Following the Wagner Group's aborted rebellion, Russian President Vladimir Putin addressed security officials, asserting that the mercenary group lacked public support. Putin claimed the Russian populace did not back Wagner chief Yevgeny Prigozhin's challenge to the Kremlin and Ministry of Defense. He stated to officials, including members of the Federal Security Service, "The people who were drawn into the rebellion saw that the army, the people were not with them." This narrative contradicts the events that unfolded over the weekend, where Prigozhin's forces seized Rostov-on-Don, a key southern Russian city and military headquarters, seemingly without resistance.

Photographs and videos from Rostov-on-Don depicted Wagner troops interacting peacefully with residents, sharing coffee, and posing for pictures. This visual evidence clashes with Putin's claim of widespread disapproval. The swift and bloodless takeover of the city, home to the Russian Southern Military District Command which oversees operations in southern Ukraine, further undermines Putin's assertion. Prigozhin's justification for the "march for justice" was the alleged mistreatment of his troops by the Russian defense ministry. Despite the peaceful nature of the takeover, Putin characterized the mutiny as "extremely dangerous" and a potential "civil war," praising security agencies for preventing further escalation.

While Putin lauded the peaceful resolution brokered by Belarus, which saw Wagner forces withdraw from Rostov-on-Don and return to their bases, he avoided addressing reports of Chechen forces being redeployed from Ukraine to defend Moscow. His address aimed to project an image of strength and control, emphasizing the loyalty of his security forces and minimizing the significance of the challenge to his authority. However, the imagery and accounts from Rostov-on-Don paint a different picture, suggesting a level of acceptance, if not outright support, for Prigozhin and his mercenaries among the local population.