Plans to destabilize Russia failed due to ‘loyalty’ shown by army: Defense minister

By Burc Eruygur

ISTANBUL (AA) - The Russian defense minister on Monday said last month's “armed rebellion” by Wagner chief Yevgeny Prigozhin failed due to the “loyalty” shown by personnel of the armed forces.

Sergey Shoygu said during a conference call with Russian military leadership Prigozhin's actions did not affect troops on the front line with Ukraine, and the servicemen continued to perform the tasks assigned.

On June 24, Prigozhin accused the Russian Defense Ministry of attacking its fighters, declared a "March of Justice," and set off toward Moscow.

The Federal Security Service designated Wagner Group's actions "an armed rebellion" and opened a criminal case against Prigozhin, while President Vladimir Putin called the private military company's uprising an act of "treason."

Prigozhin, however, later turned back "to avoid bloodshed" and has since moved to Belarus under a deal brokered by Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko.

On the Ukraine war, Shoygu said Kyiv has not been able to achieve its goals in its long-awaited counteroffensive.

"In general, the enemy has not achieved its objectives ... this testifies to the skills of our fighters and clearly too high expectations from much-touted Western weapons," he said.

Shoygu said Russian forces continue to inflict damage on Ukrainian forces, claiming this “significantly reduces its offensive potential.”