Sergey Surovikin Calls on Wagner PMC to Resolve Problems Peacefully, Not to Aid Enemy

Russia’s Deputy Commander of Russian joint forces in the special military operation area added that he arrived from the frontline under order of the Defense Ministry board

Army Gen Sergei Surovikin, commander of the joint group of forces in the special military operation area Mikhail Klimentyev/Russian Presidential Press and Information Office/TASS

Army Gen Sergei Surovikin, commander of the joint group of forces in the special military operation area

© Mikhail Klimentyev/Russian Presidential Press and Information Office/TASS

MOSCOW, June 24. /TASS/. Russia’s Deputy Commander of Russian joint forces in the special military operation area Sergey Surovikin called on the Wagner PMC to comply with President Vladimir Putin’s order and to resolve all issues peacefully, according to the Russian Defense Ministry.

"I urge you to stop. The enemy is waiting for our internal political situation to escalate. We must not play in enemy’s favor in this difficult time. Before it is too late, it is necessary to submit to the will and order to the nationally elected president of the Russian Federation, to stop the convoys, to take them back to their permanent deployment and concentration locations, and to only resolve all issues peacefully," he said.

Surovikin added that he arrived from the frontline under order of the Defense Ministry board.

"We have together come a difficult way, we were fighting together, risking, suffering casualties, we were winning together. We are of same blood, we are fighters," he added.

Earlier, Prigozhin’s Telegram channel published several audio messages. In particular, Prigozhin claimed that his units were hit with airstrikes, accusing Russia’s military leadership. In this regard, the Russian Federal Security Service (FSB) initiated a criminal case over charges of call for an armed rebellion.

The Russian Defense Ministry called the reports on strikes at Wagner PMC units false. Kremlin Spokesman Dmitry Peskov said that President Vladimir Putin was informed about the situation around Prigozhin and "necessary measures are being taken.".