CIA Director Warns of Lasting Effects of Russian Rebellion Led by Wagner Group Chief
In a recent speech delivered at the Ditchley Foundation in Oxfordshire, England, CIA Director William Burns expressed concerns about the long-lasting effects of the armed rebellion led by Wagner Group chief Yevgeny Prigozhin in Russia. Burns stated that the rebellion, which occurred one week ago, serves as a “vivid reminder” of the “corrosive effect” of Russian President Vladimir Putin’s regime.
Burns highlighted the fact that Prigozhin preceded his actions with a scathing indictment of the Kremlin’s justification for its invasion of Ukraine and the Russian military’s conduct of the war. He emphasized that the impact of Prigozhin’s words and actions will continue to play out and further expose the corrosive effect of Putin’s policies on Russian society and his regime.
Furthermore, Burns mentioned that the CIA sees the current situation in Russia as a “once-in-generation opportunity” to recruit human sources due to the disaffection with the war in Ukraine. He referenced a recent Telegram video that provided instructions for securely contacting the agency, which garnered 2.5 million views in its first week.
Burns clarified that the United States had no involvement in Prigozhin’s rebellion or its aftermath. He reiterated the Biden administration’s stance on the matter and stated that the U.S. “has had and will have no part” in the internal affairs of Russia. Burns personally delivered a message to the head of Russia’s foreign intelligence service, Sergei Naryshkin, affirming the U.S.’s lack of involvement in the uprising.
The phone conversation between Burns and Naryshkin is considered the highest-level engagement between the U.S. and Russia since the rebellion led by Prigozhin. President Joe Biden has repeatedly emphasized the need to avoid giving Putin any excuse to blame the West or NATO for the events in Russia. He also stated that Putin’s standing in the world had been weakened, and he has become a pariah globally.
The U.S. ambassador to Russia, Lynne Tracy, relayed similar messages to the Russian Foreign Ministry, emphasizing the importance of protecting U.S. diplomatic personnel stationed in Russia. Additionally, Burns’ recent trip to Ukraine, where he met with Ukrainian intelligence counterparts and President Volodymyr Zelensky, reaffirmed the U.S.’s commitment to sharing intelligence to help Ukraine defend against Russian aggression.
It was revealed that U.S. intelligence agencies had been monitoring the escalating tensions between Prigozhin and the Russian military for several months. They had briefed the Biden administration and congressional stakeholders about the potential for an armed rebellion before it took place.
Burns’ involvement in addressing sensitive international developments has been notable during the Biden administration. He previously met with Taliban representatives prior to the fall of Kabul and held talks with his counterpart in Beijing to improve U.S.-China relations.
The CIA declined to comment on Burns’ recent visit to Kyiv, where he met with Ukrainian officials, including President Zelensky, to discuss the situation in Russia and provide intelligence updates.
In conclusion, CIA Director William Burns has expressed concerns about the lasting effects of the armed rebellion in Russia led by Yevgeny Prigozhin. He emphasized that the rebellion highlights the corrosive nature of Putin’s regime and the need to recruit human sources in Russia due to disaffection with the war in Ukraine. The United States has maintained its position of non-involvement in the rebellion and its aftermath, delivering messages to Russian officials to affirm this stance.