Whatever is coming out of this
Serious stench of death coming off Russia
They look and seem incredibly weakened
@Kermit.de.frog
How could Putin possibly accept a private mercenary group deciding who runs Russia's armed forces?
Putin's Russia is a chronically-corrupt state that cynically allows veritable warlords to run large parts of what comprises Russia's armed forces. How could Putin not allow a private mercenary group decide who runs things, militarily? It's a situation he deliberately engineered without anticipating every consequence.
As the saying goes, he remains a master strategist.
Wait and see what happens here
Well, if they shot down a few planes & helos on the way, it's not like it was a peaceful demonstration. I guess Prigozhin got paid to call it off, and was able to make some demands such as "get rid of Shoigu".
I've no idea what his motivations are (other than money/power?).
Does Shoigu have loyalists in the Russian army that can pull a wagner?
Yes, if we believe these reports, then Putin has been made to look incredibly weak. This will only embolden others to try again at some point. He is a lame duck now .
Putin looked pale and rattled in his address today. He seemed genuinely upset by this Wagner move. I don’t think he will forget it in a hurry.
Good question. I don't know much about Shoigu and he doesn't seem like a particularly outspoken man. The puss on him during that security council meeting on the 22nd or 23rd of Feb, 2022, give the strong impression that he wasn't particularly into what Putin was laying down, but he has remained silent enough and has held onto his position way past the time that many other military commanders have gotten the sack. That makes it seem like he's got some sort of cunning about him. His charisma and general staying power is about to undergo its most serious test, and since it's an ultimatum about his firing that has been delivered, I don't see how he holds onto his job without firing back in some way, be that bureaucratically or via some more forceful means. Potentially less interesting times ahead than the last 24 hours, but interesting times nonetheless.
That’s what she said
Today was like Stephen Rea in the crying game. Really didn't turn out as expected.
Somehow a worse ending than Game of Thrones.
..
He is a special kind of nut job in fairness. Not many would have the balls to pull a stunt like that.
Not with a bang but a whimper
Lot of good news incoming from UAF actions today! Territory gained and chunk of Russian artillery taken out of action.
It would be interesting to know who is the actual Russian Leader. Its clearly not Putin.
It was the equivalent of being castrated on public TV.
Putin is in office but not in power.
All of Russia know he is there because he has been left there by Prigozhin.
Looks like a loss for Prigozhin (whom I suspect will have to be Navalny'd) and a loss for Putin and his junta, who come out looking weak. Plus a lot of work for the FSB who are going to have to make lists of collaborators who need to be purged.
It's so bizzare it would have you searching for the tinfoil, just to try and make sense of it.
But I can't think of any way Putin comes out of this charade better than before it kicked off.
Bizzare day of events anywhere else in the world but just another day in Russia I guess.
You'd wonder if the senior Russian generals are having a meet up and going to sort it out themselves. Situation is just absolutely GUBU
It has all been a bit like Hess's flight to England in WW2. Came to nothing.
That seems fairly obvious, sure.
Yet one of two things must now happen. Either he's dealt with, in which case he's a colossal moron. But how do you get that senior in Russia while getting a colossal moron about things political? Or he's actually genuinely been pardoned or whatever, in which case what the heck just happened?
I don't see there's a third explanation here
When the news jumps the shark.
It means Russia is not able to defend itself against an army of 25k soldiers. Otherwise, they would have never made a deal.
It only confirms that Russia is all-in in Ukraine and don’t really have much left in terms of army elsewhere. The situation didn’t improve with the losses they took today.
I find it amusing that some posters are trying to tell us it was only “a bit of a challenge”. It is like saying the flood in Italy this spring was just a puddle in a field.
Peasants Revolt?
Spoiler: Didnt end well for the ringleaders.
So much for Russian reservists, conscription, etc
We know now, that the Russian army that's in Ukraine... that's it.
No backup, no reserves, nothing.
Wasn't he detained after the offensive towards Kiev failed too?
Wagners forces are going to be pissed if Prigozhin has negotiated their executions.
If not then they'll be cock o the hoop they're a force to be afraid of anywhere they go in Russia. In essence two competing forces rule Russia now.
True
3rd explanation, Putin saw that Wagner were going to walk in to the Kremlin with next to zero armed opposition by Putin's forces and that he was facing a bullet.
He gave Prigozhin everything he asked for and is now only leader on TV.
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