Vladimir Putin

Russian President Vladimir Putin said that the Indian government was acting independently in the interests of its citizens and that any efforts by the West to create a rift between Moscow and New Delhi were pointless. "The West is trying to create an enemy out of everyone who does not agree with their monopoly, everyone is at risk - even India, but the Indian leadership is acting independently for the nation.

Ukraine's military said that Russia could launch a big mobilisation campaign soon to try to recruit hundreds of thousands of soldiers from inside Russia and occupied Ukraine. Without any evidence, the Ukrainian general staff said, “A mass forced mobilisation of the population is expected soon in the Russian Federation and temporarily occupied territories of Ukraine due to the occupiers' catastrophic losses.” 

Russian President Vladimir Putin had no plans to attend the G20 summit in India in September in person. The International Criminal Court (ICC) has issued an arrest warrant for President Putin accusing him of war crimes in Ukraine, which the Kremlin strongly denies. This means he risks arrest when travelling abroad. The statement came amid the ongoing BRICS Summit in South Africa.

A private jet crash to the north of Moscow has resulted in the loss of ten lives, according to the Russian Civil Aviation Authority, which has also indicated the presence of Yevgeny Prigozhin on the passenger list. The aircraft, an Embraer, was carrying seven passengers and three crew members, en route from Moscow to St Petersburg, confirm a news agency. Yevgeny was one, who revolted against Vladimir Putin.

Russia is investigating the role of Western intelligence agencies in the Wagner mutiny that erupted before ending abruptly on June 24. Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov addressed the media and said, that the investigation was underway since Belarus struck a peace deal with Wagner PMC chief Yevgeny Prigozhin. This comes despite President Joe Biden reiterating that the U.S. and the allies had no role in the coup bid.