The Guardian: Prigozhin’s rebellion is over, but Putin’s troubles are far from over

The Guardian newspaper said that, despite the end of Prigozhin’s rebellion… Putin’s troubles are far from over.

The Guardian believes that although the rebellion of the head of the Wagner Group, Yevgeny Prigozhin, a former ally of Russian President Vladimir Putin, has stopped, the consequences of this rebellion will reverberate in Russia and abroad.

Yevgeny Prigozhin abruptly called off his advance on Moscow last Saturday, just as he had begun his insurrection the day before.

But, the Wagner Group’s armed rebellion, though short-lived, has weakened Vladimir Putin in the eyes of the elite and ordinary Russians alike.

The Wagner fighters captured the Russian Southern Military Command in Rostov-on-Don, a logistical hub for the invasion of Ukraine, before advancing towards the capital.

Putin forced to warn of a mortal threat to our state, and Moscow’s mayor urged residents to stay home.

“While Prigozhin’s uprising seems like a desperate act to prevent his private army from integrating into the regular forces, some wonder if a broader intra-elite struggle lurks in the background,” the Guardian wrote.

Wagner’s boss became bolder in his criticism of the Minister of Defense, Sergei Shoigu, and the Commander-in-Chief of the Russian Army, Valery Gerasimov.

Although there was initially speculation that the man might be acting with the approval of the Kremlin, last Friday Prigozhin attacked not only the way the war in Ukraine was being carried out but its rationale as well, before claiming that Russian forces had killed dozens of his men in a missile attack. He demands revenge on the “evil” military leadership.

One day later – after Putin accused him of treason – Prigozhin openly challenged his master for the first time.

“Prigozhin’s arrogance was truly amazing… His unexpected rise from minor serial killer to full-scale serial killer… Wagner, a network of companies is believed to have sent mercenaries to about 30 countries.

Prigozhin also created the Cyber ​​Brigades, and charged with interfering in the 2016 US presidential election.

Prigozhin claimed he backed down from his revolt to prevent bloodshed, which was surprising, given the atrocities Wagner’s forces have been accused of committing in Ukraine, Syria, the Central African Republic and other countries, according to the newspaper.

Presumably, he realized he couldn’t muster enough support.

However, he wasn’t punished – until now – and it was said that he would go to Belarus, whose leader, Alexander Lukashenko, brokered the deal that ended the rebellion.

Wagner fighters who supported the rebellion will reportedly be pardoned, while others will integrate into the regular army as planned.

The disintegration of Wagner’s forces could be beneficial to the Ukrainian counteroffensive, as could distracting the Russian leadership.

Perhaps the most significant impact of this crisis will be on the morale of the Russian forces and relations among the ruling elite.

The Guardian considered that the deal and Prigozhin’s survival without punishment symbolize Putin’s weakness.

And while Prigozhin’s rebellion appears to be over, its repercussions are only just beginning to emerge.