Russian president Vladimir Putin has claimed that his country is more united than ever following last month’s mutiny as he tried to reassure his allies in Asia that Moscow remains stable.
“The Russian people are consolidated as never before,” Mr Putin told the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation in his first speech on the international stage since Wagner mercenaries marched on Moscow, pushing Russia to the brink of civil war.
"Russian political circles and the whole of society clearly demonstrated their unity and elevated sense of responsibility for the fate of the fatherland when they responded as a united front against an attempted armed mutiny,” he added.
Indian prime minister Narendra Modi and Chinese leader Xi Jinping were also due to speak at the virtual event, which is being hosted by India,
Earlier, Britain’s Ministry of Defence said Russian troops are continuing to suffer from “key weaknesses” amid Ukraine’s counteroffensive. The MoD said Kremlin forces were particularly affected by “overstretched units” and a shortage of artillery munitions.
