Posted on 06/24/2023 8:21:25 AM PDT by Cronos
Mutinous Russian mercenary fighters barrelled towards Moscow on Saturday after seizing a southern city overnight, with Russia's military firing on them from the air but seemingly incapable of slowing their lightning advance.
Facing the first serious challenge to his grip on power of his 23-year rule, President Vladimir Putin vowed to crush an armed mutiny he compared to Russia's Civil War a century ago.
The fighters of the Wagner private army run by former Putin ally Yevgeny Prigozhin were already most of the way to the capital, having captured the city of Rostov and set off on an 1,100 km (680 mile) race to Moscow.
Reuters saw troop carriers and a flatbed truck carrying a tank careening past the city of Voronezh more than half way to Moscow, where a helicopter fired on them. But there were no reports of the rebels meeting any substantial resistance on the highway.
Russian media showed pictures of small groups of police manning machine gun positions on Moscow's southern outskirts Authorities in the Lipetsk region south of the capital told residents to stay home.
...Prigozhin says his men are on a "march for justice" to remove corrupt and incompetent commanders he blames for botching the war in Ukraine.
In a televised address from the Kremlin, Putin said Russia's very existence was under threat.
(Excerpt) Read more at reuters.com ...
All the Putie lovers on here have their heads in the sand.
“You’re sounding silly.”
I’m not the ones saying a ragtag bunch of mercenaries are about to overthrow the Russian government.
But the people here that think Jan. 6th was a ‘close call’ (i.e., by parroting the Western media) do, at least, ‘claim’ that this is some kind of threat to the Russian government.
I have zero connections to Russia. Unlike the Ukie supporters on here who all have ethnic connections over there and insist we get involved in their ethnic squabbles
I am very sympathetic to the Ukrainian people and know more than a few. My mother has done mission work there since the fall of the Berlin Wall (and in Russia). I have spoken to Ukrainians here in my city who emigrated years ago and many have family that fled the conflict last year.
Their “take” on this is sadness and disbelief at much of the Western media coverage. Much to my surprise, they are somewhat apathetic about which “government” they live(d) under and felt like the Kiev elites were more corrupt than even the Russian “government” (they don’t like either).
My preference would be for Russia to withdraw from the Ukraine and I have always said that. However, my kids come first and their physical and financial security has not improved with this conflict that would NOT have happened if it were not for interference from the West.
The Ukrainian government is corrupt. Horribly corrupt. It has been that way for decades and it won’t change if they somehow sacked Moscow. My “patriotism” has nothing to do with cheering on the corruptocrats in Kiev or in DC.
PS - some sources believe half of the Ukrainian population fled last year and many, if not most, are unlikely to return so optimistically assuming that half those who fled returned that is a population of 30 million in a nation that already had a failing birthrate and systemic problems.
They will also likely maintain a war footing and the simmering tensions between Kiev and the eastern side of Ukraine where they speak Russian are not going to be “better” after this.
This mess has been an epic tragedy from start to finish (whatever that looks like).
“Are you really that lazy? It is very easy to find picks of the wagner forces in the past 12 hours.”
How are we supposed to tell they were in past 12 hours?
It’s interesting to note who is and is not posting today. I’ve read the internet is down is Russia so the paid propagandists probably can’t post here today. Everyone left upholding that side is probably in the ‘Pro-American isolationist’ camp. Misguided in my opinion, but not traitors nor paid agents of a hostile foreign power.
>The Western media claiming a ‘coup’ is taking place, when it never had a prayer.
All you need to do is ask: cui bono?
1. Prigozhin moves a bunch of forces into Rostov and sits down. Almost no one is killed but some video of them ‘shooting down a helicopter’ is released - the video is filmed in the day, but the convoy to Rostov was all at night.
2. Russian intelligence and a general sit down with Prigozhin and he complains that he was bombed by Russians (but why?).
3. Putin most likely will do two things - 1) declare martial law on all or some of Russia and mobilize further conscription as Ukraine is now doing this will almost ALL their male populace. Then a few soldiers will be sent to Rostov to ‘contain’ Prigozhin.
Factors to think about:
1. The Chongar bridge was attacked by missiles a few days ago and this is a vital line to the southern line. It must be fixed. This takes pressure of the southern front as NATO looks for holes in the eastern front after Prigozhin leaves.
2. Ukrainian conscription is happening as Ukraine is scraping the bottom of the barrel for conscripts. Russia must do the same, but the Russian people fear civil war far more than the Ukrainian war, and will support general mobilization.
3. NATO summit happens in 3 weeks.
4. NATO’s main strategy now is to fragment Russian leadership - how fortunate this is happening! We should commit a large force now!
5. Prigozhin is very aware that he will be cut down by Ukraine if NATO wins. He’s not doing this for any reason.
Outcome:
This allows Putin to keep Prigozhin on ice near the front if any real fighting occurs again. It also allows Putin to send hundreds of thousands or millions of former soldiers to the front.
Please pray for peace and the end to this war.
Graham’s remarks the other day make me suspicious that NATO is trying to move the proxy war effort. I don’t trust the neocons.
Big drones with large warheads?
Nope. They would have used them on Sebastopol.
As I said, these guys just don’t keep up, and then they complain.
I’m also wondering how Wagner managed to get from Bakhmut to the Gates of Moscow in less than 24 hours, considering that the highways in Ukraine are likely not in the greatest of condition, and they’d have to pass though dozens of checkpoints on the way.
Sound very fishy...
Bob,
You’re over-analyzing the situation.
The only thing that is certain is that the guy who attacked Ukraine, targets civilians, killed hundreds of thousands and is threatening the world with nuclear weapons ...is losing and on the run.
As it happens, I’m Spanish, not Ukrainian. The opposite end of Europe. The far, far end, on the Atlantic coast.
“The only thing that is certain is that the guy who attacked Ukraine, targets civilians, killed hundreds of thousands and is threatening the world with nuclear weapons ...is losing and on the run.”
I believe that Victoria Nuland is still in DC.
“You support a bunch of traitorous mercenary convicts? You Ukie supporters are really scaping the bottom of the barrel supporting this. I hope Putin wipes them out.”
This must be a sad day for you and other Putin supporters .
Ok you have some reasonable and thoughtful posts so I’ve never had a problem with you.
“ I have zero connections to Russia.”
You just work for them, I know.
Because -
Almost the whole run was on Russian highways. Very nice roads it seems, there are lots of videos. Look at a map. What did I say about keeping up? Or doing your homework? If I were your teacher I would keep my bamboo handy.
The “dozens of checkpoints” seem to have waved them through, if they weren’t abandoned, or quickly dispersed.
The only sad thing is that the neocons will use this to get NATO involved directly. You have to look at the big picture.
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