It is hard to believe the head of the Wagner mercenary forces, Yevgeny Prigozhin, was simply stupid when he tried to launch a coup against Russian leader Vladimir Putin last weekend (“Crisis, confusion undercut Putin’s pretensions to ’great power’ status,” web, June 26).

Therefore I believe that Mr. Putin, Mr. Prigozhin and Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko might have come up with a plan to try invading Ukraine again from Belarus. Mr. Lukashenko conveniently mediated the fake coup situation and offered Mr. Prigozhin safe exile in Belarus.

Once there, Mr. Prigozhin could have his 25,000 troops join him and they could lead a spearhead of forces from Belarus down route E-95 the 140 miles to Kyiv. That was the original primary objective of the Russian invasion in February 2022.

The Ukrainians should prepare for this possible move by the Russians — and pay close attention to the movement of Mr. Prigozhin’s forces.

DONALD MOSKOWITZ

Londonderry, New Hampshire

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