Vladimir Putin had no idea “how to react” during private military firm Wagner Group’s attempted mutiny last month as his troops went storming towards Moscow before standing down, a report has claimed.
Wagner Group leader Yevgeniy Prigozhin sent his mercenaries barreling toward the Russian capital last month after taking control of military headquarters in southern Russia.
According to security officials from Ukraine and elsewhere in Europe, Putin had no idea how to respond as the mercenary thugs advanced to Voronezh and farther north.
Intelligence assessments shared with The Washington Post have revealed that Russian security services had even warned Putin at least two or three days in advance of a potential rebellion plot.
Putin reportedly moved to ramp up security at several facilities, including the Kremlin, but failed to take any additional measures, officials told the outlet.
A European security official who spoke anonymously was quoted as saying: “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.”
Security officials added that military and security bosses decided not to get in the Wagner Group’s way.
Some reportedly believed the revolt must have been allowed to take place due to some kind of agreement with the Kremlin.
Prigozhin stood down his troops when they were reportedly just 120 miles from Moscow.
The mercenary leader had vowed to “destroy anyone who stands in our way”, but was intent on ousting Russia’s military leadership.
Prigozhin said in a video clip released on Telegram in July: “The defense ministry is trying to deceive society and the president and tell us a story about how there was crazy aggression from Ukraine and that they were planning to attack us with the whole of NATO.”
He repeatedly blasted Moscow’s war efforts amid Putin’s illegal invasion, but has since been exiled to Belarus.
On Wednesday, the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine claimed a total of 460 Russian troops were eliminated in battle over the last 24 hours.
Russia has lost 243,000 armed personnel, Ukraine’s army claimed in its update.
Ukraine has also made a huge breakthrough south of Bakhmut with reports that Russian forces in the area have been sent fleeing in retreat.
Kyiv’s entered the destroyed village of Andriivka south of Bakhmut yesterday, according to Donetsk Oblast Governor Pavlo Kyrylenko, but heavy fighting continued.
Russian sources have also claimed a massive Ukrainian offensive is taking hold on the country’s southern front.
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