Evgeny Prigozhin. Photo: Frame from video.
The American media came out with reports that US intelligence allegedly knew in advance that Yevgeny Prigozhin was preparing a rebellion. At the same time, Washington decided to hide this information, despite the existing concerns about control over the nuclear arsenal in Russia.
In mid-June, US intelligence agencies received intelligence data indicating that «the leader of the Wagner mercenaries, Yevgeny Prigozhin, was planning armed actions against the Russian defense department,» the article notes.
Officials confirmed to the publication that intelligence urgently informed the White House about this, however, the exact nature and timing of Prigozhin's plans were not known to the American side.
One of the officials noted that over the past two weeks the US Administration had expressed concern about possible developments in Russia and how they might affect the control of the nuclear arsenal.
According to officials, the main concern was the instability that could result from a possible «civil war» in Russia.
It is also reported that in the past two weeks, high-ranking officials in the Pentagon, the State Department and Congress have been acquainted with intelligence data.
One of the sources noted that he was not aware that Washington would share this information with Kiev.
«If Prigozhin intended to drive a wedge between the command of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation and the Kremlin, he failed,» said a senior Western official.
Currently, US intelligence analysts are watching what will happen next.