Russian President Vladimir Putin, in an extraordinary televised speech on Saturday, considered Wagner's "armed rebellion" a "treason", warning that anyone who takes up arms against the Russian army will be punished. The commander of the paramilitary group, Yevgeny Prigozhin, had announced earlier that he was inside the general headquarters of the army command in the Russian city of Rostov, which is considered a main center of the war on Ukraine, and said that he had taken control of military sites, including an airport, the day after his call for an uprising against the military leadership of his country. Follow live on France 24 the latest developments around the clock.

Russian President Vladimir Putin said in an extraordinary televised speech on Saturday that the "armed rebellion" of the private military group Wagner was "treason" and that anyone who took up arms against the Russian army would be punished.

Putin added that he would do everything to protect Russia, and that "decisive action" would be taken to stabilize Rostov-on-Don, a southern city where Wagner Group chief Yevgeny Prigozhin said his forces had taken control of all military facilities.

"It's a stab in the back for our country and our people," Putin said. He added, "What we are facing is nothing but treason. A betrayal caused by personal ambitions and interests," for Prigozhin, stressing that the rebels "will inevitably be punished." "We will not let this happen again," he said in an address to the nation, referring to the Russian Civil War after World War I. He added: "Every internal turmoil is a fatal threat to our state and our nation. It is a blow to Russia and our people. Our measures to protect the homeland from such a threat will be resolute."

09:00 Wagner has taken control of military installations in Voronezh, south of Moscow

A Russian security source announced on Saturday that the fighters of the private military group Wagner have taken control of all military facilities in the city of Voronezh, 500 km south of the capital, Moscow.

On Saturday, the Russian authorities imposed an "anti-terror operation regime" in Moscow and its region, according to what the National Anti-Terrorism Committee announced. The committee said in a statement carried by Russian news agencies: "In order to prevent possible attacks," this system was also imposed in the Voronezh region, which borders Ukraine. This measure enhances the powers of the security services and allows them to limit movement.

08:00 The Kremlin: Putin will address the nation "soon"

Russian President Vladimir Putin will address the nation "soon" at a time when the country is witnessing a rebellion by the armed Wagner group, the Kremlin announced Saturday. Russian presidential spokesman Dmitry Peskov told Russian news agencies: "Putin will address the nation soon."

07:30 Wagner announces control of the army headquarters in Rostov and military sites

The commander of the Wagner Group, Yevgeny Prigozhin, confirmed on Saturday morning that he had entered the general headquarters of the army command in the Russian city of Rostov, which is the main center of the Russian attack on Ukraine, and took control of military sites, including an airport. Prigozhin said in a video clip posted on Telegram: “We are at the general headquarters, it is 7:30 am” (4:30 GMT), adding that “military sites in Rostov are under control, including the airport,” while men in military uniforms were walking behind him. .

Prigozhin also indicated that the military aircraft participating in the Russian attack on Ukraine "take off naturally" from the airport to carry out their "combat missions," stressing that "there is no problem." He added that "the main command point is operating normally," stressing that "large areas of occupied territory in Ukraine" have been lost and that "many soldiers have been killed," accusing the Russian army once again of not telling the truth about the situation on the front.

07:00 Tight security measures in Moscow and several Russian regions

Moscow Mayor Sergei Sobyanin announced on Saturday that "anti-terror" measures had been taken in the Russian capital, after the leader of the Wagner Group, Yevgeny Prigozhin, vowed to overthrow the military leadership. The authorities of the Rostov regions bordering Ukraine and Lipetsk also announced strict security measures.

And in southern Russia, residents of the Rostov region, which the Wagner Group confirms it has entered, have been invited to stay home. "The security forces are taking all necessary measures to ensure the safety of the residents of the region. I ask everyone to remain calm and not leave homes unless necessary," the region's governor, Vasily Golubev, wrote on Telegram. Later, the authorities called on residents of the city of Rostov, the center of the region, to avoid heading to its center, and posts and photos on the Internet reported the presence of armed men on the outskirts of official buildings.

06:30 Wagner commander says he and his 25,000 members are "prepared to die"

Wagner's commander said he and his group's 25,000 members were "ready to die" for the "motherland" and "liberate the Russian people" from the military hierarchy against which he had declared himself in rebellion.

"We are all ready to die, all 25,000 of us... because we are dying for the homeland, we are dying for the Russian people who must be liberated from those who bomb the civilian population," Yevgeny Prigozhin said in a new audio message on Telegram.

And Prigozhin announced on Saturday night that his forces shot down a Russian military helicopter.