Putin slams rebellion's organizers but praises most Wagner mercenaries

Russian dictator Vladimir Putin on June 26 lashed out at the organizers of the Wagner rebellion but argued that most Wagner mercenaries are patriots.

Without naming the group's founder Yevgeny Prigozhin, Putin denounced the rebellion's organizers as traitors for challenging Russia at the time of the ongoing war with Ukraine.

He added that the uprising's leaders were playing into the hands of Ukrainian and Western leaders who hope for internal discord within Russia.

However, Putin praised the Wagner mercenaries as patriots who have fought for Russia. He said, however, that they had been used by the organizers of the rebellion for their own purposes.

He said that Wagner mercenaries will have a chance to undo their mistakes. They will have the option to sign a contract with the Russian Defense Ministry or leave for Belarus, he said.

Putin also praised the "unity" of Russian society in the face of the internal threat, claiming the rebellion would have been defeated in any case.

"The solidarity of our society has shown that any blackmail and attempts to stir up internal turmoil are doomed to failure," he said.

Finally, Putin thanked Belarus's dictator Aleksandr Lukashenko for facilitating the deal between Moscow and Wagner's leadership.