Thread by @TheStudyofWar

#Wagner Group financier Yevgeny #Prigozhin appears to have again indirectly undermined #Russian President Vladimir #Putin’s authority and regime. 1/

isw.pub/UkrWar052823

https://twitter.com/TheStudyofWar/status/1662957776530702336

Prigozhin responded to a journalist’s question about 🇷🇺 state media banning any discussions re: Wagner forces ... then gave advice to an unnamed official: “If you are starting a war, please have character, will, & steel balls—& only then you will be able to achieve something.” 2/

#Prigozhin implied that accomplishing real achievements would let the official avoid lying about the construction of new buildings, metro stations, and bridges in an effort to look good. 3/

#Prigozhin’s comments are likely targeted at #Putin whom the #Russian state media has routinely portrayed as a leader minutely involved with small infrastructure projects and the lives of ordinary Russian people. 4/

#Prigozhin’s May 28 statement and his previous behavior may indicate that he had envisioned expanding #Wagner at the expense of #Russian conventional forces or replacing Russian military officials with Wagner-affiliated personnel. 5/

ISW previously assessed that #Putin is a risk averse actor who is concerned over the health of his regime and thus unlikely to fully satisfy #Prigozhin’s radical demands. 6/6

isw.pub/UkrWar052823