According to a recording released on Monday, the leader of the mercenary group, whose rebels captured a Russian city and advanced towards Moscow over the weekend, clarified that his actions were aimed at protecting his fighters rather than overthrowing Vladimir Putin.

In an approximately 12-minute audio recording on his press office’s Telegram channel, Yevgeny Prigozhin, the chief of the Wagner Group, stated, “This unit was supposed to disband by July 1, 2023,” referring to the deadline set by the Russian defense ministry for all volunteer and mercenary forces to join the military.

Prigozhin, who did not disclose his location or the time of the recording, broke his silence for the first time since abruptly ending the revolt on Saturday, NBC News has reported.

Meanwhile, the Kremlin made efforts to project control and stability, as Putin, accompanied by his defense chief and prime minister, maintained a business-as-usual appearance and discussed various topics, including the war in Ukraine and advancements in engineering technologies.

Furthermore, restrictions imposed on the Russian public were lifted.

Written by staff