Wagner Group chief defends ‘patriots’ as Putin vows to crush 'armed mutiny'

Putin warned that his country is now facing 'the toughest battle for its future'

A woman poses for a photo at a Russian armoured vehicle, with writing reading "Siberia", parked in a street in Rostov-on-Don, Russia, Saturday, June 24, 2023. Picture: AP Photo

Russian mercenary leader Yevgeny Prigozhin has denied allegations by President Vladimir Putin that he is betraying his country, and called his Wagner Group fighters “patriots”.

After the Russian leader denounced Wagner forces entering the southern Russian city of Rostov-on-Don, the group’s chief Yevgeny Prigozhin said: “Regarding the betrayal of the motherland, the president was deeply mistaken. We are patriots of our homeland.”