Are Putin’s Kremlin ‘siloviki’ now ready to stab him in the back?

Putin’s recent pre-dawn missile attacks on the people of Ukraine (BBC News : 2 May 2023) seem to indicate that, hunkered down in his bunker, he has almost run out of military options to deal with the ominous threat of Ukraine’s forces, now on the cusp of launching its much anticipated counter-offensive against Putin’s disheveled occupiers of Ukrainian territory.

As reported by Brad Dress (left),

“The announced withdrawal of Wagner Group fighters from the town of Bakhmut is another setback for Russia at a crucial moment in its war in Ukraine, exposing an enormous rift between the figures leading the effort just as Kyiv prepares to launch a counteroffensive.” (The Hill : 5 May 2023) (my emphasis)

Bloomberg Quicktake : 6 May 2023 : YouTube

As also reported by  Lawrence Freedman (left),

“Yevgeny Prigozhin, the boss of the Wagner mercenaries that have been doing the bulk of the fighting, has complained bitterly that the defence ministry has denied his men sufficient ammunition and now threatens to abandon Bakhmut next week. Elsewhere, Russian commanders are now torn about whether to try to take ground or consolidate their current positions in anticipation of the coming Ukrainian offensive.” (Financial Times : 5 May 2023) (my emphasis)

And we now learn from David Brennan (right) that,

“Ukraine has now trained 10,000 drone pilots as Kyiv seeks to exploit its technological edge over occupying Russian troops, ahead of the long-awaited Ukrainian spring counteroffensive Kyiv hopes can liberate significant swaths of territory.” (Newsweek : 5 May 2023) (my emphasis)

Brennan goes on to further report that,

“Drones are an increasingly important element of Kyiv’s arsenal. Oleksandr Merezhko, a member of the Ukrainian parliament and the chair of the body’s foreign affairs committee, told Newsweek: “The use of drones helps us to save lives of our soldiers and civilians.”

“The Russians have dug in, and to drive them out of trenches we need drones,” Merezhko added.” (ibid David Brennan)

Kyiv’s technological superiority over Putin’s occupying Russian troops has been further illustrated, as reported by Associated Express in The New Indian Express that,

“Ukraine’s air force claimed Saturday to have downed a Russian hypersonic missile over Kyiv using newly acquired American Patriot defence systems, the first known time the country has been able to intercept one of Moscow’s most modern missiles…..

The Kinzhal is one of the latest and most advanced Russian weapons. The Russian military says the air-launched ballistic missile has a range of up to 2,000 kilometres (about 1,250 miles) and flies at 10 times the speed of sound, making it hard to intercept. (New Indian Express : 6 May 2023) (my emphasis)

Crux : 6 May 2023 : YouTube

If the downing of Putin’s ‘invincible’ Kinzhal missile has Putin pacing around furiously in his bunker, the reporting by Zeeshan Aleem (left) that,

“The U.S. is sending out signals that it’s open to working with China to end the war in Ukraine. While some analysts are dubious of Beijing’s recent overtures to play the role of peacemaker, it’s a positive development.” (MSNBC : 5 May 2023) (my emphasis)

must have him pacing even more furiously.

Zeeshan Aleem goes on to report that,

“Secretary of State Antony Blinken told The Washington Post on Wednesday that he had an open attitude toward working with China on Russia.
“In principle, there’s nothing wrong with that if we have a country, whether it’s China or other countries that have significant influence that are prepared to pursue a just and durable peace. … ” (ibid Zeeshan Aleem)

 Putin’s current desperation is best illustrated by what many are referring to as a Russian ‘false flag’ operation to try to legitimize their possible use of  a ‘tactical nuclear’ missile to try and stymie Zelensky’s forces counter-offensive.

As reported by Ciaran McGrath,

“Vladimir Putin’s “vulnerability” has been exposed by Thursday’s apparent assassination attempt, and the Russian President may opt to “lash out” with tactical nuclear weapons if he feels backed into a corner, a former CIA agent has warned. Robert Baer was speaking in the wake of footage which appears to show a drone exploding over the Kremlin in the early hours of Wednesday morning, with Russia swiftly pointing the finger of blame at Ukraine – whose own President, Volodymyr Zelensky, responded by denying all involvement.” (Express : 5 May 2023) (my emphasis)

PBS News Hour : 4 May 2023 : YouTube

It is, however, US Secretary of State Blinken’s comments about having an open attitude toward working with China on Russia “to pursue a just and durable peace” that is causing most concern for Putin.

We should bear in mind that notwithstanding the recent display of camaraderie between Xi Jinping and Putin, Xi Jinping’s 12-point ‘peace plan’ has as its FIRST point  “Respecting the sovereignty of all countries.”

The thought of the US and China together pursuing a ‘just and durable peace’ in Putin’s war with Ukraine must now be giving Putin more than ‘nightmares’.