President Putin talks to soldiers about courage and stopping civil war

"You defended the constitutional order, the lives, security and freedom of our citizens. You saved the Motherland from upheavals, actually prevented a civil war. In a difficult situation, you acted clearly, harmoniously, by your actions you proved your loyalty to the Russian people and your military oath, demonstrated your responsibility for the fate and future of the Motherland," Putin told the servicemen.

“The units of the Ministry of Defense, the National Guard, the Ministry of Internal Affairs and special services ensured the reliable operation of the most important strategic centers, including defense facilities, border security, the rear strength of our troops of all branches of the armed forces, who at that time continued to fight heroically at the front. We did not need to withdraw our troops from the special military operation zone,” Putin said on the Kremlin Cathedral Square, addressing the FSB, the Ministry of Internal Affairs and the FSO, who participated in suppressing the attempted uprising.

Mr. Putin thanked the soldiers for their courage, bravery and loyalty to the Russian people.

"I thank all the servicemen of the armed forces, law enforcement agencies and special services for their service, for their courage and bravery, for their loyalty to the Russian people," Putin said in a speech to servicemen and law enforcement officers on the Kremlin's Cathedral Square.

According to him, the prompt and accurate deployment of law enforcement agencies helped prevent an extremely dangerous development of the situation in the country and prevented civilian casualties.