Wagner chief says, ‘demonstrated protest, never intended to overthrow the government’

Yevgeny Prigozhin, head of the Wagner Group, denied allegations of attempting to overthrow the Russian leadership in his first public statement since the reported mutiny. He claimed, in his 11-minute audio released on the Telegram app, their intention was to protest against the perceived ineffective conduct of the war in Ukraine.

"We went as a demonstration of protest, not to overthrow the government of the country," Prigozhin said while not offering details as to where he was or what his future plans are. Whereabouts of the mercenary group's boss is still unclear since he stopped short of marching to the Russian capital Moscow on Saturday.

While his men were just 200 kilometres from marching to a heavily-fortified Moscow, Prigozhin said he had decided to turn back to avoid ‘bloodshed’. The Kremlin negotiated a settlement with Prigozhin. The proposed agreement included security guarantees for Wagner troops.

He was last seen on Saturday night smiling and high-fiving bystanders from the back of an SUV as he withdrew from a Russian city occupied by his men

Russia's three main news agencies reported on Monday that a criminal case against Prigozhin had not been closed, an apparent reversal of an offer of immunity publicised as part of the deal that persuaded him to stand down.

Putin pays tribute to Russian pilots killed fighting mutineers

President Vladimir Putin paid tribute to pilots killed fighting an aborted mutiny over the weekend, confirming for the first time that Russian aviators had been lost in battle as the Wagner mercenary group marched on Moscow.

Putin's televised address on Monday was his first public comment since Saturday's armed revolt led by mercenary leader Yevgeny Prigozhin, and confirmed reports on social media that Wagner forces had downed Russian aircraft in the fighting.

"The courage and self-sacrifice of the fallen heroes-pilots saved Russia from tragic devastating consequences," Putin said, adding that the rebellion threatened Russia's very existence and those behind it would be punished.

(With agency inputs)