The founder of the private military company "Wagner" Yevgeny Prigozhin is still a favorite of Russian President Vladimir Putin and his direct political "heir".

As former British military intelligence officer Philip Ingram noted in a Sky News commentary, the recent appointment of Valery Gerasimov, chief of the Russian Armed Forces General Staff, to head a so-called "special military operation" in Ukraine could be interpreted as a kind of downplaying the role of Prigozhin.

However, he believes that Chef Putin's influence in the Kremlin's court intrigues cannot be undone because he has direct contact with the Russian president.

In addition, Prigozhin's mercenaries participated in the battles around Bakhmut and Soledar, the capture of which is the leading task of the Russian army, UNIAN writes.

The expert says that it is Prigozhin who is the main successor of Vladimir Putin, even taking into account the fact that he sometimes acts "in his own way".

"But he has a direct relationship with Vladimir Putin. Strictly speaking, he should work under military command, but he seems to have his own way. He takes responsibility in a wide variety of areas.

USA: Prigozhin wants to get his hands on the extraction of salt and gypsum from the mines near Bakhmut

He is also said to be a potential successor to Putin if nominated, he has openly criticized both (Russian Defense Minister) Sergei Shoigu and Gerasimov,” Ingram said.

The change in commander of the Russian invasion of Ukraine was the result not only of military failures, but also of an internal struggle for influence in the closest circle of the Russian president.

Western analysts came to such conclusions.

According to some of them, the change of commander is related to the preparation of the Russian Federation for the start of a new major offensive in Ukraine.

The Ukrainian General Staff believes that the real reason for this decision is related to the problems of command and control.

The change in Russian command took place on January 11.

Valery Gerasimov, chief of the General Staff of the Russian Federation, was appointed to the commander's place, and Surovikin became his deputy.