ISW: New space for criticism of Putin is being created in Russia

The Institute for the Study of War (ISW) reported this. 

“Prigozhin and other prominent Russian nationalists such as Igor Girkin, a former Russian militant commander and prominent critical voice in the Russian milblogger information space, have been opening a new sector in the Russian information space where certain figures can criticize Putin and the highest echelons of the Russian government without any apparent retribution,” the report says. 

Analysts recalled how the war criminal Igor Girkin sharply hinted that he supports the removal of the head of the Kremlin from his post.

Experts say that the financier of the Wagner Group, Yevgeny Prigozhin, is becoming increasingly bold in his verbal attacks against the Russian Defense Ministry.

Prigozhin increasingly harshly criticizes the orders of Russia's Ministry of Defense, as well as high-ranking officials, who, as he put it, should develop, and not conform everyone to their ridiculous rules, principles and whims.

“Prigozhin’s statement was the latest of several designed to undermine confidence in the MoD and promote Prigohzin as the face of the Russian "special military operation" in Ukraine,” the ISW reports. 

In addition, the financier of the Wagner PMC directly "attacked" the Kremlin, calling those who work there “traitors who want the Russian Federation to lose the war in Ukraine.”

“Putin has decided to not censor these voices for far,” the ISW added. 

ISW Key Takeaways:

• Russian President Vladimir Putin’s speech commemorating the siege of Leningrad continued to illustrate that Putin remains uncertain about his ability to significantly shape the Russian information space.

• Putin’s speech is likely part of a larger informational effort to wrap the "special military operation" inside the greater Russian national mythos of the Great Patriotic War (the Second World War) to increase Russian support for a protracted war and mobilization.

• Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov augmented these efforts to increase Russian support for a protracted war by explicitly and ludicrously claiming that Ukraine and the West are pursuing the genocide of the Russian people.

• Putin continues efforts to reinvigorate Russia’s defense industrial base to support a protracted war in Ukraine.

• Putin and Lavrov continue to deny Ukrainian sovereignty and outright reject direct negotiations with Ukraine.

• Wagner Group financier Yevgeny Prigozhin is becoming increasingly bold in his verbal attacks against the Russian Ministry of Defense (MoD) and the Kremlin.

• Russian forces continued limited counterattacks to regain lost positions near Kreminna.

• Russian forces continued offensive operations near Soledar, Bakhmut, Avdiivka, and Donetsk. 

• The Russian MoD continues to attempt to downplay the role of the Wagner Group in claimed tactical advances in the Soledar area.

• Ukrainian officials have indicated that Russian forces are concentrating in Zaporizhia Oblast, possibly for a large defensive or offensive effort.

• Russian forces’ increasing use of incendiary munitions to conduct what appear to be otherwise routine strikes in southern Ukraine supports ISW’s recent assessment that Russian forces likely face a shortage of conventional artillery rounds.

• Ukrainian and Russian sources continued to indicate that Russian authorities are likely preparing for a second wave of mobilization.

Previously, the Institute for the Study of War said that Prigozhin used reports about the situation in Soledar, Donetsk region, to strengthen the reputation of his private company as an effective fighting force. Later, Putin appointed Gerasimov as commander of the occupying forces in Ukraine to weaken the influence of Prigozhin and the security forces.  In the future, it was emphasized that Prigozhin tried to promote the role of Wagner PMC in the capture of Soledar in order to increase his authority. But the conflict between Prigozhin and the Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation intensified.