I am addressing citizens of Russia,
the personnel of the Armed Forces,
law enforcement agencies and security services,
and the soldiers and commanders
who are now fighting in their combat positions,
repulsing enemy attacks
and doing it heroically.
I know this
as I spoke once again with the commanders
of all sections of the frontline last night.
I am also addressing those who were dragged into this criminal adventure
through deceit or threats
and pushed onto the path of a grave crime:
an armed mutiny.
Today, Russia is waging a tough struggle for its future,
repelling the aggression of neo-Nazis and their patrons.
The entire military, economic,
and informational machine of the West is directed against us.
We are fighting for the lives and security of our people,
for our sovereignty and independence,
for the right to be and remain Russia,
a state with a thousand-year history.
This battle, when the fate of our nation is being decided,
requires consolidation of all forces.
It requires unity, consolidation, and a sense of responsibility;
and everything that weakens us,
any strife that our external enemies can use
and do so to subvert us from within, must be discarded.
Therefore, any actions that split our nation
are essentially a betrayal of our people,
of our comrades-in-arms who are now fighting at the frontline.
This is a knife in the back of our country and our people.
A blow like this was dealt to Russia in 1917,
when the country was fighting in World War I.
But the victory was stolen from it.
Intrigues, squabbles, and politicking
behind the backs of the army and the nation
turned into the greatest turmoil:
the destruction of the army, the collapse of the state,
and the loss of vast territories,
ultimately leading to the tragedy of the civil war.
Russians were killing Russians
and brothers were killing brothers,
while all sorts of political adventurers and foreign forces
profited from the situation by tearing the country apart to divide it.
We will not allow this to happen again.
We will protect our people and our statehood from any threats,
including from internal betrayal.
What we are facing is essentially a betrayal.
Inflated ambitions and personal interests have led to treason --
treason against our country, our people,
and the common cause which Wagner Group soldiers and commanders
were fighting and dying for shoulder to shoulder
together with our other units and troops.
The heroes who liberated Soledar and Artyomovsk,
and towns and villages in Donbass,
fought and gave their lives for Novorossiya
and the unity of the Russian world.
Their memory and glory have also been betrayed
by those who are attempting to stage a revolt
and are pushing the country towards anarchy and fratricide,
and ultimately, towards defeat and surrender.
Once again, any internal revolt is a deadly threat
to our statehood and our nation.
It is a blow to Russia, to our people.
Our actions to defend the Fatherland from this threat will be harsh.
All those who have consciously chosen the path of betrayal,
planned an armed mutiny and taken the path of blackmail and terrorism,
will inevitably be punished
and will answer before the law and our people.
The Armed Forces and other government agencies
have received the necessary orders.
Additional counterterrorism measures are now in effect in Moscow,
the Moscow Region, and several other regions.
Resolute action will also be taken to stabilise the situation in Rostov-on-Don.
It remains difficult.
In effect, the work of civil and military authorities has been blocked.
As the President of Russia and Supreme Commander-in-Chief,
and as a citizen of Russia,
I will take every effort to defend the country
and protect the constitutional order as well as the lives,
security, and freedom of our citizens.
Those who staged the mutiny
and took up arms against their comrades --
they have betrayed Russia
and will be brought to account.
I urge those who are being dragged into this crime
not to make a fatal and tragic mistake
but make the only right choice
to stop taking part in criminal actions.
I am certain that we will preserve and defend
what we hold dear and sacred,
and together with our Motherland
we will overcome any hardships
and become even stronger.