US Intelligence Chief Confirms to Russia No US Link to Wagner Mutiny

CIA Director William Burns stated today, Saturday, that the armed rebellion led by Russian private military group Wagner's leader Yevgeny Prigozhin revealed the devastating impact of President Vladimir Putin's war in Ukraine on his country. In a lecture delivered at the Ditchley Foundation in Oxfordshire, England, Burns noted, "It is striking that Prigozhin preceded his actions with a scathing condemnation of the Kremlin's false narrative regarding the invasion of Ukraine and the management of the Russian military leadership in the war." He added, "The impact of these words and actions will linger for some time, serving as a vivid reminder of the war's devastating effects on Putin's community and regime." Burns described the mutiny as "an armed challenge to the Russian state," affirming that it is a "domestic Russian issue in which the United States did not participate and will have no role." He viewed the discontent within Russia over the war in Ukraine as a significant opportunity for recruitment that occurs only once in a generation, stating that the agency would not let this opportunity slip away. He said, "This discontent creates a unique opportunity for us in the CIA that happens only once in a generation... We will not let it go to waste." Burns added, "The discontent over the war will continue to weaken Russian leadership amid the ongoing state propaganda and suppression." The Wall Street Journal reported that "CIA Director William Burns made a phone call to Russian intelligence chief Sergey Naryshkin following the brief mutiny that took place in Russia last week, to confirm to the Kremlin that there was no U.S. involvement." The newspaper indicated that "the phone call took place a few days ago and marked the highest level of contact between the two governments since the attempted mutiny in Russia."