Sunday, June 25, 2023

U.S. Intel Learned About Military ‘Coup’ Plot Weeks Ago, Prepared for Russian ‘Civil War’

"U.S. officials have revealed that intelligence gathered in mid-June indicated Yevgeniy Prigozhin, the chief of the Wagner mercenary group, was planning armed action against the Russian defense establishment, the Washington Post reported....... The specifics and timing
of Prigozhin’s plans were unclear until shortly before his surprising takeover of a military command in Rostov-on-Don and a tank run toward Moscow.....concerns regarding
Russia’s nuclear arsenal and President Vladimir Putin’s hold on power arose, the primary fear was the potential instability resulting from a “civil war” within Russia.
A crucial trigger for Prigozhin was an order from the Russian Defense Ministry on June 10, requiring all volunteer detachments to sign contracts with the government. Although not explicitly mentioning Wagner, the order implied a takeover of Prigozhin’s mercenary troops, who have played a vital role in Russia’s military campaign in Ukraine and secured tactical victories. 
Ukrainian military officials had been monitoring Prigozhin following the announcement and believed he might mobilize his forces against Moscow. However, the Ukrainian official was unaware of the U.S. sharing intelligence with Kyiv about Prigozhin’s potential actions.
Despite tensions between Prigozhin’s group and the Russian Ministry of Defense, Putin was aware of Prigozhin’s plans, although the exact timing of when he was informed remains unclear. Putin’s lack of action to prevent Prigozhin’s military command takeover and his advance on Moscow reflects potential internal rivalries and a lack of coordination within the Russian government." TP

No comments:

Post a Comment