Ex-Russian Official’s Bold Move Against Putin

Georgy Zakrevsky, a mercenary leader, boldly calls for a coup against Vladimir Putin amid Russia’s disastrous military failures in Ukraine.

At a Glance

• Georgy Zakrevsky, head of the Paladin paramilitary group, demands Putin’s removal due to military setbacks in Ukraine.
• This call reflects growing dissatisfaction within Russian military circles and highlights internal tensions.
• Zakrevsky, a former KGB agent, criticizes Putin’s leadership, citing significant national and international security concerns.
• His call to arms has been widely distributed, indicating broader discontent among military and civilian elites.

Military Setbacks and Leadership Failures

Georgy Zakrevsky, head of the private military company Paladin, recently made headlines by calling for a coup against President Vladimir Putin. Zakrevsky criticizes Putin’s handling of the war in Ukraine, pointing to severe military blunders that have compromised Russia’s international standing and national security.

Zakrevsky, who has a background in the KGB and the Soviet army, founded Paladin, a mercenary group known for its ruthless tactics and extensive operations in regions such as Congo, Lebanon, and Ecuador. With over 250 mercenaries, Paladin is not to be taken lightly.

His bold statements suggest that there is significant concern over the current state of the conflict and its management, indicating rising internal tensions and the potential for drastic actions. Zakrevsky’s speech specifically targets soldiers on the Ukrainian front, drawing parallels to military desertions that led to the fall of the czar in 1917.

Historical Parallels and Broader Discontent

Yevgeny Prigozhin, founder of the Wagner private military company, launched a failed coup attempt against Putin over a year ago. During Prigozhin’s coup, Russian military and security services did not intervene, indicating a lack of loyalty to Putin.

Like Prigozhin, Zakrevsky’s criticisms have been broadly disseminated, highlighting Russia’s current troubles, from drone attacks to military setbacks. Zakrevsky blames Putin directly for these issues, including the decline of the Black Sea fleet and aviation capabilities, and the impoverishment of the population.

“Our country is not just on the brink of disaster or already right next to it, our country is already in trouble, in big trouble,” he warned in the recording. “Drones are flying all over central Russia, right up to Moscow and St. Petersburg. They even attacked the Kremlin.”

Zakrevsky calls for military personnel to join his cause to save Russia, suggesting he speaks for a broader group, likely including other military figures. His appeal follows a successful Ukrainian campaign reclaiming about 800 square miles of territory, amplifying the crisis for Putin’s authority.

Potential for Chaos and Internal Instability

Zakrevsky’s public criticism of Putin is significant given his background and previous alignment with Russian power structures. His speech has been widely distributed among Russia’s military and civilian elites, indicating broader discontent and the potential for internal instability.

“The population is dying out, becoming impoverished, drinking itself to death. No one cares,” Zakrevsky added. “All they have time to do is bring in migrants. And all this was done by the so-called ‘president,’ ‘The Great’ Putin.”

Zakrevsky’s potential rise to power would likely continue Putin’s policies of imperialism and fascism. His significance lies in the potential for chaos among Russia’s ruling elites, which could lead to less focus on Ukraine and increasing internal instability. This revolt represents one of the biggest threats to the Kremlin since the Wagner mutiny last year.