Putin's Lieutenants' Infighting Weakens Russia's War Preparedness.

Infighting among top Russian officials, including private military contractor Wagner's head Yevgeny Prigozhin, has been on the rise, with Prigozhin openly criticizing military leaders for their handling of the war in Ukraine. While Putin has not intervened to quell the infighting, experts say there are no indications that Putin is losing influence. However, the infighting is causing deep dysfunction and anxiety, and eroding the government's authority in wartime. Prigozhin's rift with the military has pushed him to the forefront of Russian politics and signaled his growing ambitions, but some experts caution against overestimating his clout and political prospects, and underestimating Putin's authority.