Prague, Czech Republic – In a rare public speech, the head of Britain’s MI6, Richard Moore, confirmed that Yevgeny Prigozhin, the boss of private military group Wagner, struck a deal with Russian President Vladimir Putin during the failed rebellion on June 24. The confirmation from Western intelligence agencies sheds light on the behind-the-scenes dealings within the Kremlin.
Moore expressed his bewilderment at the swift changes in loyalties and the quick decision-making by Putin during that weekend. He stated, “Prigozhin started off as a traitor at breakfast. He had been pardoned by supper and then a few days later, he was invited for tea. So, there are some things that even the chief of MI6 finds difficult to interpret, in terms of who’s in and who’s out.”
Furthermore, Moore provided insight into the health and whereabouts of Prigozhin, whose frequent audio messages on Telegram have recently ceased. When asked if Prigozhin was alive and healthy, Moore replied that the Wagner leader was still “floating around,” according to information received by his agency.
The failed rebellion and its aftermath have made Western intelligence agencies cautious about commenting on the incident, as it could potentially fuel Russia’s claims of Western interference in their internal affairs. However, Moore’s public speech provided an opportunity for him to express the shocking weakness displayed by Putin during that weekend.
“He really didn’t fight back against Prigozhin,” Moore said. “He cut a deal to save his skin, using the good offices of the leader of Belarus.” Moore also mentioned that it is difficult to assess the fate of Wagner as a mercenary group, but they do not seem to be engaged in Ukraine, and there appear to be elements of the group in Belarus.
The choice of Prague as the venue for Moore’s speech holds significance, as it was the last European capital to be occupied by Russian tanks before Ukraine. Moore made an open appeal to Russians who are “silently appalled by the sight of their armed forces pulverizing Ukrainian cities” to spy for the United Kingdom. He assured them that their secrets would be safe and together, they could work to bring an end to the bloodshed.
The speech also touched upon the involvement of other nations in the conflict. Moore stated that China is “absolutely complicit in the invasion” due to its continued support of Putin. He mentioned that Iran’s support for Russia has caused division among its senior officials and expressed concern over Iran’s willingness to sell weapons, including drones that target civilians.
The revelations from Moore’s speech shed light on the complex dynamics within the Kremlin during the failed rebellion and provide insight into the involvement of private military groups like Wagner. It also highlights the ongoing international repercussions and divisions caused by Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.