Putin Faces Possible Overthrow By “Angry Patriots”

Russian nationalist Igor Girkin, alias Igor Strelkov, played a significant role in the conflict in Ukraine’s Donbas area in 2014. He has been very outspoken in his criticism of Putin and his commanders for handling the war in Ukraine.

According to the Institute for the Study of War (ISW), a social movement started by the military blogger intends to put further pressure on Russian President Vladimir Putin and the Russian defense establishment.

The organization worries that unless Moscow steps up its efforts on the front lines, Russia will lose in Ukraine, which might lead to a pro-Western coup and a civil war in Russia.

On Sunday, the group announced plans to establish regional chapters across Russia, inviting government officials, public figures, and business leaders to join. It also plans to hold a news conference in Moscow in June to “address how Russia can win the war in Ukraine,” according to the research tank.

With Pavel Gubarev, a significant player in Russian politics, and Vladimir Kucherenko, a political activist better known by his alias, Maxim Kalashnikov, he established the Club of Angry Patriots in April.

Wagner Group chief Yevgeny Prigozhin, an outspoken opponent of Putin’s military strategy, allegedly offered to divulge Russian army whereabouts in exchange for a pullback of Ukrainian forces from the area surrounding Bakhmut.

Wagner’s founder made the offer because of rising casualties among his mercenaries in their effort to capture Donetsk town.

Two unnamed Ukrainian officials said that Prigozhin had offered to work for the Ukrainian Intelligence Directorate “several times” but was turned down each time.

Prigozhin and Girkin have been feuding, despite their shared opposition to Russia’s war strategy. 

Girkin claimed the Wagner leader was putting his “psychopathic” political goals ahead of his company’s needs.

Girkin has inquired as to the whereabouts of Prigozhin, who has called for a frontline ceasefire since his incarceration by Russian officials.

Wagner’s top brass has been just as critical. He fired back at Girkin’s criticism of Russia’s military and unwillingness to participate more actively in the conflict via Telegram.