"Russian Military Leaders' Knowledge of Prigozhin's Mutiny Plan Revealed"

US officials claim that members of Russia's military leadership, including General Sergei Surovikin, were aware of Yevgeny Prigozhin's planned mutiny before he marched on Moscow. Although Prigozhin believed some top brass would join his cause, they ultimately did not. Russian President Vladimir Putin wants to investigate possible coordination between his military and the mercenary leader, but his need to project strength and unity may overshadow this. Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko, who brokered the deal that ended the mutiny, has been enlisted as a spokesperson for Putin. Prigozhin used a false pretext to lead his forces in an armed insurrection against the Russian state. Publicly, US leaders have been cautious in their response, declining to characterize Prigozhin's march on Moscow. President Joe Biden believes Putin has been weakened, but the extent is uncertain.