[June 25, 2023] Two days ago, we began hearing that Yevgeny Prigozhin’s Wagner mercenary group had withdrawn from their positions in Ukraine and turned eastward toward Moscow in an alleged attempt to overthrow Vladimir Putin. There is no reliable unclassified confirmation on this, which might be for show or propaganda purposes. Either way, this represents an unexpected and new era in the Ukraine-Russian War. Was it a Russian coup? Was it a Russian diversion?
As a side note, today is the anniversary of the first day of the Korean War, June 25, 1950, and that was to be my posting. But I couldn’t pass up what appears to be a revolt against the conventional Russian army and Putin himself.
It is reported that Prigozhin captured Rostov-on-Dib, the primary logistical and communication hub that allowed the Russians to prosecute the entirety of the war. The Russians are in a serious bind, with Wagner Group snatching the city of Rostov. Let’s remember that Prigozhin’s soldiers are better than most Russian units they will encounter, but Wagner does not have the equipment or ammunition to conduct offensive operations for long. The reason is that the Russian army supplies the Wagner Group’s entire logistical effort. And that itself is part of the problem.
Prigozhin has zero chance of militarily taking Moscow. Maybe even he knows it.
Vladimir Putin has declared Prigozhin, a traitor and has called upon the military and security services to crush him. But let’s not blow this out of proportion because there is a lot we do not know, and what we know is certifiably biased and has run through the Communist propaganda mill extensively.
Just imagine what the Ukrainians are thinking. They are in the early stages of their dry-season offensive, and Prigozhin has handed them a golden opportunity. Regardless of what the Wagner Group or the Russian Army does at this point, controlling Ukraine’s offensive is one thing they will find difficult.
New reports, still unclassified, say that Prigozhin has backed down and will end the coup attempt because the moment has arrived when Russian “blood might be shed.” Yesterday, Putin described the mutiny as “a stab in the back of our country and our people.” He promised to punish those responsible.
The Ukrainians are smiling. But remember Napoleon’s advice, “Never interrupt your enemy when he is making a mistake.”
—————
Please read my books:
(UPDATE) Yevgeny Prigozhin has run off to Belarus for asylum. I wonder how long he will last there.
Now that is a great question. But really, I’m more into what is going to happen with Putin and his cronies at the Kremlin. Will Putin be forced out? Will he be assasinated? Sitting back and waiting. I recommend the Ukraine take advantage of this situation, but I’ve not heard much from them lately.
Yevgeny Prigozhin was kicking ass, now he’s out.
Got my popcorn ready.
Ouch, situation changing by the hour. Hold my beer, Bud Light marketing director, I will take my stupidity out on Russia.
Do we really care what happens to Putin? I think not.
Veronica. On the surface of it, no we don’t but I do think in the long run for the world economy, we do care. If Russia is turned upside down, remember that there will be a possible oil and wheat shortage and there might just be starvation. China is the big loser in all of this because they backed a slow horse, so to speak. So, yes we do care what happnes to Putin. There is no body smart enough right now to take his place and make Russia function.
Rowen, you are right. Chaos is not good for the interconnected world.
Right!
Ukrainian President Volodymr Zelensky responded to the internal rebellion on Saturday, criticizing the “stupidity” of Russia’s government and claiming its “weakness” has been exposed by the uprising.
OUCH
Yep, give me my easy chair, good dog, a beer (just not Bud Light), and my tv to watch Russia begin to self destruct.
Loving the drama in Russia. Oh, thanks JT for the popcorn suggestion.
🍿🍿🍿🍿🍿
Get me some more popcorn. 🍿
Russia coup: Putin’s plane leaves Moscow amid ‘armed rebellion’ within Russian military
https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/policy/defense-national-security/putin-plane-leaves-moscow-amid-armed-rebellion
Yikes, doesn’t look good when your president-for-life and wannabe dictator runs from the slightest provocation.
Wishing this was all true. Viva la Ukraine.
🇺🇦🇺🇦🇺🇦🇺🇦🇺🇦🇺🇦🇺🇦🇺🇦🇺🇦🇺🇦🇺🇦🇺🇦🇺🇦🇺🇦
Funny how things work out. Life is totally unpredictable. No one would have believed it even possible.
The Kremlin is denying reports that Putin has fled Moscow–never a good look. The rumors result from the fact that:
“One of several planes that Putin uses for official visits took off from Moscow at 2.15 pm local time, according to Flight Radar, which tracks aircraft in real-time. Less than half an hour later, it went off radar about 150 kilometres from Mr Putin’s official residence.”
Running from the enemy. The head of Russia, V. Putin is running scared? Maybe. He is paranoid for sure, like most dictators. They are walking tall when they have the upper hand but run for cover when things go wrong. We have a name for that and it is COWARDICE.
Got to be rumors started by the Ukrainians.
If only!