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Russia: Prigozhin tells mercenaries to turn back from Moscow advance to 'avoid bloodshed' - BBC News (www.bbc.com)

submitted 1 year ago* (last edited 1 year ago) by bathory@lemmy.ml to c/worldnews@lemmy.ml

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Prigozhin says Wagner Group is turning its convoys around.

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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[-] azimir@lemmy.ml 35 points 1 year ago

Perhaps this isn't the coup just yet. Most likely his attempts to rally the Russian military to his side failed and it's possible that he was offered some kind of deal to not be arrested/killed if he waved off now.

How he was going to hold Moscow with less than 20k troops (assuming some peeled off on the march for various duties), I didn't know. It's a huge city and 20k troops would be a small footprint once you spread them out over such a large metro area. Maybe waving off at this point was all part of the expected brinksmanship he's been playing with the head of the Russian MoD?

Interesting times in Russia!

[-] SlowNPC@kbin.social 10 points 1 year ago

it’s possible that he was offered some kind of deal

It's been reported that Lukashenko (of Belarus) brokered a deal. I haven't seen any further details.

[-] roofuskit@kbin.social 5 points 1 year ago

Rumor only, part of the deal was he answers directly to Putin only. He no longer answers to the ministry of defense.

[-] xuxebiko@kbin.social 12 points 1 year ago

and to seal the deal, Putin has invited Prigozhin and his top leadership to tea.

[-] TomHardy@lemmy.ml 2 points 1 year ago

Putin passes you a cup of tea. Do you accept? o.0

[-] LeGone@mastodon.social 2 points 1 year ago

@TomHardy @xuxebiko

Yes, but not near a window...

[-] SpaceCowboy@lemmy.ca 1 points 1 year ago

Only if I've spent decades building up an immunity to polonium.

[-] HawkMan@lemmy.ml 32 points 1 year ago

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 43 points 1 year ago

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

[-] ivanafterall@kbin.social 11 points 1 year ago

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

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.

[-] yogthos@lemmy.ml 15 points 1 year ago

[-] sunaurus@lemm.ee 15 points 1 year ago

Only way the current situation makes sense to me:

Prigozhin finds out Putin wants him dead
Prigozhin decides "if I'm dead anyway, I'm taking Putin with me"
Lukashenko somehow convinces Prigozhin that "it's ok, Putin changed his mind and won't kill you anymore" - so Prigozhin no longer feels the need to go for a suicide mission (although how Lukashenko convinced Prigozhin of this, I have no idea)

If this had really been about Shoigu or a coup or anything other than just a suicide mission, then the current result makes 0 sense. (But in that case, maybe the situation isn't really over at all)

[-] Badgernomics@lemmy.world 8 points 1 year ago

Nah, if Prigozhin doesn't have loyalists installed at FSB, Interior, and Defence he's a dead man. I guarantee you he knows this. You don't get into a position of power in Russia without knowing that. His lead elements were holding an Operational Rally Point just outside of Moscow when they just... turned around and a promise...? From Putin...?

No chance, Prigozhin may be a ruthless, cutthroat sociopath but he's not an idiot. Add to that Putin called him out as a terrorist, a mutineers, an enemy of the state, for Putin to U-turn makes him look weak. Sure, the leverage is there but there's no way you make him look weak and just walkway... not AND survive for very long...

Yeah, He has to have his people installed at Defence, FSB and Interior, and at that point he's in charge of the Russian Federation in all but name.

[-] SpaceCowboy@lemmy.ca 5 points 1 year ago

There's reporting that Lukashenko offered Prigozhin safe haven in Belarus.

[-] strongarm@lemmy.dbzer0.com 2 points 1 year ago

Well I hope he gets a ground floor flat and likes to wear gloves a lot

[-] EvilColeslaw@beehaw.org 1 points 1 year ago

I don't see how you'd ever be able to convince Prigozhin he's not going to fall out a window, get novichok'd, or find some polonium in his tea after even daring to turn and march on Moscow.

[-] N00dle@lemmy.world 1 points 1 year ago

This whole situation is so bizarre. I'm super curious what's really going on behind the scene here. Was some type of secret deal struck to make Prigozhin happy enough to turn around and leave? Hopefully more information on these events starts to leak out over the coming days from involved sources.

[-] SheeEttin@lemmy.world 12 points 1 year ago

"We have stopped and turned around, all according to plan."

Sounds like me trying to convince people I'm not lost.

[-] RoboRay@kbin.social 11 points 1 year ago

Worst revolution ever.

[-] Ragnell@kbin.social 9 points 1 year ago

"So, understanding the full responsibility for the potential shedding of Russian blood from either side"

What did he THINK would happen when he reached Moscow? Putin would come out on a terrace and address everyone with "Thank you for proving your resolve! As a reward, you may torture as many Ukrainians as you want!"