Prigozhin rushed his Wagner mutiny because he knew Putin was on to him, report says

• Wagner leader Yevgeny Prigozhin had to accelerate the timeline of his mutiny, the WSJ reported.
• Russia's intelligence unit became aware of his plans 48 hours in advance, the report said.

Wagner leader Yevgeny Prigozhin rushed his armed rebellion last weekend because he knew Russian President Vladimir Putin was on to him, The Wall Street Journal reported on Wednesday.

Russia's intelligence unit, otherwise known as Federal Security Service (FSB), became aware of Prigozhin's mutiny plans around 48 hours before it took place, which could in part explain its failure, the report said.

The rebellion began on Saturday when Wagner soldiers entered the southern city of Rostov-on-Don and seized military facilities in Voronezh, before planning to go to Moscow.

But the Wagner group aborted its march within 125 miles (200 kilometers) of Moscow after a supposed deal was struck that would see Prigozhin go into exile in Belarus and prosecuted by its law-enforcement agencies.

According to the WSJ report, the Wagner mercenary boss initially wanted to capture two of Russia's most senior military officials: Defence Minister Sergei Shoigu and the chief of Russia's general staff, General Valery Gerasimov.

The men had been publicly feuding over Russia's war in Ukraine for several months now. The feud escalated dramatically several weeks before the failed rebellion when Shoigu announced that Wagner soldiers would have to sign contracts with his ministry.

Prigozhin had initially thought that Russian soldiers would turn on their commanders and join the mutiny, The Wall Street Journal said.

Gen. Viktor Zolotov, commander of the National Guard of Russia, who directly reports to Putin, told state media on Tuesday that authorities knew about Prigozhin's intentions before he launched his attempt.

"Specific leaks about preparations for a rebellion that would begin between June 22-25 were leaked from Prigozhin's camp," Zolotov said, according to the WSJ.

Western intelligence agencies were also informed about Prigozhin's plans by looking at satellite imagery and electronic communications intercepts, the report said.