The conflict between Shoigu and Prigozhin intensified – Putin attributed the victory to the Ministry of Defense
According to analysts, Russian President Vladimir Putin attributed the success on the front line to the Ministry of Defense.
Putin’s statement was broadcast live on state television and was probably a deliberate attempt to undermine Prigozhin’s influence in the Russian information space, given that the Kremlin leader had previously refrained from commenting on tactical successes in Ukraine, experts believe.
Putin is likely keen to demonstrate that he retains control of traditional Russian media, while Prigozhin continues to build an audience on Telegram and other social networks.
The Russian Ministry of Defense, for its part, also continued to exaggerate the fact that the assault units of the Southern Military District and airborne troops were attacking Ukrainian positions around Bakhmut, and probably deliberately excluded the mention of the “Wagner” forces in its daily briefing.
Dmytro Peskov, the official representative of the Ministry of Defense of the Kremlin, indirectly called on Prigozhin for deliberately exposing the conflict between Russia and “Wagner” in the Russian information space.
Peskov tried to simplify reports of a conflict between Prigozhin and the Russian Ministry of Defense, saying on January 16 that they were “products of information manipulation.”
Peskov, however, added that although the majority of such manipulations come from “enemies” of Russia, the Kremlin has “friends” who are also involved.
Analysts believe that Peskov’s statement could have been addressed to Prigozhin, whose criticism of the Russian Defense Ministry is growing.
Prigozhin said that he had no reason not to trust Peskov. According to experts, the founder of PMC “Wagner” continued his tactics of using deliberately vague messages in order to develop more discussions in the Russian information space.
Other key findings from ISW analysts
- NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg said that the war is in a decisive phase, but this does not mean that Russian forces plan to use all resources.
- A well-known blogger revived discussions about the Kremlin’s policy to return Putin’s close ally Viktor Medvedchuk to power in Ukraine.
- The appointment of the Chief of the Russian General Staff, General of the Army Valery Gerasimov, as the commander of the theater of military operations of the Russian troops in Ukraine, in particular, did not cause a significant wave of criticism in the discourse of Russian nationalist bloggers.
- The forces continued to carry out local strikes to recapture lost positions in the Swatovo region and in the Kupyansk direction, while Ukrainian forces continued subsequent operations in the Kremenchug region.
- Russian forces have made additional territorial gains north of Bakhmut and may be intensifying attacks south of the city.
- Russian forces continued ground attacks in the area of Avdiyivka and Donetsk.
- Russian forces continued efforts to accumulate manpower on the left bank of the Kherson region and develop new logistical routes between Russia and southern Ukraine.
- Low discipline in the Russian troops, as before, becomes a direct safety issue for Russian soldiers and limits the effectiveness of the forces.
Earlier, ISW analysts reported that Prigozhin “won” in a fight with the Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation after the official recognition of the participation of mercenaries in the battles for Soledar.
this, the Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation announced the so-called capture of Soledar. They claim that this “will help the occupying forces to block the Ukrainian troops in Bakhmut.” But the Ukrainian side transmits this information.
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