Signs of ‘Deep Dysfunction’ Emerge as Infighting Among Putin’s Inner Circle Escalates

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The recent clashes among Vladimir Putin’s trusted confidants have shed light on a concerning state of affairs characterized by internal strife and discord. Yevgeny Prigozhin, the outspoken millionaire at the helm of the private military contractor Wagner, made headlines when he publicly berated Russian military leaders amid the backdrop of his slain troops in Ukraine. The intensity and vulgarity of his tirade sent shockwaves through a country accustomed to two decades of tightly controlled governance under President Putin.

Despite Prigozhin’s impassioned videos and scathing criticism of the military brass, Putin has remained silent, opting not to quell the infighting. This silence has led some observers to speculate that Russia’s political landscape might be undergoing significant shifts, paving the way for further internal power struggles.

Prigozhin’s feud with military leaders has largely been overlooked by state-controlled media, which serves as the primary news source for most Russians. However, politically engaged and ultrapatriotic individuals on social media platforms closely follow Prigozhin’s disdain for the military leadership.

While there is no evidence to suggest that Putin’s influence is waning, there are growing indicators of deep dysfunction, anxiety, concerns about the ongoing war, and real difficulties in mobilizing the necessary resources for an effective fight, according to Nigel Gould-Davies, a senior fellow for Russia and Eurasia at the International Institute for Strategic Studies.

Prigozhin’s longstanding rift with military leaders erupted into the public sphere during the battle for the Ukrainian city of Bakhmut, which was spearheaded by his mercenaries. This conflict has propelled the 62-year-old Wagner owner, known as “Putin’s chef” due to his lucrative Kremlin catering contracts, to the forefront of Russian politics, underscoring his expanding ambitions.

In scathing remarks, Prigozhin derided Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu and Chief of the General Staff Gen. Valery Gerasimov, branding them as weak and incompetent. He even went so far as to accuse the army of planting mines along the planned routes of his fighters and firing at them.

Prigozhin’s audacious comments encroached upon a territory previously ventured into solely by Putin himself. While the Russian leader has occasionally exhibited a lack of decorum with earthy remarks or off-color jokes, his top officials have generally employed carefully chosen language.

In a subsequent video, Prigozhin made a statement that some interpreted as a veiled attack on Putin. He lamented the Defense Ministry’s failure to supply ammunition while insinuating that a certain “happy granddad” believed he was doing well, accompanied by an obscenity. The remark caused an uproar on social media, with many perceiving it as a reference to Putin, although Prigozhin later claimed he was referring to Gerasimov.

“Prigozhin is now pushing the boundaries more than ever before,” noted Gould-Davies.

Sergei Markov, a pro-Kremlin political commentator, described Prigozhin as the second-most popular figure in Russia after Putin, symbolizing military victory for millions of people.

At a time when the regular military is still recovering from previous setbacks in the invasion, Putin relies on Prigozhin’s mercenaries. The Wagner chief’s stature received a significant boost after his private army successfully captured Bakhmut in the longest and bloodiest battle of the war. The operation relied heavily on tens of thousands of prisoners promised pardons upon surviving six months of combat.

“Putin dominates the system, but he still depends on a small group of influential individuals to execute his orders and provide the necessary resources for the war,” explained Gould-Davies.

While Putin may adhere to

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More about infighting

• The Big Big News: Infighting among Putin’s lieutenants seems to reveal signs of ‘deep dysfunction’
• International Institute for Strategic Studies
• Russia-Ukraine War Coverage by AP