarified the details of financing the Wagner PMCs.
Cathedral speech
On June 27, Vladimir Putin again made an appeal. However, this time his speech was addressed specifically to the security forces. More than 2.5 thousand people gathered on Cathedral Square. Units of the Ministry of Defense, the FSB, the Rosgvardiya, the Ministry of Internal Affairs and the FSO arrived in the Kremlin, which ensured order on June 24 and participated in suppressing the rebellion.
In his speech, the President noted that the military pilots who died on June 24 honorably fulfilled the order and their military duty. He asked the audience to honor their memory with a minute of silence.
At the time of the attempted armed rebellion, Russian servicemen and law enforcement officials actually saved the country from civil war by making efforts to defend the safety of people. Addressing the audience, the President called them real defenders who, in difficult times, stood in the way of turmoil, the result of which would be chaos.
Vladimir Putin addresses the personnel of the units of the Ministry of Defense, the Federal Service of the National Guard Troops, the Federal Security Service, the Ministry of Internal Affairs and the Federal Security Service, which ensured order and legality during the mutiny
Image source: Photo: REUTERS/Sputnik/Sergei Guneev
"You have protected the constitutional order, the life, security and freedom of our citizens, saved our homeland from shocks, and actually stopped the civil war," Vladimir Putin said. — In a difficult situation, you acted clearly, harmoniously, proved your loyalty to the people of Russia and the military oath, showed responsibility for the fate of the Motherland and its future.
The military and security forces ensured the strength of the rear of the Armed Forces, as a result of which the authorities did not have to remove combat units from the SVO zone.
— The units of the Ministry of Defense, the Russian Guards, the employees of the Ministry of Internal Affairs and special services ensured the reliable operation of the most important control centers, strategic, including defense, facilities, the security of border regions, the strength of the rear of our Armed Forces, all combat units that continued to fight heroically at the front at that time. We did not have to remove combat units from the zone of their own," the head of state said.
It was the quick and precise work during the mutiny that made it possible to prevent civilian casualties.
Military personnel before the address of Russian President Vladimir Putin on Cathedral Square
Image source: Photo: REUTERS/Sputnik/Sergei Guneev
— Your determination and courage, as well as the consolidation of the entire Russian society, have played a huge, decisive role in stabilizing the situation. The people who were dragged into the rebellion saw that the army and the people were not with them," the president said.
Changing weapons
After the president's speech, answering a question from Izvestia correspondent Valentin Trushnin, the head of the Rosgvardiya Viktor Zolotov spoke about the possibility of obtaining tanks and long-range weapons by the department.
— We have artillery and mortar units, we have combat helicopters, <...> but we do not have tanks and long-range heavy weapons <...>. We are (tanks and long-range weapons. — "Izvestia") we will already introduce troops, not raise [the issue], but introduce. Now we will try, it depends on the financing," Viktor Zolotov said, adding that this issue has already been discussed with Vladimir Putin.
One of the main goals of the Rosgvardiya is the internal protection of Russia, so the federal service is armed, for example, with armored vehicles, military expert Alexey Leonkov told Izvestia.
Director of the Federal Service of the National Guard Troops — Commander-in-Chief of the National Guard of the Russian Federation Viktor Zolotov and Deputy Commander-in-Chief of the National Guard of the Russian Federation Ivan Shmelev on Cathedral Square before Vladimir Putin's speech
Image source: Photo: REUTERS/Sputnik/Sergei Guneev
— However, what happened here on June 24 showed that sometimes some threats can come, including from those who have heavy weapons. It is clear that the Rosgvardiya, which is responsible for our security, should have a complex of weapons that meets the challenges of the time. Have them and be able to use them. The appearance of heavy equipment will make Rosgvardiya stronger and more efficient," said Alexey Leonkov.
Provision by the state
A little later, Vladimir Putin met separately with servicemen of the Ministry of Defense. The President thanked the Ministry for suppressing the armed rebellion, noting its special role in the successful outcome.
— As always happens in such cases, the same thing always happens everywhere: after armed uprisings, complete chaos and civil war ensue. That's what you prevented. That was your role. And for this, as the Supreme Commander-in-Chief, I want to express my gratitude to you. I want it to be clear and clear what was discussed and what I am talking about now," the head of state said.
At the same time, he noted that if the rebellion was successful, many of its achievements would simply be lost. However, now, according to the president, it is Kiev that is experiencing problems. Since the beginning of the counteroffensive, the AFU has lost 259 tanks and 780 armored vehicles.
Vladimir Putin during a meeting with servicemen of the Russian Defense Ministry in the Kremlin
Image source: Photo: REUTERS/Sputnik/Mikhail Tereshchenko
— Only in the Orekhovsky direction, which the enemy considers the main direction of the strike, and only in the last seven days the enemy has lost 280 pieces of equipment, of which 41 tanks and armored vehicles — 102, — said Vladimir Putin.
At the same time, the President noted that the backbone of the leadership of the Russian Defense Ministry should be formed from those who distinguished themselves in the operation in Ukraine.
During the meeting, issues related to the work of the Wagner PMCs were raised. In Russia, all the fighters of the group have always been treated with respect, their maintenance was fully provided by the state, the president noted.
"Only from May 2022 to May 2023, the state paid 86 billion 262 million rubles to Wagner for the monetary maintenance of fighters and incentive payments," Vladimir Putin said.
At the same time, the owner of the Concord company received 80 billion rubles through Voentorg for the year, supplying food and providing nutrition services to the army, the president noted. "I hope that in the course of these works, no one stole anything or stole less. But, of course, we will deal with this with everything," Putin stressed.
Lyubov Lezhneva
Bogdan Stepovoy