Forces on the Russian side of the ongoing Ukraine War have reportedly shot at each other, with politically-motivated infighting rising to new highs.

Officials from Russia’s Wagner paramilitary group claim to have come under fire from members of the regular Russian army, in what appears to be an instance of politically motivated infighting.

Tensions between Wagner and Russia’s military and political class have been ratcheting up over recent months, with the PMC boss’ leader Yevgeny Prigozhin even seemingly taking aim at Vladimir Putin in recent posts on social media.

[Tough to say whether this is on the level, and if so, what it represents. It could be clashes between Wagner forces looking to retreat or desert and the regular army enforcer units to their rear keeping them on the front line. Or it could be the result of badly managed logistics in which friendly fire erupts because no one knows where other units might be. Or it might be disinformation designed to paralyze Russian forces just as the Ukrainians step off on their long-awaited counteroffensive. About the only thing this can’t be is … good news for Russia. — Ed]