How The World Is Reacting To Russia’s New Crisis

International

oi-Prakash KL

Russian President Vladimir Putin is facing the most serious security crisis since he came to power in late 1999 after a head of a mercenary group captured a key military headquarters that served as a logistical base for its offensive in Ukraine.

Yevgeny Prigozhin, the chief of the Wagner Group called for an armed rebellion aimed at ousting Russia’s defence minister and said that he and his troops have reached a key Russian city after crossing the border from Ukraine. He posted a video of himself in Rostov-on-Don at the Russian military headquarters.

He said that his forces had military facilities in the city are under their control, including the airfield.

On the other hand, Russian President Vladimir Putin addressed the nation Saturday and vowed to defend the country and its people from an armed rebellion declared by Prigozhin.

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Putin said the mutiny amounted to “a deadly threat to our statehood” and vowed “tough actions” in response. “All those who prepared the rebellion will suffer inevitable punishment. The armed forces and other government agencies have received the necessary orders,” Putin said. He called Prigozhin’s actions “a betrayal” and “a treason.”

What initially started as a dispute regarding the military’s inability to provide adequate equipment and ammunition to his hired soldiers has now escalated into a direct confrontation aimed at the two individuals responsible for leading the war efforts: Defence Minister Sergei Shoigu and armed forces chief Valery Gerasimov.

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Volodymyr Zelenskiy, President of Ukraine which has been at war with Russia since February 2022, said that “Russia’s weakness is obvious” and that the longer Moscow keeps its troops and mercenaries in Ukraine and the more chaos it would invite back home. “Russia’s weakness is obvious. Full-scale weakness,” Zelenskiy wrote. “And the longer Russia keeps its troops and mercenaries on our land, the more chaos, pain and problems it will have for itself later,” he stated.

Britain’s defence ministry said that the Russian state was facing its greatest security challenge of recent times. “Over the coming hours, the loyalty of Russia’s security forces, and especially the Russian National Guard, will be key to how this crisis plays out,” Britain’s defence ministry said in a regular intelligence update.

“This represents the most significant challenge to the Russian state in recent times,” it added. Britain said Wagner Group forces had crossed from Russian-occupied parts of Ukraine to Russia in at least two locations and had “almost certainly” occupied key security sites in Rostov-on-Don, including the headquarters which runs Russian military operations in Ukraine. Further Wagner units are moving north through Voronezh Oblast, almost certainly aiming to get to Moscow,” Britain said. “With very limited evidence of fighting between Wagner and Russian security forces, some have likely remained passive, acquiescing to Wagner,” the defence ministry added.

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Britain’s foreign ministry also warned of a risk of unrest across Russia, in an update of advice to travellers on Saturday.”There are reports of military tensions in the Rostov region and a risk of further unrest across the country. Additionally, there is a lack of available flight options to return to the UK,” Britain’s foreign ministry said.

The Elysee Palace said President Emmanuel Macron is following the situation in Russia closely. “We stay focused on the support to Ukraine,” the Elysee said.

German Chancellor Olaf Scholz’s government is watching the situation in Russia closely, a spokesperson at the government’s press office said on Saturday. “We are monitoring events in Russia closely,” said the spokesperson.

“Prime Minister Meloni is closely following events in Russia, which show that its assault on Ukraine is causing instability within Russia,” a message from the Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni’s Office said.

“In connection with the situation in Russia, this morning we held consultations with the prime minister and the ministry of defence, as well as with allies. The course of events beyond our eastern border is monitored on an ongoing basis,” Polish President Andrzej Duda tweeted.