Russia steps up attacks amid reports of rifts inside Kremlin.

One American official said there was “now persistent tension” between the Russian president and his Defense Ministry. 

…

The intelligence, according to multiple American officials, showed Mr. Putin’s isolation and what appeared to be growing tension between him and the Ministry of Defense, including with his defense minister, Sergei K. Shoigu, who was once among the most trusted members of the Kremlin inner circle and had been rumored to be a possible successor one day to Mr. Putin.

…

It was not clear whether the release of the declassified intelligence was intended to sow anxiety within Mr. Putin’s circle as part of a broader information battle between the United States and Russia over Ukraine, the source of the worst tensions between the two nuclear powers since the Cold War. Nor was it clear if the intelligence was accurate.

Oh Quasis, nice. Excellent reporting there. That also reinforces something I forgot, that today’s reporting was based on declassified material, not on Senior Defense Official. How up to date the declassified material is is not given.