Major General Andrey Averyanov is said to have borne the former Wagner mercenary chief a long-held grudge.
Averyanov, who was in charge of the spies sent to Britain in 2018 to kill double agent Sergei Skripal, is tipped to take over the North African section of the force.
A UK intelligence source told the i newspaper: ’Many, including me, thought his [Prigozhin’s] days were numbered. There is a lot of discussion around the name mentioned [Averyanov].’
Averyanov runs a covert operations unit that carries out overseas missions such as the attempted assassination of Mr Skripal and his daughter Yulia.
He was seen introducing himself to African leaders at a summit in St Petersburg last month, prompting claims that Vladimir Putin will appoint him to lead Wagner’s activities in Africa.
Channels linked to Wagner on the social media site Telegram said the meetings were part of a Kremlin ’displacement operation’ to oust Prigozhin.
Related:
Salisbury: 2023-08-11 Home Office ‘knew Afghan murderer was terror threat’ year before he killed aspiring Marine
Salisbury: 2023-04-08 Ukrainian Perspective: Invasion of Ukraine: April 7th, 2023
Salisbury: 2023-03-10 Ukrainian Perspective: Invasion of Ukraine: March 9th, 2023
Salisbury: 2023-08-11 Home Office ‘knew Afghan murderer was terror threat’ year before he killed aspiring Marine
Salisbury: 2023-04-08 Ukrainian Perspective: Invasion of Ukraine: April 7th, 2023
Salisbury: 2023-03-10 Ukrainian Perspective: Invasion of Ukraine: March 9th, 2023
Related:
Sergei Skripal: 2022-11-18 Ex-Russian spy flees to the NATO country that captured him, delivering another embarrassing blow to Moscow
Sergei Skripal: 2021-10-19 Russia closes NATO missions as ties plunge to new low
Sergei Skripal: 2020-10-20 US Charges 6 Russian GRU Officers in Global Hacking Operation
Sergei Skripal: 2022-11-18 Ex-Russian spy flees to the NATO country that captured him, delivering another embarrassing blow to Moscow
Sergei Skripal: 2021-10-19 Russia closes NATO missions as ties plunge to new low
Sergei Skripal: 2020-10-20 US Charges 6 Russian GRU Officers in Global Hacking Operation