The Fizzled Challenge: Putin’s Response to the Rebellious Mercenary Commander

Rebellious Mercenary Commander Reaches Deal with Kremlin, Fizzling Out Challenge to Putin’s Power

In a surprising turn of events, the greatest challenge to Russian President Vladimir Putin in his more than two decades in power has fizzled out. The rebellious mercenary commander, Yevgeny Prigozhin, who ordered his troops to march on Moscow, abruptly reached a deal with the Kremlin to go into exile and sounded the retreat.

The brief revolt, however, exposed vulnerabilities among Russian government forces. Wagner Group soldiers, under Prigozhin’s command, were able to move unimpeded into the Russian city of Rostov-on-Don and advance hundreds of kilometers towards Moscow. The Russian military scrambled to defend the capital.

Under the deal announced by Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov, Prigozhin will go to neighboring Belarus, which has supported Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. Charges against him of mounting an armed rebellion will be dropped. The government also stated that it would not prosecute Wagner fighters who took part in the revolt, while those who did not join in would be offered contracts by the Defense Ministry. Prigozhin ordered his troops back to their field camps in Ukraine, where they have been fighting alongside Russian regular soldiers.

Putin had previously vowed to punish those behind the armed uprising led by his onetime protege. In a televised speech to the nation, he called the rebellion a “betrayal” and “treason.” However, in allowing Prigozhin and his forces to go free, Peskov stated that Putin’s “highest goal” was “to avoid bloodshed and internal confrontation with unpredictable results.”

Some observers believe that Putin’s strongman image has taken a hit. Former U.S. Ambassador to Ukraine, John Herbst, said on CNN that “Putin has been diminished for all time by this affair.”

Moscow had prepared for the arrival of the Wagner forces by erecting checkpoints with armored vehicles and troops on the city’s southern edge. Russian troops armed with machine guns put up checkpoints on Moscow’s southern outskirts, and crews dug up sections of highways to slow the march. However, Wagner troops advanced to just 200 kilometers from Moscow before the retreat was announced.

Prigozhin had demanded the ouster of Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu, whom he has long criticized for his conduct of the war in Ukraine. If Putin were to agree to Shoigu’s ouster, it could be politically damaging for the president after he branded Prigozhin a backstabbing traitor.

The U.S. had intelligence that Prigozhin had been building up his forces near the border with Russia for some time, conflicting with Prigozhin’s claim that his rebellion was a response to an attack on his camps in Ukraine by the Russian military.

The rebellion exposed weaknesses in the Kremlin’s control, and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy stated that it showed the ease with which Russian cities and arsenals could be captured. Ukrainians hoped that the infighting among Russian forces would create opportunities for their army to take back territory seized by Russian forces.

Wagner troops have played a crucial role in the Ukraine war, capturing the eastern city of Bakhmut, where the bloodiest and longest battles have taken place. However, Prigozhin has increasingly criticized the military brass, accusing them of incompetence and starving his troops of munitions.

Yevgeny Prigozhin, a former convict with longstanding ties to Putin, has won lucrative Kremlin catering contracts, earning him the nickname “Putin’s chef.” He and a dozen other Russian nationals were charged in the United States with operating a covert social media campaign aimed at fomenting discord ahead of Donald Trump’s 2016 presidential election victory. Wagner has also sent military contractors to Libya, Syria, several African countries, and eventually Ukraine.

The retreat of the Wagner forces has de-escalated tensions, but the repercussions of this challenge to Putin’s power are yet to be fully understood.

How does this event and the subsequent actions taken by the government raise doubts about Putin’s control over his inner circle and his ability to maintain power in Russia

Er soldiers were able to bypass these checkpoints and continue their advance towards Moscow, highlighting weaknesses in the Russian military’s preparedness and control.

The swift resolution of the crisis, with Prigozhin agreeing to go into exile in Belarus, represents a strategic move by the Kremlin to avoid further escalation and potential bloodshed. By dropping the charges against Prigozhin and offering contracts to Wagner fighters who did not participate in the uprising, the government hopes to diffuse tensions and bring back stability.

However, this development raises questions about Putin’s grip on power and the loyalty of his inner circle. Prigozhin, once a close ally of the Russian president, turned against him and attempted to challenge his authority. This demonstrates cracks within the regime and suggests that there may be dissension among those who have previously been seen as loyal supporters of Putin.

Furthermore, the ease with which the Wagner forces were able to bypass Russian military checkpoints reveals weaknesses in the country’s defense capabilities. Despite Moscow’s efforts to fortify the city and prevent the rebels’ advance, they were ultimately unable to effectively halt the rebellion. This highlights the need for improvements in Russia’s security measures and raises concerns about the country’s ability to defend against potential threats in the future.

Overall, while Putin may have successfully diffused the immediate crisis, this event has revealed vulnerabilities within his government and military. It remains to be seen how these revelations will impact Putin’s image and influence moving forward.