Yevgeny Prigozhin: Wagner chief blames war on defence minister

We're utilized to proceeding Wagner main Yevgeny Prigozhin ranting and raving astatine Russia's subject enactment - peculiarly astatine defence curate Sergei Shoigu - for problems connected the battlefield.

Public infighting betwixt the Wagner mercenary radical and the Ministry of Defence isn't new.

In his latest video tirade via Telegram, Prigozhin blames Shoigu for starting Russia's warfare successful Ukraine successful February past year.

Speaking archetypal astir the warring successful eastbound Ukraine that began successful 2014 aft Russia's subject intervention, Prigozhin said: "We were hitting them, and they were hitting us. That's however it went connected for those 8 agelong years, from 2014 to 2022. Sometimes the fig of skirmishes would increase, sometimes decrease."

"On 24 February [2022] determination was thing bonzer happening there. Now the Ministry of Defence is trying to deceive the public, deceive the president and archer a communicative that determination was immoderate brainsick aggression by Ukraine, that - unneurotic with the full Nato bloc - Ukraine was readying to onslaught us.

"The warfare was needed... truthful that Shoigu could go a Marshal, truthful that helium could get a 2nd Hero Star… the warfare wasn't for demilitarising oregon de-nazifying Ukraine. It was needed for an other star."

Prigozhin besides blamed the warfare connected oligarchs, condemning "the clan which successful signifier rules Russia today".

Strong words. But volition they person consequences?

That depends connected the quality of Prigozhin's existent narration with President Vladimir Putin. And no-one's rather definite what that is close now.

Is the tough-talking aggravated Prigozhin we spot and perceive connected Telegram a fully-fledged Kremlin project? If so, his blasted the warfare connected Shoigu and oligarchs rant could beryllium designed to shield Putin from nationalist criticism, portion offering the Kremlin a imaginable mode retired of a struggle that hasn't gone to plan, without damaging the president oregon the governmental system.

Prigozhin has named the fall-guys… and they don't see Putin.

After all, Putin is truthful intimately associated with this war. In his code to the federation connected 24 February 2022, the Kremlin person made it wide that it was his determination to motorboat the alleged "special subject operation", the full-scale Russian penetration of Ukraine.

Plus, arguing that the president has been woefully deceived by a curate helium appointed doesn't bespeak glowingly connected the antheral astatine the top.

True, successful Russia the Kremlin controls the media scenery and the messaging. If TV channels and pro-Kremlin subject bloggers present were to transmit specified an interpretation, galore Russians would judge it.

And what if Prigozhin's outburst wasn't coordinated with the Kremlin? What if he's gone rogue with governmental ambitions of his own?

That could undermine the Kremlin's messaging.

Only past week Putin repeated the request (as helium sees it) to "demilitarise" and "de-nazify" Ukraine. Prigozhin's latest comments contradict that argument.

I'm inactive puzzling retired Prigozhin.

But, speech from the Wagner chief, determination are different absorbing pieces of the Russian jigsaw which hint astatine a antithetic outcome.

For example, arsenic severely arsenic things person gone for the Kremlin successful Ukraine, mightiness Moscow state "mission accomplished"?

President Putin's spokesperson Dmitry Peskov precocious claimed that "the purpose [of demilitarising Ukraine] has mostly been achieved", arguing that Ukraine has little and little of its ain armaments and is progressively reliant connected weapons from abroad.

And earlier this period much than 20 Ukrainian soldiers, members of the Azov regiment, went connected proceedings successful confederate Russia. Russia calls Azov a "terrorist group" that harbours neo-Nazis. Could it represent the lawsuit arsenic "de-nazification" and halt there?

But determination are different indications that "stopping" is not successful Putin's plans. In caller appearances connected TV, he's travel crossed arsenic assured of triumph and dismissive of Ukraine's counter-offensive.

"The force is suffering large losses," Putin told a Russian TV newsman this week, adding: "The force has nary chance."