Putin admits Russia was on brink of ‘CIVIL WAR’ during Wagner mutiny in closed-off speech to spooked generals

VLADIMIR Putin has told his troops they stopped a “civil war” as the trembling tyrant clings to power after the Wagner Group coup. The 70-year-old despot addressed a carefully selected crowd of his generals and soldiers in the Kremlin’s sealed-off Cathedral Square in Moscow. Vladimir Putin made his first public appearance since the attempted coup He insisted the rebel mercenaries “never had support” of the people – despite pictures showing the Wagner troops being met by cheering crowds in Rostov. Vlad was speaking as the war of words continues between the Kremlin and Wagner Group boss Yevgeny Prigozhin – who attempted to march on Moscow on Saturday. Russian officials have said Priogzhin is free to go as he faces exile in Belarus, but in a firey statement last night the warlord once again attacked Russia’s leadership over the war in Ukraine.