'Win for military; Russia dodged a civil war'

President Vladimir Putin aimed to rally Russia's military and security services on Tuesday, telling them they halted a slide into civil war when Wagner mercenaries rebelled and marched on Moscow.

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As Russia announced preparations to disarm Yevgeny Prigozhin's private force, Putin and his supporters were insisting his rule was not weakened by the revolt widely seen as the biggest threat to Kremlin authority since he came to power.

Asked whether Putin's power was diminished by the sight of rebel mercenaries seizing a military HQ, advancing on Moscow and shooting down military aircraft along the way, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said: "We don't agree." 

Putin himself, attempted to portray the dramatic events at the weekend as a victory for the Russian regular military which has shown restraint in not being drawn into fighting with the Wagner force.