Putin’s bloodhounds attack each other – but that can only be good for him More fired after ruthless police operation in Memphis

The Kremlin will only tolerate criticism of the war against Ukraine if it comes from the far right. Nationalist hardliners rant against the leadership of the Russian military, especially on Telegram, without fear of the consequences. One of the best-known figures in this environment is Igor Girkin, who fought on the Russian side against Ukraine in 2014 under the alias “Strelkov” and was sentenced to life imprisonment in the Netherlands for the shooting down of flight MH17, which killed 298 people.

On his Telegram channel, which has more than 762,000 subscribers, Girkin has even mocked Kremlin boss Putin with impunity, mocking him as “our unique strategic advantage”. Recently, Girkin even called for Putin’s impeachment. His reputation as a veteran soldier and his following in the Russian security apparatus have protected Girkin so far, but now he may have hired the wrong person: the head of the Wagner mercenary force, Yevgeny Prigozhin.

The public feud between the two prominent hardliners provides a deep insight into Moscow’s power struggle – and should primarily benefit the man at the top of the Kremlin.

Girkin criticizes Prigozhin

The reason for Prigozhin’s attacks on Girkin is probably a text critical of Prigozhin’s political ambitions, which was distributed by Girkin on Telegram early last week. Shortly afterwards, a message appeared in the Wagner-related Telegram channel “RiaFan” that mocked Girkin as a “banking expert” who behaved “like the last coward and villain” and “makes his pronouncements from a warm studio and not at the front ” . .

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Girkin responded in an unusually defensive manner, insisting that he had never criticized Wagner’s fighters and commanders, whose “high fighting skill” he constantly emphasized. He accused Prigozhin of hiding behind the backs of the Wagner fighters. Girkin said the anonymous post on the RiaFan channel was intended to discredit him. “Indeed, I am critical of Mr. Prigozhin’s media activities, which are extremely harmful to Russia, and also very negative of his political ambitions,” Girkin continued. The Wagner boss seemed particularly provoked by this and spoke privately on Telegram the next day.

Prigozhin massively insults Girkin

Prigozhin denied political ambitions and advertising on his own account. “Everything I do, I do for the good of the company I founded,” he wrote – only to make Girkin a poisoned offer: “As senior boss of Wagner, I invite Girkin to the front lines to use his combat experience Of course, no one will be able to offer him a high position, for this it is necessary to show his abilities. It’s time to turn words into deeds.” Girkin initially responded favorably to the mercenary group’s job offer on Telegram, but then Prigozhin massively sharpened his tone towards Girkin in a radio interview.

His commanders would receive Girkin rather unkindly, Prigozhin said: “They will ask the pig priest why he came here in the first place, this worthless piece of shit. They will ask him why he gave up Slowiansk in 2014 and left his boys behind,” Prigozhin said. “If he survives, I’ll shake his hand. If he tries to run, I’ll piss in his face.”

After Prigozhin’s diatribe, Girkin ruled out any assignment for the Wagner group: he would not serve under the leadership of a man who had accused him of treason, Girkin wrote. “Not to mention the vile insults that accompanied these accusations.”

“We shouldn’t take Prigozhin too seriously”

According to the American experts of the Institute for the Study of War (ISW), the background to the dispute between Prigozhin and Girkin is their struggle for the favor of nationalist forces within the Kremlin: “While both verbally deny their political ambitions, allow the army leadership to attack to make a name for itself in Russian society’, the ISW analyses.

Prigozhin apparently tries to undermine Girkin’s prestige and expand his influence among the nationalists. In doing so, he unmasked – possibly unintentionally – one of Putin’s most prominent critics.

However, British historian and Russia expert Mark Galeotti has not yet written off Girkin. A real cult of personality developed around Prigozhin, as many worshiped him as a ruthless leader. “But we shouldn’t take Prigozhin too seriously or even think of him as the future president.” writes Galeotti on Twitter.

Ironically, the opposite is the case: from the Kremlin’s point of view, it is safe to style Prigozhin as a hero precisely because he poses no threat. The ‘patriotic anti-Putinists’ that Girkin speaks for, on the other hand, pose a real threat ‘ said Galeotti.