In an emergency broadcast address on Saturday, Russian President Vladimir Putin declared that a “armed mutiny” by the Wagner Group mercenary army was treason, and that anyone who took up guns against the Russian military would be punished.

He said he would do everything to protect Russia, and that “decisive action” would be taken to stabilise the situation in Rostov-on-Don, a southern city where Wagner chief Yevgeny Prigozhin said his forces had taken control of all military installations.