A tens of kilometers long column of Wagner mercenaries marches towards Russia. It is unclear whether the mercenary boss Prigozhin’s troops will be able to overthrow Putin. Russia expert Andreas Heinemann-Grüder doubts that Prigozhin can be successful – but still sees a danger for Putin.

“I assume that Putin will put down the uprising,” says Heinemann-Grüder in an interview with “nv“. But: “What we are experiencing here is the Russian version of July 20, 1944.” At that time, a resistance group led by Claus Schenk Graf von Stauffenberg failed in an attempt to assassinate Hitler. “He was also successfully defeated. At the same time it was the prelude to the end, because the predetermined breaking points have become clear. It will be a Pyrrhic victory for Putin,” he said.

“The uprising of the Wagner group shows the tensions that exist within the Russian military, because Prigozhin also has allies within the regular Russian army,” Heinemann-Grüder told Ntv. “Two generals spoke out against the uprising, but at the same time said that Prigozhin had a point in his criticism of the war.”

“The uprising shows how much the Russians have their backs against the wall”

The Russia expert continues: “The uprising shows how much the Russians have their backs against the wall. Russia has holed up, but there are considerable doubts that this war can still be turned in their favor.” At the same time, he does not believe that the conflict will escalate into a civil war. “It is a struggle within the security organs of Russia. It is an internal elite struggle.”