Putin 'taking matters into his own hands' as chilling warning issued: 'He must be stopped!'
REUTERS
Yevgeny Prigozhin was reported dead in a plane crash
Vladimir Putin “needs to be stopped” as we are “reaching the Rubicon” of his capabilities, a former strategic analyst has stressed in a chilling warning.
The Russian president was thrown into the forefront of global affairs yet again following the reported death of Wagner chief Yevgeny Prigozhin.
Many have alleged Putin was behind the plane crash, but the Kremlin has denied all responsibility.
According to ex-strategic analyst Euan Grant, Putin will only grow in power as a result, and has sent a “message”.
“I thought Prigozhin would get away with his mutiny because he has so much dirt on Putin”, he told GB News.
“This is clearly a message that despite that issue, Putin still thinks he can take matters into his own hands.
“Vladimir Putin needs to be stopped. If he isn’t stopped, the Chinese will see this as an open goal.
“We’re very near the Rubicon now.”
It comes as Putin called on all employees of Wagner and other Russian private military contractors to take an oath of allegiance to the Russian state.
Putin signed a decree on Friday which applies to anyone taking part in military activities in Ukraine, assisting the army and serving in territorial defence units.
Euan Grant has issued a chilling warning about Putin sending a 'message'
GB NEWS
The Russian president broke his silence on the reported death of Prigozhin just 24 hours after, describing him as a “talented businessman” who made some “serious mistakes in life”.
Prigozhin was seen as a threat to Putin’s stranglehold on Russia for a brief spell in late June, when his Wagner forces led a brief mutiny which saw them march on Moscow, making it within 200km of the capital city.
A truce was ultimately called, with Prigozhin moving his forces from Ukraine to Belarus.
Putin dubbed the mutiny an “act of treason”, and according to military expert Philip Ingram, the Russian president has now “got his man”.
Prigozhin was a key ally of the Russian president but their relationship soured after the Wagner boss staged the aborted uprising against Moscow’s military leadership over dissatisfaction about the treatment of his fighters in Ukraine.
Speaking on GB News, he said: “Putin was doing this to send a message to other political dissenters.
“Navalny had Novichok in his underpants, Prigozhin’s jet gets shot out of the sky.
“He has a complete list.”
The Russian state has a history of links to the deaths or serious illnesses of Russian elites and spies who have fallen out of favour with the Putin regime, including on UK soil.