The day before the armed uprising by the Wagner mercenary group, intelligence officials held meetings at the White House, the Pentagon, and on Capitol Hill about the possibility of unrest in Russia following the Wagner uprising.
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| Wagner mercenary group leader Yevgeny Prigozhin and Wagner forces intended to fight against the Russian military leadership in mid-June. (Source: AFP) |
US media reported on June 24 that US intelligence agencies had detected signs several days ago that the leader of the Wagner mercenary group Yevgeny Prigozhin was preparing to revolt against Russia's defense establishment.
According to the Washington Post and the New York Times , a day before the armed uprising by the Wagner mercenary group, intelligence officials held meetings at the White House, the Pentagon and on Capitol Hill about the possibility of unrest in Russia.
The Washington Post reported that US intelligence first picked up signs that Wagner mercenary group leader Yevgeny Prigozhin and his Wagner forces were planning to attack Russian military leaders in mid-June.
In a fast-moving uprising, Wagner forces moved from their base in Ukraine into Russia on June 23 and took over a regional military command in the southern city of Rostov-on-Don, before advancing on Moscow.
However, the offensive was suspended on June 24 and Russian state media said Wagner troops would return to Ukraine, while Prigozhin would go to neighboring Belarus.
The Kremlin said Russia would not prosecute Mr. Prigozhin or Wagner fighters. As U.S. intelligence officials learned that Mr. Prigozhin was preparing for military action, they grew increasingly concerned about chaos in a country with a powerful nuclear arsenal, according to the New York Times .
US intelligence agencies believe that Russian President Vladimir Putin himself was informed about Mr Prigozhin's plot to stage an uprising at least a day before the incident.
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