Putin appeared “paralyzed” by mutiny despite being informed - media

That’s according to a report by The Washington Post, referring to intelligence data and unspecified Western officials, Ukrinform reports.

According to interlocutors, the Russian intelligence warned the Russian president at least two or three days in advance that Prigozhin had been plotting a possible mutiny.

It is noted that in response, the Russian authorities took measures to up security measures at several strategic sites, including the Kremlin, where the number of presidential guards was increased and more weapons were handed to personnel.

“Putin had time to take the decision to liquidate [the rebellion] and arrest the organizers. Then when it began to happen, there was paralysis on all levels … There was absolute dismay and confusion. For a long time, they did not know how to react,” said one of the European security officials, who spoke on the condition of anonymity to discuss sensitive intelligence.

The disarray in the Kremlin also reflects a deepening split within Russia's security and military establishment over the war in Ukraine, sources said, with many at the top of the security services and military supporting Prigozhin's bid to remove Russia's senior military leadership from power.

“Some supported Prigozhin and the idea that the leadership needs to be cleaned up, that the fish is rotting from the head,” one of the European officials said.

One high-ranking NATO official said that some senior figures in Moscow appeared ready to join Prigozhin should he succeed in having his demands met: “There seem to have been important people in the power structures … who seem to have even been sort of waiting for this, as if his attempt had been more successful, they would also” have joined the plot, this official said.

Kremlin spokesman Dmytro Peskov told the newspaper that the intelligence estimates are "nonsense" and are being circulated by "people who have zero information."

As reported, on June 23, Yevgeny Prigozhin, the leader of Wagner Group, declared a démarche against the Russian military leadership, in particular against Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu.

The self-proclaimed leader of Belarus, Aleksandr Lukashenko, held talks with Prigozhin, after which the latter announced that the group's fighters were reversing their convoys heading to Moscow and returning to field camps.

Putin said Wagner fighters could either sign a contract with the Ministry of Defense or go to Belarus.

Prigozhin was allowed to go unpunished for the mutiny attempt, at least so far.

Photo: EPA