Live. Putin calls mutiny by Wagner boss Yevgeny Prigozhin a 'stab in the back'

Good morning. The Russian capital Moscow is in a heightened state of alert on Saturday after the Kremlin accused the boss of private paramilitary company Wagner of attempting to stage a coup. 

Follow below for all the latest developments: 

Russian President Vladimir Putin has denounced a "stab in the back" by the Wagner paramilitary forces, and accuses Wagner boss Yevgeny Prigozhin of "betraying Russia" because of his "excessive ambitions." 

The comments came during a live address to the Russian people by Putin, after a night of unprecedented challenges to his regime, and Putin described events as "a deadly threat" to the Russian state.

Prigozhin used a series of social media posts to call for an armed rebellion aimed at ousting Russia’s defense minister, and confirmed Saturday morning that he and his troops have reached a key Russian city after crossing the border from Ukraine.

The Russian Defense Ministry denounced the actions as a “criminal venture” and called on Wagner fighters to return to their deployment point. The ministry said it would ensure their safety.

Prigozhin posted a video of himself in Rostov-on-Don at the Russian military headquarters that oversees the fighting in Ukraine. He claimed that his forces had military facilities in the city under their control, including the air field. Other videos posted on social media showed military vehicles, including tanks, on the streets outside.

Prigozhin said early Saturday that his forces had crossed into Russia from Ukraine and had reached Rostov, adding that they faced no resistance from young conscripts at checkpoints and that his forces “aren’t fighting against children.” (AFP, AP)

Russian President Vladimir Putin is addressing the nation Saturday, after mercenary