During a late-night national address, president Putin labeled the leaders of the Wagner mercenary group as traitors to Russia. Putin’s address followed Wagner group leader Prigozhin’s denial that his capital march was a coup attempt, affirming his intent to continue his mercenary operations despite government dissolution attempts. It remains uncertain if Prigozhin was aboard his business jet when it landed at Belarus’s Machulishchi military airbase. A Washington-based institute suggests Putin’s speech indicates the Kremlin’s intent to incorporate the Wagner forces, noting that the forces are essential for the ongoing Ukraine conflict and other international missions.