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The Russian warlord Yevgeny Prigozhin has made a bold claim, stating that Russia’s defense ministry deceived Vladimir Putin into invading Ukraine and that the war could have been avoided.
In an impassioned speech, Prigozhin, the founder of the infamous Wagner mercenary group, accused Russia’s top military officials, including defense minister Sergei Shoigu and chief of Russia’s general staff Valery Gerasimov, of misleading Putin for their own personal gain.
Prigozhin’s public criticisms suggest increased infighting among Russia’s elite as the war effort in Ukraine continues to face challenges. However, he refrained from directly criticizing Putin and expressed support for the war’s goals.
According to Prigozhin, there was no immediate threat from Ukraine on the day Putin ordered the invasion. He claimed that Shoigu convinced Putin of the necessity of war to bolster his own reputation and show off the strength of the army, but the invasion was poorly planned and executed.
Given the sensitive nature of criticizing the armed forces in Russia, Prigozhin is believed to have Putin’s approval for his attacks on the military. Prigozhin and Putin have a long-standing relationship dating back to their time in St Petersburg.
Prigozhin’s critique of the war’s failures did not implicate Putin or the FSB security service, which played a significant role in planning the invasion. Putin himself admitted to personally pardoning convicts to join the fighting in Ukraine.
Since the capture of a city in eastern Ukraine, Putin has supported efforts to bring irregular units like Wagner under the control of the army. However, Prigozhin has raised doubt about the return of Wagner’s troops to the front lines.
Prigozhin accused Russia’s army of deceiving Putin about the success of Ukraine’s counteroffensive and warned that it could lead the country to ruin on the battlefield.
He concluded, “What they are telling us is a total fraud. We will only face the truth when this group of individuals realizes they have already lost a significant territory and declare their retreat. The enemy is gaining ground.”
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