Wagner chief rejects surrender, saying Putin "deeply mistaken"

Chechen leader Ramzan Kadyrov has condemned the actions of Wagner chief Yevgeny Prigozhin and pledged his support to the Kremlin.

Addressing Wagner fighters, Kadyrov said: “Whatever goals you are given, no matter what promises you are told -- the security of the state and the cohesion of Russian society at such a moment is above all else! See how our enemies in the West are taking advantage of this situation….These are the expected consequences of Prigozhin's treacherous march.” 

He also spoke of a “vile betrayal” by Prigozhin. 

In a long statement on Telegram, Kadyrov said: “I have repeatedly warned that war is not the time to voice personal grievances and resolve disputes in our rear. The rear must always be calm and reliable. Imagine how the guys in the trenches feel now, in the face of which there is an enemy, and behind their backs a treacherous adventure. We are talking about stability, about the cohesion of the state, about the security of citizens.”

Kadyrov continued: “We have a Supreme Commander-in-Chief, elected by the people, who knows the whole situation to the smallest detail better than any strategist.”

Referring to President Putin’s address to the nation Saturday, he said: “Vladimir Vladimirovich quite rightly noted in his address to the nation -- this is a military rebellion! There is no excuse for such actions! I fully support every word of Vladimir Vladimirovich Putin!

“What is happening is not an ultimatum to the Ministry of Defense. This is a challenge to the state, and against this challenge it is necessary to rally around the national leader: the military, security forces, governors, and the civilian population.”

Kadyrov’s statement ends: “The rebellion must be crushed, and if this requires harsh measures, then we are ready!”

Some context: Wagner chief Yevgeny Prigozhin claimed Saturday to have seized control of key military facilities in Rostov and Voronezh, pledging to move on to Moscow if Russia's Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu and top general Valery Gerasimov, did not meet with him.

Earlier, the official Russian news agency TASS reported that traffic had been blocked on the M-4 highway past Rostov-on-Don towards Aksay.

“All cars moving from Rostov-on-Don towards Aksay are being redirected back in the city, and police checkpoints have been reinforced,” TASS reported.