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I am addressing citizens of Russia,
the personnel of the Armed Forces,
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law enforcement agencies and security services,
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and the soldiers and commanders who are now
fighting in their combat positions,
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repulsing enemy attacks and doing it heroically –
I know this as I spoke
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once again with the commanders of all sections
of the frontline last night.
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I am also addressing those who were dragged into
this criminal adventure through deceit or threats
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and pushed onto the path of a grave crime –
an armed mutiny.
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Today, Russia is waging a tough struggle
for its future, repelling
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the aggression of neo-Nazis and their patrons.
Directed against us is practically
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the entire military, economic and informational
machine of the West. We are fighting for the lives
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and security of our people,
for our sovereignty and independence,
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for the right to be and remain Russia,
a state with a thousand-year history.
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This battle, when the fate of our nation is being decided,
requires consolidation of all forces.
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It requires unity, consolidation and a sense
of responsibility, and everything that weakens us,
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any strife that our external enemies can use and do so
to subvert us from within, must be discarded.
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Therefore, any actions that split our nation
are essentially a betrayal
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of our people, of our comrades-in-arms
who are now fighting at the frontline.
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This is a knife in the back of our country
and our people.
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A blow like this was dealt to Russia in 1917,
when the country was fighting in World War I.
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But the victory was stolen from it: intrigues,
squabbles and politicking behind the backs
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of the army and the nation turned into
the greatest turmoil, the destruction of the army
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and the collapse of the state,
and the loss of vast territories,
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ultimately leading to the tragedy of the civil war.
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Russians were killing Russians and brothers
were killing brothers,
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while all sorts of political adventurers
and foreign forces profited from the situation
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by tearing the country apart to divide it.
We will not allow this to happen again.
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We will protect our people and our statehood
from any threats,
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including from internal betrayal.
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What we are facing is essentially a betrayal.
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Inflated ambitions and personal interests have led
to treason – treason against our country,
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our people and the common cause which Wagner Group
soldiers and commanders
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were fighting and dying for, shoulder to shoulder,
together with our other units and troops.
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The heroes who liberated Soledar and Artyomovsk,
towns and villages in Donbass,
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fought and gave their lives for Novorossiya
and the unity of the Russian world.
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Their memory and glory have also been betrayed
by those who are attempting to stage a revolt
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and are pushing the country towards anarchy
and fratricide -
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and ultimately, towards defeat and surrender.
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Once again, any internal revolt is a deadly threat
to our statehood and our nation.
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It is a blow to Russia, to our people.
Our actions to defend the Fatherland
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from this threat will be harsh.
All those who have consciously
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chosen the path of betrayal, planned an armed mutiny
and taken the path of blackmail
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and terrorism, will inevitably be punished
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and will answer before the law and our people.
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The Armed Forces and other government agencies
have received the necessary orders.
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Additional counterterrorism measures
are now in effect in Moscow, the Moscow Region
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and several other regions.
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Resolute action will also be taken to stabilise
the situation in Rostov-on-Don. It remains difficult;
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in effect, the work of civil and military authorities
has been blocked.
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As the President of Russia
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and Supreme Commander-in-Chief, and as a citizen of Russia,
I will take every effort to defend the country
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and protect the constitutional order as well as the lives,
security and freedom of our citizens.
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Those who staged the mutiny and took up arms
against their comrades –
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they have betrayed Russia and will be brought to account.
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I urge those who are being dragged
into this crime not to make a fatal
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and tragic mistake but make the only right choice:
to stop taking part in criminal actions.
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I am certain that we will preserve
and defend what we hold dear and sacred,
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and together with our Motherland we will overcome
any hardships and become even stronger.