They wanted to dissolve Wagner Group. On June 23, we set off on our “march of justice.” In the span of 24 hours, we got within 200 kilometers of Moscow. During the time, not a single drop of our fighters’ blood was shed. Now we’ve reached a point where bloodshed is possible. So, understanding the full responsibility for the potential shedding of Russian blood from either side, we’re turning our columns around and heading back in the opposite direction towards our field camps, according to plan.

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[–] HawkMan@lemmy.ml 27 points 1 year ago (2 children)

As usual it’s all theater. The real question is if Putin was part of it from the start or if it was just him showing he had the loyalty of the Russian army.

[–] notun@lemmy.world 42 points 1 year ago (1 children)

This stunt made everyone involved look weak so it makes no sense to fake it.

[–] ivanafterall@kbin.social 11 points 1 year ago (1 children)

I agree it's likely real. But purely theoretically, if Putin wanted to distance himself from something, this would be one approach. E.g. if Prigozhin commits a war crime and Putin can say, "What am I to do!? Revolting mercenaries!"

[–] Laser@kbin.social 5 points 1 year ago

This is been modus operandi for Wagner and is the only reason they're allowed to exist while the Russian law forbids private armies, it was Russia's deniable involvement in various conflicts in Africa and the middle east

[–] Dazawassa@programming.dev 10 points 1 year ago (2 children)

I don't think this is a stunt. I think Wagner got a head too large and something put them in place. Atleast for now.

[–] SpaceCowboy@lemmy.ca 3 points 1 year ago

Wagner doesn't have air power and not much for air defenses.

FIRMS is showing a lot of fires in Lipetsk right now.

Could be coincidence, but it's possible Wagner got bombed to shit.

[–] HawkMan@lemmy.ml -1 points 1 year ago

What? Nothing was stopping them. They steam rolled.right into Moscow region and onto the doorstep of the city proper. As it is,bits unclear how much resistance they would have faced.