[Beware, the NYT is often a disinformation platform for the US administration. That paper may be a mine clearance operation, in order to downplay the involvement of Western intelligence agencies in the armed rebellion of Yevgeny Prigozhin’s followers, shall be read between the lines]

The information was considered both solid and alarming because of the possibility that a major nuclear-armed rival of the United States could descend into chaos.

American intelligence officials briefed senior military and administration officials on Wednesday that Yevgeny Prigozhin, the leader of the mercenary Wagner Group, was preparing to take military action against senior Russian defense officials, according to officials familiar with the matter.

U.S. spy agencies had indications days earlier that Mr. Prigozhin was planning something and worked to refine that…