Putin confronted by insider over Ukraine war, U.S. intelligence finds

[mahatmakanejeeves]

Source: Washington Post

NATIONAL SECURITY

Putin confronted by insider over Ukraine war, U.S. intelligence finds

The disagreement by a member of Putin’s inner circle was deemed significant enough that it was included in President Biden’s daily intelligence briefing

By Greg Miller, Shane Harris, Paul Sonne and Catherine Belton
October 7, 2022 at 2:00 a.m. EDT

A member of Vladimir Putin’s inner circle has voiced disagreement directly to the Russian president in recent weeks over his handling of the war in Ukraine, according to information obtained by U.S. intelligence.

The criticism marks the clearest indication yet of turmoil within Russia’s leadership over the stewardship of a war that has gone disastrously wrong for Moscow, forcing Putin last month to order the mobilization of hundreds of thousands of troops in a desperate bid to reverse recent battlefield losses.

The information was deemed significant enough that it was included in President Biden’s daily intelligence briefing and shared with other U.S. officials, according to people familiar with the matter who spoke on the condition of anonymity to discuss sensitive intelligence.

The discontent that the member of Putin’s inner circle expressed related to what the insider considered mismanagement of the war effort and mistakes being made by those executing the military campaign, according to one of the people.

{snip}

Belton reported from London.

Read more: https://www.washingtonpost.com/national-security/2022/10/07/putin-inner-circle-dissent/

[Lonestarblue]

1. Some insider just needs tooff Putin and stop this insane war.

Putin is not accomplishing his aid to be the Czar of a new Russian Empire, and he needs to be put out to pasture or “honored” with a grave.

I would think that most of Putin’s inner circle have known for awhile that they will not take over Ukraine. Recent recapture of territory demonstrates that they are unlikely even to hold the Donbas, and the recapture of Crimea is now on the list of possibilities.

Meanwhile, the longer this war goes on, the more damage it does to infrastructure and the more people who die, including thousands of Russian soldiers. What Putin mistakenly showed the world is that his army is weak, making his country weak. Nuclear is all they have now, and if they use it NATO will bring a lot of firepower against Russia.

Russian leaders can decide to depose Putin and end this war, or they can decide to go nuclear and NATO will end this war. All frozen Russian assets will then be used to rebuild Ukraine, and Russia will still be under heavy sanctions as punishment. Putin has given his country no choices that are anything but failure.

[mpcamb]

2. Move Putin's office to the 20-somethingth floor.

[Chainfire]

3. More important is the question, "Are the Russian upset about the war, or about losing the war?"

[Ray Bruns]

4. It sounds like they are mad about losing the war.

Hope the person is not near any open windows.

[Wicked Blue]

5. I hope the insider stays away from tall buildings

and wears a crash helmet.

[Lettuce Be]

6. I was going to say guess who's going to be taking flying lessons soon

but you beat me to it!

[Igel]

7. What are the chances that this doesn't have a lot of sources possible.

And that the source is likely to be seriously hurt as a result.

In other words, humintel was not necessarily protected; moreover, that may well cut off a useful source, whether continuing to live or not, and deprive US intelligence of additional intel. Because somebody with a security clearance violated their oath for ... What reason?

Assuming that this wasn't intel shared by an ally.

Only reasonable hope is that the intel is utterly false and part of psyops to make Putin a tad paranoider and hurt his own inner circle.

[ck4829]

8. K&R