Madrid, July 9 (European press) –
British military intelligence believes Russia responded to the effects of last month’s short-lived insurgency led by the leader of the Wagner mercenary group, Yevgeny Prigozhin, with a public relations operation to boost President Vladimir Putin’s figure, silencing anyone inside. Information related to the incident.
The UK Ministry of Defense understands in its latest assessment of the conflict in Ukraine.
In general, London recognizes three stages in the response of the official Russian media to the rebellion led by Prigozhin on June 23 and 24, amazing hours that included an explicit challenge from the mercenary commander to the Russian military leadership after months of clashes. They concluded through the mediation of the Belarusian President, Alexander Lukashenko, without clear news of the whereabouts of the gang leader so far.
And the Ministry of Defense understands, “It is almost certain that the Russian media were surprised by the riots, because Russian television continued with its usual programs.”
But within a few hours, the official channels began a strategy of “correcting” information that began to emerge about the passivity of the Russian forces during the first hours of the rebellion, especially when Wagner was planted in the Russian headquarters from Rostov-on-Don, in the south of the country, without firing a shot. .
From there, the ministry added, “narratives began to promote the idea that President Vladimir Putin succeeded in thwarting the rebellion, avoiding bloodshed, and uniting the country behind the president.”
Finally, already a week later, “the state began to downplay Prigozhin and rebel, while launching a smear campaign against him” at the same time that Putin’s figure again made a high-profile public appearance, British military intelligence concludes.
“Subtly charming bacon junkie. Infuriatingly humble beer trailblazer. Introvert. Evil reader. Hipster-friendly creator.”