The Washington Post: Russian oligarch involved in the attack on American forces in Syria

Russian oligarch Yevgeny Prigogine, who is called the main organizer and sponsor of the Wagner private military company (PMC), sending Russian mercenaries to Syria, was involved in planning an attack by Russian mercenaries on the base of Syrian rebels and American instructors under Deir-ez-Zor, which ended complete defeat of Russians by US aircraft.

Photo: depositphotos

This is reported by the publication The Washington Post, citing US intelligence.

According to the US intelligence, Prigogine in January and February (before and after the attack) was in close contact with the Kremlin’s top officials and representatives of the administration of Syrian President Bashar Assad. In particular, the businessman spoke with the head of the Vladimir Putin administration, Anton Vaino, and his deputy, Vladimir Ostrovenko, but what they said is unknown.

In messages intercepted in late January, the oligarch told a senior Syrian official that he had “received permission” from an unnamed Russian minister to move forward with a “fast and strong” initiative and was awaiting a “green light” from Syrian authorities.

Prigozhin also announced the preparation of a “big surprise” for Assad, which will become known in early February (he indicated the period “from February 6 to February 9”). He had this conversation with the Minister of Presidential Affairs of Syria, Mansour Fadlallah Azzam, who assured the Russian that his work would be paid.

Communication continued from the end of January to 5 February, and resumed the next day after the attack (February 8).

US intelligence believes that Prigozhin controls not only the mercenaries of the private military company Wagner, but also the Russian “troll factory.”

Recall 7 February in the province of Deir ez-Zor in eastern Syria pro-government formations attempted an attack on a military base where representatives of the Syrian democratic forces and US military instructors were stationed. As a result, the attackers were defeated, and, according to various sources, from several dozen to several hundred people died, including many Russian citizens, presumably fighters from the Wagner PMC.

The Russian authorities, who first denied the death of Russians, in the end recognized that dozens of Russian citizens suffered in the clashwhich were not military personnel.

The goal of the attack of "PMCs Wagner" on the US allies in Syria is unclear. According to some reports, the mercenaries intended to take control of a large refinery.

United States Special Prosecutor Robert Muller in February accused Prigogine of financing the "factory of trolls"responsible for intervening in the US presidential election in 2016.

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