Kremlin Prepares to Label Prigozhin a Traitor, ISW Reports

The Kremlin is likely preparing mechanisms to label Yevgeny Prigozhin, the owner of the Wagner private military company, a traitor in the future. However, this is unlikely to happen anytime soon, as reported by RBC-Ukraine, citing the Institute for the Study of War (ISW).

Analysts commented on the situation related to The Washington Post regarding Prigozhin's alleged attempts to connect with Ukrainian intelligence and exchange information about Russian military positions in exchange for control over Bakhmut. ISW believes that in this way, Prigozhin continues his battle against the Russian Ministry of Defense, but not against Russian leader Vladimir Putin.

Analysts noted that the Kremlin might be aware of Prigozhin's potential contacts with the Ukrainian side, which explains their lack of surprise at the publication by The Washington Post. It is also mentioned that the Kremlin is preparing mechanisms to discredit Prigozhin as a traitor.

“Anonymous sources in the Kremlin have reported that the Russian presidential administration is preparing an information operation to publicly discredit Prigozhin, but noted that the Kremlin is unlikely to threaten him as long as Wagner's forces are on the front lines. Prigozhin commands the Wagner forces in Donbas, and his removal would disrupt Russian positions in Bakhmut, and Putin is unlikely to take such a risk,” ISW stated.

Additionally, the Kremlin cannot simply remove Prigozhin from his position because Wagner is a private company, and the only way to change ownership rights is to take control of the mercenaries. To oust Prigozhin, the Kremlin would need to directly take control of the mercenary group, from which Putin is trying to maintain an official distance.

It is worth noting that according to The Washington Post, Prigozhin proposed to Ukraine to withdraw from Bakhmut in exchange for revealing the positions of Russian troops.