DAILY STAR
As Wagner Group chief Yevgeny Prigozhin becomes ever more popular and powerful, Putin will need to put him down in an ‘extremely public’ way to prevent a Kremlin ‘power grab’
As Vladimir Putin’s war in Ukraine drags on into its second year with little sign of success, Wagner Group boss Yevgeny Prigozhin is plotting to replace him, according to Kremlin-watcher Olga Lautman.
Prigozhin’s private army has become increasingly important to the Russian military, forming the spearhead of assaults on key towns such as Soledar, Popasna and Lysychansk.
As a Wagner force is set to capture Bakhmut, some 55 miles north of Donetsk, Prigozhin is reportedly hoping to capitalise on his mercenary group’s success to sweep to power in Moscow.
“Over the last year, Prigozhin has become more public and taken on this populist role,” Olga Lautman told the Express. “He has basically been going after Putin’s inner circle, including the defence ministry”.
Olga, who hosts the Kremlin File podcast as well as being a respected academic specialising in Russian affairs, says there is a growing rivalry between Putin and Prigozhin.
And, she says, the mercenary boss is plotting a “power grab”.
Prigozhin knows that Putin is dependent on the Wagner group to maintain momentum in Ukraine, but also needs to keep defence minister Sergei Shoigu onside. And Shoigu is no friend to Prigozhin.
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