Putin made statements during a meeting with the Ministry of Defense soldiers at the Kremlin Palace.
Stating that armed uprisings always and everywhere resulted in chaos and civil war, Putin said, “(Soldiers) You prevented this. This was your role. As the Commander-in-Chief, I want to thank you.”
Pointing out that the soldiers were working under difficult conditions in order to avoid casualties among civilians during the June 24 rebellion, Putin said that they had to work on crowded roads as well.
Stressing that the loss of life among army soldiers is regrettable, Putin said:
“Of course, these are war losses. Our friends died defending the homeland. I want to emphasize once again that chaos can be inevitable in the country and the enemy can take advantage of it. Still trying to do this but it doesn’t work and I hope it won’t work, I’m sure. But they would certainly benefit. What would the country do in the end? “No one could have known it would come, but all the gains made during the war, at least many of them, would have been lost. You prevented it.”
Stating that they treated Wagner’s fighters and commanders with respect, Putin said, “Because they really showed courage and heroism. The Wagner group was fully financed by the state.”
Noting that the state paid Wagner 86 billion 262 million rubles for the salaries and incentive payments of the fighters in the last year, Putin said, “(Consulting firm in Russia owned by Yevgeniy Prigojin, the founder of Private Security Company Wagner), Konkord company provides food products to the Russian army. He earned 80 billion rubles by supplying food and providing nutritional services,” he said.
Putin said that while the army provides food products and catering services, “he hopes no one steals anything from Konkord, or steals less,” and that the authorities will take care of it.
Referring to Ukraine’s loss of equipment, Putin said, “Since June 4, when the counter-offensive started, the enemy has lost 259 tanks and 780 armored vehicles. In the direction of Orihovo, which the enemy counts as the main attack direction, only 280 units of equipment have been lost in the last 7 days. 41 of them are tanks. 102 armored vehicles,” he said.
Putin noted that Ukraine’s loss of equipment was largely the result of the work of Russian soldiers.