Putin called on those gathered in the square to observe a minute’s silence for the military pilots who lost their lives during the uprising.
Russian Defense Minister Shoigu was next to Putin.
“The army and the people did not side with the rebels. We did not feel the need to withdraw troops fighting in Ukraine to suppress the rebellion,” Putin said. said.
The head of the Russian National Guard, Viktor Zolotov, said the Russian National Guard will be equipped with heavy weapons and tanks, after it has come to the point of having to defend Moscow against heavily armed insurgents.
Zolotov also said that the Wagner mercenaries, who carried out the short-lived rebellion over the weekend, would not be able to take Moscow even if they had reached the Russian capital.
Kremlin: Putin’s position is not shaken
The Kremlin said in a statement that it disagreed with “pseudo-expert” views that the armed uprising by Wagner mercenaries over the weekend had shaken Vladimir Putin’s position.
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters that the uprising showed how consolidated Russian society was around Putin when things changed.
“The level of public consolidation is very high around the president. These events have shown how solid society has become around the president,” he said.
Peskov said the deal that ended the rebellion was implemented and Putin always kept his word.