A former Russian President, Dmitry Medvedev, Saturday, described the armed rebellion by Russian mercenary chief Yevgeny Prigozhin as a “well-planned operation aimed at seizing power in the country.”

He claimed that some veterans of elite Russian military units and foreign actors could have been involved in it.

According to a report by the state news agency TASS on Saturday, Mr Medvedev said this while fielding questions from journalists.

He also said Russia would not allow a mutiny led by mercenary boss Mr Prigozhin to turn into a coup or a global crisis.

“We will not let it happen. The enemy will be crushed. Victory will be ours,” Mr Medvedev, the deputy head of Russia’s Security Council chaired by President Vladimir Putin, said.

He said the whole world would be on the brink of catastrophe if Russian nuclear weapons fell into the hands of “bandits.”

“The history of mankind hasn’t yet seen the largest arsenal of nuclear weapons under control by bandits.

“Such a crisis will not be limited by just one country’s borders, the world will be put on the brink of destruction.”