Filipinos in Russia told to stay vigilant amid 'armed mutiny'

The Philippine Embassy in Moscow asked Filipinos in Russia on Saturday to remain vigilant and take precautions following reports of an armed rebellion by a private mercenary group. 

In an advisory posted on its Facebook page, the embassy also cautioned Filipinos against visiting crowded areas, taking part in protests, and putting out political opinions on social media.

It also advised them to refrain from traveling to other regions as much as possible. 

The embassy also urged Filipinos living in Rostov-on-Don, Belgorod, and areas along the Ukraine-Russia border to inform them about their situation. 

According to GMA Integrated News' Jonathan Andal, Department of Foreign Affairs Undersecretary Eduardo de Vega said the embassy was in touch with the eight Filipinos known to be in Rostov-on-Don.

''Eight household employees. All are safe with their employers,'' De Vega said, citing information from Philippine Ambassador to Russia Igor Bailen.

''Most of the 10,000 Filipinos in Russia are in Moscow, where things are normal, though all are advised to stay indoors. No one is asking for repatriation so far,'' he added. 

Rebellious Russian mercenary chief Yevgeny Prigozhin said on Saturday he had taken control of the Russian city of Rostov-on-Don as part of an attempt to oust the military leadership amid what the authorities said was an armed mutiny.

Prigozhin demanded that Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu and Valery Gerasimov, the chief of the General Staff, whom he has pledged to oust over what he says is their disastrous leadership of the war against Ukraine, come to see him in Rostov, a city near the Ukrainian border.

He had earlier said that he had 25,000 fighters moving towards Moscow to "restore justice" and had alleged, without providing evidence, that the military had killed a huge number of fighters from his Wagner private militia in an air strike, something the defense ministry denied.

In response, Russian President Vladimir Putin vowed to punish Prigozhin's group. 

"This is a stab in the back to our country, to our nation," Putin said in his address to the nation.

"All those who consciously stood on the path of betrayal, who prepared an armed rebellion, who stood on the path of blackmail and terrorist methods, will suffer inevitable punishment, before the law and before our people,'' he added. 

Putin also urged Russians to unite.  —with reports from Reuters and Agence France-Presse/VBL, GMA Integrated News