FiveJun 24, 2023

US says Wagner coup is ‘real’ and ‘serious’ as White House consults allies

https://beehaw.org/post/741553

US says Wagner coup is ‘real’ and ‘serious’ as White House consults allies - Beehaw

Joe Biden has been briefed on the chaotic situation in Russia with US officials describing it as “serious”. The president was being kept informed as Wagner mercenary chief Yevgeny Prigozhin was accused by Moscow of launching an armed rebellion. A White House National Security Council spokesman said: “We are monitoring the situation and will be consulting with allies and partners on these developments.” A US official told CNN this crisis was “real” but the Pentagon and White House were waiting to see how it developed. Steve Hall, former CIA chief of Russia operations, said it was in a “different league” to Prigozhin’s previous complaints against the Russian military hierarchy.

Show threadFramecodeJun 24, 2023

Wouldn’t surprise me if it was just a ruse by the Kremlin to start pulling out of Ukraine under the guise of having to deal with a crisis in Russia’s own borders. I honestly suspect they’re trying to figure out the best way to bail without losing face.

On the other hand, maybe it’s exactly as it seems and the wheels are starting to come off as there is unrest within the Russian ranks at a lack of purpose and huge loss of life for no gain. Or maybe it’s just mercenaries being mercenaries and having no loyalty to anyone.

Hard to know what to believe with anything that involves the Kremlin.

Show threadhamiltonicity
Putin's now fled Moscow to Tver. He's made himself look weak and scared, which is incredibly personally dangerous for any strongman dictator and IMO completely rules out a trick. He might well have sanctioned Prigozhin's earlier outbursts - he certainly kept to the rule of pretending that Putin himself was infallible, and only being given bad advice by Shoigu - but the only way this ends now is with either Putin or Prigozhin dead.
Moscow mayor urges people to stay home as Wagner soldiers advance – Russia-Ukraine war live

Yevgeny Prigozhin has vowed to take ‘revenge’ after accusing Russia’s military of targeting his forces in a rocket attack

the Guardian
Jun 24, 2023 at 4:23pmWeb