Wagner Group Leader Yevgeny Prigozhin Warns of Dangerous Games Played by Kremlin Towers

– Pandora’s box is already open. We didn’t open it. Some “Kremlin towers” decided to play dangerous games.

That’s what the Wagner group’s leader, Yevgeny Prigozhin, says in a voice message on Telegram Saturday.

Here he claims that an unnamed faction within the Kremlin is trying to create discord between him and Chechen forces.

If they continue, they will “pay hell”, he further warns.

– Dangerous games

In the message, the Wagner group’s founder claims that there has been a disagreement between him and the Chechen forces, but further claims that these have now been resolved.

According to Prigozhin, it is the factions in the Kremlin, which he therefore refers to as the “Kremlin towers”, that are to blame for these disagreements.

He also claims that the planning of this faction has gone so far that Putin had to scold them at a Security Council meeting.

– Dangerous games have become common in the Kremlin towers… They are simply destroying the Russian state, says Prigozjin.

The Kremlin has so far not commented on the statements.

Constant attacks

He also made several other statements on Saturday, then directed at the Russian defense and their ability to defend the Russian border town of Belgorod.

On Friday, he also accused the Russian military of trying to publicly punish the Wagner soldiers by mining the route they used to withdraw from Bakhmut.

In light of these statements, Tom Røseth, principal lecturer in intelligence and head of the Ukraine program at the Norwegian Defense Academy (FHS), said the following about how much Prigozhin can allow himself from criticism and accusations against Russia’s top leadership:

– I think Prigozhin knows that he has a lot of leeway. That is because the Wagner Group is an important tool for Russia in conflicts in the Middle East and Africa. Through the Wagner group, Russia gets to promote its interests. In this sense, Prigozhin has a lot to go on with Putin.

Røseth added at the same time that there are signs that this may be about to change.

Putin’s dilemma

Criticized by Kadyrov men

On Friday, the Russian Ministry of Defense reported that Chechen forces have launched an offensive near the town of Marinka in the Donetsk region.

Earlier this week, Ramzan Kadyrov, the acting leader of the Russian republic of Chechnya, also said that Chechen forces have been given the main responsibility for the Donetsk front in the east of the country.

At the same time, the spat between the two mercenary groups has continued.

Two of Kadyrov’s closest men, Adam Delimkhano and Magomed Daudov, posted videos on Telegram on Thursday in which they made disparaging statements about the Wagner boss.

– Crosses all boundaries

Delimkhanov addressed Prigozhin directly, who he believes is “just complaining about problems”, in a video message.

– If you don’t understand, you can contact us and give us a time and place. Then we can explain to you what you don’t understand, said Delimkhanov.

– You have become a blogger who shouts and screams to the whole world about all the problems. Stop the screaming and yelling, he continued.