THE AFTERMATH | Wagner Group invades Russia
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Putin: The beginning of the end?
Russia’s President Vladimir Putin delivers a video address on Saturday, June 24, 2023, as Wagner fighters stage a mutiny. SPUTNIK PHOTO VIA AFP
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PARIS: The revolt of the private mercenary group Wagner has exposed glaring weaknesses in the position of Russian President Vladimir Putin, raising questions over his capacity to weather the growing threats to his political survival, analysts say.
Putin saw off the immediate danger that erupted over the weekend, with Wagner chief Yevgeny Prigozhin calling off the advance of his forces and accepting a deal that will see him sent into exile in neighboring Belarus.
‘Beginning of a process’
The bitter infighting revealed by the revolt, including the personal dispute between Prigozhin and Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu, has shown Putin no longer sits comfortably atop a vertical of power.
‘Putin lost as well’
The invasion of Ukraine has also intensified the scrutiny of Russian-language media based outside the country on his health, lifestyle and decision-making, painting a picture of ailing and paranoid leader who has become increasingly isolated since the coronavirus pandemic began, spending little time in the Kremlin.
Memento Maxima Digital MarketingPutin accuses West of wanting Russians ‘to kill each other’ in mutiny
MOSCOU, Russia — Russian President Vladimir Putin on Monday accused Ukraine and its Western allies of wanting Russians to “kill each other” during a revolt by mercenaries of the Wagner group, which stunned the country with an aborted march on Moscow over the weekend.
‘Internal Russian affair’
Prigozhin, who did not reveal from where he was speaking, said in an online audio message that his revolt was intended to prevent his Wagner force from being dismantled, and bragged that the ease with which it had advanced on Moscow exposes “serious security problems”
Belarus option
Prighozin called off the advance and pulled out of a military base his men had seized in the southern city of Rostov-on-Don, a nerve centre of the war in Ukraine, late on Saturday after mediation efforts from Belarus strongman Alexander Lukashenko.
‘Moving forward’
Ukrainian military leaders, meanwhile, insisted they were making progress in the south and east of the country, and President Volodymyr Zelensky made a morale-boosting trip to troops fighting Russian forces near the city of Bakhmut.
“It was a ‘fun’ night, we haven’t had this for a long time, it’s been quiet for a month or so,” said 66-year-old Lyubov, showing off the new hole in her cement-shingled roof.
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