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According to
U.S. officials who has briefed on American intelligence that a senior Russian
general had advance knowledge of Yevgeny Prigozhin's plans to rebel against
Russia's military leadership.
This
development has raised questions about potential support Prigozhin received
from top-ranking officials.
The detail of
the article published in New York times is as under:
General Sergei Surovikin's Potential Involvement:
Officials are
investigating whether General Sergei Surovikin, the former top Russian
commander in Ukraine, played a role in planning Prigozhin's actions.
Surovikin,
known for his military expertise and popularity among troops, could have aided
Prigozhin's attempt to challenge President Vladimir V. Putin's authority.
Possible Support from Other Generals:
There are
indications that additional Russian generals may have supported Prigozhin's bid
to change the leadership of the Defense Ministry through force.
Prigozhin
likely believed that powerful figures would come to his aid, highlighting
potential divisions within Russia's military leadership.
Implications for Russia's Military Leadership:
General
Surovikin's involvement, if confirmed, would signal further infighting within
Russia's military leadership.
This would
potentially indicate a larger rift between Prigozhin's supporters and Putin's
senior military advisers, Sergei K. Shoigu and Gen. Valery V. Gerasimov.
Putin must now
decide how to respond based on his assessment of Surovikin's role.
Potential Consequences for General Surovikin:
If the emerging
evidence directly implicates General Surovikin in assisting Prigozhin, Putin
will likely have no choice but to remove him from his command.
However, if
Surovikin is found to have had some knowledge but did not actively support
Prigozhin, Putin may choose to retain him.
The final
decision rests with Putin and may be influenced by intelligence reports.
Significance of Alliance Between Surovikin and Prigozhin:
The possibility
of an alliance between General Surovikin and Prigozhin could explain why
Prigozhin is still alive despite his actions, including seizing a major Russian
military hub and ordering an armed march on Moscow.
This alliance,
if substantiated, could have significant implications for Russia's internal
dynamics and ongoing conflict with Ukraine.
Divergent Messages and Divided Loyalties:
Public
statements and actions from various military officials suggested that there were
divided loyalties and mixed messages within Russia's top ranks.
General
Surovikin's initial video message denouncing the rebellion appeared strained.
While another
Russian general, Lt. Gen. Vladimir Alekseyev, made contradictory appeals which
is further highlighting the complex situation.
Speculation and Unresolved Questions:
Experts and
officials, speaking anonymously, highlighted the need for further investigation
into potential collusion and unanswered questions surrounding the rebellion.
While
cautioning that much remains preliminary, the U.S. has a vested interest in
undermining General Surovikin's standing and sees his removal as advantageous
to Ukraine's counteroffensive efforts.
Conclusion:
The situation
surrounding the alleged involvement of General Surovikin in the rebellion
against Russia's military leadership continues to evolve.
As more
information emerges, it could impact internal dynamics within Russia and its
ongoing conflict with Ukraine.
The course of
action that President Putin ultimately chooses will depend on his assessment of
the evidence and the implications for his administration's stability and
control.
(Courtesy: New
York Times)
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