Russia has declared an “anti-terrorist operation regime” in Moscow.

It follows mutiny by the chief of the Wagner mercenary group, which President Vladimir Putin called a “stab in the back”.

He told citizens that the “armed mutiny” was treason, pledging that anyone who had taken up arms against the Russian military would be punished.

Wagner chief, Yevgeny Prigozhin had earlier announced that he was inside the army headquarters in the southern city of Rostov-on-Don and controlled military sites there.

This is considered to be the most audacious challenge to President Putin since the start of the offensive in Ukraine last year.

He also accused the Russian top brass of launching strikes against his men.

Prigozhin had also pledged to oust Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu and Valery Gerasimov, chief of the General Staff, over what he had called their disastrous leadership of the war against Ukraine.