Following the failed rebellion, the Federal Security Service (FSB) Russia’s has been entrusted with assassinating mercenary boss Yevgeny Prigozhin, according to the Ukrainian authorities.
On June 23, Prigozhin began a “march for justice” against Russian military leaders after a missile attack purportedly hit Wagner forces in Ukraine. His mercenaries took over Rostov and marched 200 kilometres to Moscow, only to put an end to the uprising less than 24 hours later.
Following the mutiny, Russia’s government started a criminal prosecution against Prighozin, but on June 27, after a settlement between Prighozin, Putin, and Belarusian leader Alexander Lukashenko, the FSB announced that the criminal case against Prigozhin had been closed.
Ukraine’s military intelligence commander, Kyrylo Budanov, now claims that Prighozin’s life is in danger.
“The FSB was charged with a task to assassinate him,” Maj. Gen. Kyrylo Budanov, the Ukrainian defence intelligence chief, told the War Zone.
“Will they be successful in doing that? We’ll see with time. So in any case, all of such potential assassination attempts will not be fast.
“It will take them some time to have the proper approaches and to reach the stage when they’re ready to conduct a huge operation.
“But once again, I’d like to underline that it’s a big open question. Would they be successful in fulfilling that? Will they dare to execute that order?”
On June 27, Belarusian dictator Alexander Lukashenko stated that Prigozhin had landed in Belarus. However, no images or other confirmations of the Wagner boss’ whereabouts have been found.