Prigozhin's address draws on postcards by Bolsheviks Lenin, Trotsky to frontline soldiers in 1916-1917 — Piontkovsky

He said this on the air of the Espreso TV channel.

“A significant social conflict has been simmering in Russia between the symbolic and metaphorical Rublevka. By Rublevka, I am not referring to the village near Moscow, but rather to the beneficiaries of extensive privatizations. Prigozhin skillfully exploits these social motives, utilizing rhetoric reminiscent of Bolshevik leaflets from Lenin and Trotsky to soldiers at the front during 1916-1917. This particular moment is effectively utilized by a group I refer to as the deep KGB, which is preparing the population for a post-war narrative. They claim that Russia fought heroically against the NATO army, nearly achieving victory and liberating Bakhmut. However, they allege that the General Staff and Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation were infiltrated by traitors, forcing them to retreat. The narrative implies that Russia will eventually reclaim its position in 10-20 years. In the meantime, the group encourages their dear friends and comrades to focus on dealing with their perceived enemies,” as emphasized by Piontkovsky.

The political scientist suggests that Russia will embark on a massacre, targeting not the oppositionists and liberals who have long been arrested, but rather the generals. Drawing a parallel to the events of July-August 1941, when Stalin executed 50 generals, including the commander of the Western Front, a similar number of generals will face the firing squad in Russia. This purge will be accompanied by the looting of Rublevka. The people will be content with this outcome, despite the bitterness of the so-called defeat. Piontkovsky explains that this is the perspective from which Russia is approaching the situation.

• On March 13, the Institute for the Study of War reported that the conflict between the Russian Ministry of Defense and Yevgeny Prigozhin had reached its peak amidst the backdrop of the Battle of Bakhmut.