Washington: As Moscow's new narrative after Wagner's brief mutiny takes shape, a top Russian propagandist on Sunday accused the Wagner boss of "going off the rails" after receiving billions in public funds.

Yevgeny Prigozhin, the leader of the Wagner mercenary group, led his forces in a brief uprising against Russia's top military brass last weekend, which caused the Kremlin great embarrassment.

Dmitry Kiselev, one of the key figures in the Russian propaganda machine, said on his weekly television programme on Sunday that "Prigozhin has gone off the rails because of big money."

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He believed he could take on the defence ministry, the state, and the president individually.

According to Kisilev, Prigozhin felt unaccountable as a result of Wagner's operations in Africa and Syria, which was later reinforced by his ragtag forces' victories in eastern Ukraine.

Kisilev asserted Wagner had received more than 858 billion rubles ($9.7 billion) in state funds without offering any supporting documentation.

President Vladimir Putin made the startling admission earlier this week, claiming that the Russian government had "fully" funded the paramilitary group.

Wagner received more than 86 billion rubles from the Russian government between May 2022 and May 2023, according to Putin.

Under Russian law, private mercenary organisations are prohibited.

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Since Putin sent troops into Ukraine in February 2022, Prigozhin, who had previously been operating in the shadows despite being the target of sanctions from Washington and Brussels, has shot to prominence.

He used foul language in his tirades, accusing the Russian military of trying to "steal" Wagner's victories in eastern Ukraine and criticising Moscow's "monstrous bureaucracy" for hindering military progress.

Prigozhin was permitted to enlist fighters from prisons, and in March, Russian lawmakers approved legislation that will subject those who criticise "volunteer groups" like the Wagner to lengthy prison terms.

The coup attempt by Prigozhin was interpreted by many political analysts as a sign that Putin's hold on power is eroding.

However, propaganda workers and Moscow officials are adamant that Putin has the support of the Russian people.

The speaker of Russia's lower house of parliament, Vyacheslav Volodin, wrote on Sunday that Putin had come out of "this very difficult situation" stronger.

On the messaging service Telegram, Volodin wrote, "He did everything to stop bloodshed."

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"There wouldn't have been a revolution or the fall of the USSR if leaders like Putin had been in charge in 1917 and 1991."