Putin Calls Wagner Mercenary Group 'Colossal Threat,' Says Ukraine, The West Wanted 'Russian Soldiers To Kill Each Other'

Mayhem broke out in Russia over the weekend but ultimately ended in an anticlimactic pullback by Russian mercenaries. In a television address to the nation Monday in response to the rebellion, Russian President Vladimir Putin called for justice. 

What Happened: On Monday afternoon, Putin issued a statement from the Kremlin for the first time since Russian mercenary group Wagner commenced a rebellion against Russia’s military leadership over the weekend. 

"The organizers of this rebellion ... they will be brought to justice ... this is criminal activity, which is aimed at weakening the country and this was a colossal threat," Putin said. 

After the mercenaries took control of Rostov, they marched within approximately 200 miles of Moscow before the leader of the Russian mercenary group, Yevgeny Prigozhin, sent orders for them to retreat.

Related Link: What's Next For Russia After Wagner's Challenge To Putin?

In exchange for him ordering the group to turn around, a criminal case was dismissed and Prigozhin was allowed to leave the country. Prigozhin on Monday said the group's march toward Moscow was not a coup attempt and instead was meant as a protest against the nation's military leadership.

According to CNBC, the Kremlin announced over the weekend that Wagner mercenaries who participated in the march would be presented with the opportunity to join the Russian military.

Putin echoed the same sentiment Monday afternoon, noting that most of the Wagner mercenaries are patriots and he even thanked those who turned back and avoided bloodshed. 

This is exactly what the "neo-nazis" in Ukraine and the West wanted, Putin said: "They wanted Russian soldiers to kill each other."

The CNBC report indicates that some scholars in Russia are saying that Putin’s words to the Wagner mercenaries seemed to be out of character, given his history of imprisoning civilians for publicly criticizing his administration.

Read Next: How Oil Markets Reacted After Wagner Group Attempted Coup Against Vladimir Putin In Russia

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