Britain must prepare for the sudden collapse of Russia after the failed coup against Vladimir Putin, senior government sources have warned.
The Wagner mercenary group, by Yevgeny Prigozhin, were just 120 miles from Moscow on Saturday before the march was called off.
The chief of the private military group has gone into exile in Belarus after a deal with Mr Putin’s government was struck at the last minute and charges against him have been dropped.
A senior government source told The Times: “From the very beginning of the invasion, one of the most obvious scenarios was that the war could lead to political unrest back home in Russia.
“We have to wait, watch and see what comes next. This could be chapter one of something new. Or it might be all over for Wagner. We must prepare for a whole range of different scenarios.”
