Yevgeny Prigozhin, the founder of Russia’s Wagner mercenary group, has accused the Russian military leadership of deliberately attacking his forces and is now threatening an armed rebellion. Furthermore, he is publicly criticizing the Kremlin’s justification for its invasion of Ukraine, labeling it a lie, and blaming the defense ministry and a “clan of oligarchs” for starting the war.
Key Points:
- Prigozhin has accused Russia’s defense minister and chief of general staff of ordering an attack on Wagner forces. In response, he warned of armed retaliation and called on other units to join him.
- Russia’s FSB accused Prigozhin of inciting “an armed civil conflict”, calling on Wagner fighters not to obey Prigozhin’s orders and to aid in his arrest.
- Prigozhin has challenged the Kremlin’s justification for the invasion of Ukraine, insisting that there was no imminent risk of attack from Ukraine and accusing the defense ministry of deceiving society and President Putin about the war’s motivations.
- Prigozhin’s vocal criticism is considered unusual in Russia, where public criticism of authorities typically leads to severe punishment. This has led to speculation that Prigozhin might be speaking with the Kremlin’s tacit approval, aiming to divert blame for the war away from Putin.
- Despite the threats from Prigozhin and the Wagner group, senior Russian general Sergey Surovikin has urged the fighters to stop their rebellion and turn back, highlighting a possible rift in Russia’s military leadership.
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