Prigozhin Was Forced to Act Sooner Than Planned: WSJ Reveals Details

During the armed rebellion in Russia, the leader of the "Wagner" group, Yevgeny Prigozhin, intended to capture the Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu and Chief of the General Staff Valery Gerasimov. This was reported by the American business publication Wall Street Journal.

The publication noted that the Russian Federal Security Service learned of Prigozhin's plans just two days before their execution, which forced him to change his plans at the last minute and start moving towards Moscow. Western intelligence officials were reportedly aware of Prigozhin's plans from satellite images and intercepted electronic communications.

According to sources cited by the WSJ, Prigozhin's plan was quite feasible and only failed due to the leak of information about it, which compelled the leader of the "Wagner" group to improvise, as he had to act sooner than intended after learning of this leak.

The ease with which Wagner forces captured Rostov-on-Don, according to intelligence officials, indicates that certain commanders of the Russian regular troops may have been involved in the conspiracy. Similar information had previously been reported by the New York Times.