Were the US intelligence and Gang of 8 group that includes the two top congressional leaders in each chamber- involved in the Wagner rebellion? No, that's not true: the US is not involved. It's part of the struggle within The Russian system, according to President Biden.
The claim appeared on a TikTok video (archived here) where it was published on June 25, 2023. The text on the video, translated from Japanese by Lead Stories staff, reads:
It turns out that US officials are aware of the Wagner Group's plans to lead the uprising against Russia, and intelligence officials briefed some lawmakers earlier this week.
Apparently intelligence officials knew about the mutiny long ago and were involved in it (unconfirmed)
The leader (Yevgeny Prigozhin) of this group (Wagner) claims that his march to Russia was a rebellion against Russian military for their attack on his men in a Ukrainian military camp.
This is what the post looked like on TikTok at the time of writing:
(Source: TikTok screenshot taken on Wed Jun 28 12:02:43 2023 UTC)
The exact same claim also appeared on Twitter. Many commented that this was a plot made by the US. Some comments are translated from Japanese by Lead Stories staff, reads:
I knew long ago about the schemes of the American warmongers.
Did it go according to the scenario drawn by America?
(Source: TikTok screenshot taken on Wed Jun 28 14:05:50 2023 UTC)
From the photo on the claim, "some lawmakers" can be identified as the Gang of Eight.
According to a June 24, 2023, ABC News article titled "Gang of 8 briefed about Wagner Group movements,"
Senior congressional leaders were briefed about the ongoing situation in Russia, according to a congressional aide.
U.S. intelligence officials told the so-called "Gang of Eight" -- the top Republicans and Democrats currently in congressional leadership-- in recent days about potentially concerning movements of Wagner Group forces and equipment build-ups near Russia. However, it was unclear to U.S. intelligence what was going to happen and when.
-ABC News' Trish Turner
AP News also has similar articles on the topic.
The U.S. had intelligence, however, that Yevgeny Prigozhin was building up his Wagner forces near the border with Russia for some time. Officials briefed congressional leaders known as the Gang of Eight on the buildup earlier in the week, a person familiar with the matter said. The person was not authorized to speak publicly and spoke to The Associated Press on the condition of anonymity.
Senior congressional leaders were briefed on the ongoing situation in Russia, but there is no evidence that the U.S. took part in the Wagner uprising. President Joe Biden maintained Monday (June 26, 20230 that the US "had nothing to do with it."
