Escalation at the front and Prigozhin's calls for "Stalinist repressions" cause panic among Russian elites 

Bloomberg sources report on condition of anonymity.

The publication claims that Russian government officials and representatives of the top echelon of business nervously followed marginal representatives of the political community, who gained leverage over Putin.

One senior official compared the current situation to military dictatorship, but without the military coup that usually precedes it.

Bloomberg insiders refer to Yevgeniy Prigozhin, founder of Wagner PMC, known for his mercenary company and recruitment of prison inmates to fight in Ukraine.

Newspaper writes that Prygozhin's public calls for 'immediate Stalinist repression' against business tycoons who lack enthusiasm for the war effort have made some wealthy Russians fear for the safety of themselves and their families.

Bloomberg reports that as mobilization in Russia unfolded, officials secretly asked each other if family members were safe, worried about saying openly they had sent their children abroad.

Bloomberg sources say that anxiety did not become an impetus for resistance to Putin. Almost nine months of war only confirmed the opinion of representatives of business and economic elite that Putin's invasion was a catastrophic mistake that will doom the country to isolation and weakness.

According to people close to the leadership, even in government there are those who quietly oppose the fight but are too scared to talk about it.

The author of the article claims that Putin has no other choice but to rely on such aggressive players as Prigozhin and Ramzan Kadyrov.

Andrey Kolesnikov from Carnegie Endowment for International Peace said that Prigozhin behaves like a parallel government. He can compete for power, if not for Putin, then after him.