As Russia’s ruling elite one-by-one fall down stairs or out windows, another star is rising. Now speculation is mounting that “Putin’s Chef” is preparing to step out of the kitchen.

He started out with a catering business.

He quickly became part of President Vladimir Putin’s inner sanctum.

He’s now behind Russia’s cyber warriors and a host of online trolls.

And he has his own mercenary army.

. He’s spruiking his Wagner Group mercenaries as Russia’s most effective fighting force. He’s waging a verbal war against key Putin appointees. He’s winning public support among extremists who believe their aging president is failing them. 

Prigozhin started out with a catering business and quickly became part of President Vladimir Putin’s inner sanctum.AP

That’s why some warn he may end up being “worse than Putin”.

But among Putin’s kleptocratic (government of thieves) circle of power, he’s rapidly emerging as the 70-year-old’s most likely successor. Or usurper.

And now he’s openly attacking the Kremlin’s military leaders for their failing war efforts.

“There will be a lot of political turmoil after Putin. Anyone will be able to take part,” Russian opposition figure Lyubov Sobol told Foreign Policy.

“But having the resources of a well-known name, media outlets, and followers is useful.”

Prigozhin is reportedly “spruiking” his Wagner Group mercenaries as Russia’s most effective fighting force, and waging a verbal war against key Putin appointees. AP

Prigozhin is passing the buck for the failure of his guns-for-hire to take the strategically insignificant Ukrainian city of Bakhmut. And that’s despite Putin gifting his private army with Russia’s most modern tanks, missiles, and attack aircraft.