Watch: Putin promises to severely punish «traitor» Prigozhin and his mercenaries Wagner

Wagner soldiers on a tank in the city of Rostov-on-Don, Russia on Saturday

In his speech, Putin also said that Prigozhin and its rebels are weakening Russia and that NATO and the government in Kiev will applaud the uprising because it undermines Russia's ability to wage war in Ukraine.

«Our external enemies use any arguments to undermine us from within,» said he.

“Thus, the actions that split our unity are a betrayal of our people, our battle brothers, who are now fighting on the front lines. This is a dagger in the back of our country and our people.”

Ukraine launched its vaunted counter-offensive earlier this month, putting pressure on Russian units along the front lines. Reports from Ukraine say these attacks intensified after Prigozhin launched his rebellion.