Is Putin weak, or a genius?

[malada]

One moment, the Wagner Group is headed to Moscow with no - or token - resistance from the Russian military. It looked like an armed coup was underway!

Next moment, the head of the group - Yevgeny Prigozhin tells everyone to turn around and he heads to exile in Belarus.

Without (almost) firing a shot, Putin has eliminated an armed rival. I don't know how he did so, but separated from his armed gang, Prigozhin is toast and without a leader the Wagner Group is a disorganized mob. Easy pickings.

So the Wagner Group will be dismembered by being 'retired' to civilian life (where they can be disarmed and safely arrested), join their boss in Belarus (and how are they going to get there?) or be blended in with the Russian army (off to the front with you!).

Don't underestimate Putin.

Comments

[sandypawozbun]

I honestly wonder if they will re-emerge in Belarus. Lukashenko is a spider.

[siliconshaman]

Kind of hope they do... Putin has just sent them where there is a whole lot of tactical nukes, and folded in members of Wagner into the very troops with them.

If there is any Unit loyalty among Wagner, Prigozhin has to be thinking that taking over from within is a possibility.

Not that I want him in charge, the only thing worse than the Russian Orcs is the Wagner neo-nazi's. But with a bit of luck, they'll manage to eliminate each other.

[siliconshaman]

Putin threatened the lives of not just Prigozhin's family, but all those of his 'generals' and most of the top field commanders. It was pretty good chance that either he went along with Putin's deal, or his own side would kill him.