Putin accuses Wagner mercenaries of treason, vows to punish rebellion leaders

Russian President Vladimir Putin pledged to punish everyone progressive successful the "armed rebellion" and accused them of treason.

In a televised code Saturday morning, Putin appealed to those who "by deceit oregon threats, were dragged into a transgression adventure, pushed onto the way of a superior transgression — an equipped rebellion."

His comments travel aft Yevgeny Prigozhin, main of the mercenary Wagner Group, accused the Kremlin of deliberately bombing Wagner troops. Russia's Ministry of Defense has denied the accusations, calling Prigozhin's remarks "informational provocation." The mercenary main had besides claimed that Russia's justification for invading Ukraine was based connected lies.

Putin characterized the unprovoked warfare successful Ukraine arsenic a conflict for Russia's future, an effort that helium said requires unity among its forces. The Russian person said, "I repeat, immoderate interior turmoil is simply a deadly menace to our statehood, to america arsenic a nation."

"We volition support some our radical and our statehood from immoderate threats. Including — from interior betrayal," Putin said. "And what we are faced with is precisely a betrayal. Exorbitant ambitions and idiosyncratic interests led to treason."

Prigozhin aboriginal responded, saying Putin was "deeply wrong" and that Wagner forces were "patriots," according to an NBC News translation of his remarks.

"Regarding betraying of Motherland – the president is profoundly wrong. We are patriots of our Motherland," helium said. "We are and person been astatine warfare and nary 1 is going to by bid of FSB, president oregon different to subdue – due to the fact that we bash not privation our state to further unrecorded successful corruption, deception and bureaucracy."

He besides accused Russian bureaucrats of corruption and hoarding arms and wealth for themselves, "for the juncture that is happening contiguous erstwhile idiosyncratic is marching to Moscow."

Putin besides described the concern successful Rostov-on-Don, a metropolis successful southwestern Russia adjacent Ukraine, arsenic hard but said helium would question to stabilize the concern there.

Prigozhin has claimed that helium and his mercenary forces person taken power of the city, a cardinal logistical hub for Russia's warfare efforts successful Ukraine. CNBC has not verified the claims. The Wagner main has demanded that apical Russian wide Valery Gerasimov and Defense Minister conscionable him successful Rostov.

The U.K. defence ministry characterized this feud betwixt Wagner and Moscow arsenic "the astir important situation to the Russian authorities successful caller times," adding that it has "escalated into outright subject confrontation." The ministry said the loyalty of Russia's forces is important to the result of this situation. It had noted determination was small grounds of Russian forces warring with the mercenary troops, adjacent remaining "passive" oregon "acquiescing" successful immoderate cases.

Putin's pledge to marque those who organized the rebellion reply for their actions marks a stark divided for Prigozhin, who had erstwhile been 1 of the president's long-standing supporters. Even arsenic tensions mounted betwixt the paramilitary person and elder defence officials, Prigozhin had been cautious to not nonstop his disapproval toward the Kremlin and Putin.

Russia has relied heavy connected the mercenary radical successful its war, but a rift has grown between Moscow and Wagner fighters. Prigozhin antecedently complained that his forces had lone received a fraction of ammunition deliveries that had been requested. He has besides criticized defence officials' strategy successful Ukraine.

The mercenary rebellion comes arsenic Ukraine chips distant astatine Russian-occupied territory successful its counteroffensive efforts. Fighting has intensified, but Kyiv's efforts person lone produced limited gains truthful far.

— CNBC's Holly Ellyatt and NBC News contributed reporting.