Yuriy Kobzar18:43, 11.08.24

It seems that the Russian dictator has finally lost confidence in the army and now relies entirely on the FSB.

The Kremlin announced a “counter-terrorist operation” in three regions of the Russian Federation adjacent to Ukraine, in particular in Kursk. This may mean that Vladimir Putin has appointed FSB director Oleksandr Bortnikov, whom he trusts the most among security forces, to lead the defense of Kursk, according to the American ” Institute for the Study of War ” (ISW).

Analysts note that Bortnikov has previously proven himself as an effective crisis manager of the Kremlin regime. It is believed that it was Bortnikov who managed to achieve a peaceful resolution of the “Mutiny of the Wagnerites” led by Yevgeny Prigozhin in June 2023. Later, in March 2024, Putin publicly praised the FSB for the safe conduct of the so-called presidential elections. Finally, purely formally according to the Russian law, it is the special services, not the army, that should manage the “counter-terrorist operation”.

“The announcement of the counter-terrorist operation under the leadership of Bortnikov suggests that Putin was dissatisfied with the way the Russian military command handled the situation in the Kursk region,” ISW believes. Video of the day

Analysts point out, in particular, that the Chief of the General Staff, Army General Valery Gerasimov, during a meeting on August 7, lied to Putin that his troops were effectively controlling the situation and had stopped the Ukrainian advance in the Kursk region. Later, a meeting of the Security Council of the Russian Federation took place, to which Gerasimov is not a member and was not specially invited. Instead, it is known that Bortnikov made a speech at that meeting.

At the same time, the ISW believes that the format of the “counter-terrorist operation” under the leadership of the FSB and Bortnikov can make things more difficult for the Russians and reduce the effectiveness of their actions in trying to stop the advance of the Ukrainians. After all, we are talking about full-fledged frontline battles, which will have to involve full-blooded army units. Therefore, the Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation will be obliged to transfer such units to the disposal of the FSB, which, according to analysts, will cause additional “friction” between these already unfriendly structures.

(C)UNIAN 2024