U.S. Spies Confirm Criticisms Of Putin's War Within His Clique: Washington

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 US intelligence, Greg Miller and Shane Harris reported for the Washington Post.

Photo Insert: Putin maintains a small circle of cronies from his KGB days and security officials dubbed as “siloviki,” along with a few oligarchs like the owner of the Wagner Group, a private military company, and his friends while he was a deputy to the mayor of St. Petersburg in the 1990s after the collapse of the Soviet Union.

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 US officials, according to people familiar with the matter who spoke on the condition of anonymity to discuss sensitive intelligence, Paul Sonne and Catherine Belton also reported for Washington Post.

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.

The new intelligence, coupled with comments from Russian officials, underscores divisions within Putin’s upper echelon, where officials have long been loath to bring bad news to an autocratic Russian leader who is seen as more isolated that, at any time in his 22-year rule.

Putin maintains a small circle of cronies from his KGB days and security officials dubbed as “siloviki,” along with a few oligarchs like the owner of the Wagner Group, a private military company, and his friends while he was a deputy to the mayor of St. Petersburg in the 1990s after the collapse of the Soviet Union.

As the war enters its eighth month, and Russian victory remains elusive and ill-defined, the unquestioning loyalty Putin has enjoyed may be slipping, intelligence officials said, but they cautioned there was no indication the Russian leader was on the brink of being swept aside.

He has fired as many as five generals for their defeats and failure to maintain the supply lines of low-quality tires, ammunition, and trucks from China.

“Since the start of the occupation we have witnessed growing alarm from a number of Putin’s inner circle,” a Western intelligence official said.

“Our assessments suggest they are particularly appalled by recent Russian losses, misguided direction, and extensive military shortcomings.” Other critics said Russian officers have also been selling their weapons to Ukrainians and arranging surrenders of soldiers who do not want to fight Putin’s war.

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