[Cronos]

Mr. Prigozhin taunted the Russian military, calling his march a “master class” that should have been followed during Russia’s ill-fated attempt to capture Kyiv in the early days of the war, and mocking it for allowing his soldiers to proceed unhindered for hundreds of miles through the Russian heartland.

[Cronos]

From the article

“In yet another big failure by Russia’s well-funded intelligence services, Mr. Putin seems to have been caught by surprise. The seizure and occupation of Rostov was no minor feat. For a decade, this city of more than a million has served as the major logistical base and military command center for Russia’s military operations in southern Ukraine. Without firing a shot, Wagner rebels took the city Friday night.

Local Russian army units did not block the rebels. Of even greater concern, the Akhmat troops of the Chechen leader, Ramzan Kadyrov, were sent to Rostov. They then stepped aside to avoid confrontation. Civilians welcomed the rebels, posing for selfies with Wagner troops, and in one case placing flowers in the barrel of a tank gun. Well-wishers shouted, “Strength to Wagner.” They jostled for selfies with Mr. Prigozhin as he left Rostov Saturday night.

[Trump20162020]

Did Putin Flee Moscow During Coup Attempt?

Betteridge's law of headlines is an adage that states: "Any headline that ends in a question mark can be answered by the word no."

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Betteridge%27s_law_of_headlines

[Reverend Wright]

If Putin was fleeing, the LAST place he would go is St Petersburg, which is Wagner HQ and home base.

[McGruff]

Tabloid journalism.

[woodpusher]

Had Prigozhin not stopped his parade, just what was he going to do when he got to Moscow? He had about 60 vehicles with a few thousand men, reportedly armed with shovels. As Prigozhin himself complained, he was always running out of ammunition. Of the 50,000 men he brought to the SMO, Ukraine had already killed 75,000, captured no less than 10,000 as prisoners, and there were untold deserters. An inept group, they spent months and months and months trying to subdue the small and insignificant village of Artyomovsk. Moscow is the largest city in all Europe, by area and population. The urban area has 18M people and covers more than 2,000 sq mi. Just the city police number over 50,000. Prigozhin's small force would not have survived a weekend in Chiraq. Moscow had arranged for the Chechen Army to set up a welcoming committee. Prigozhin's parade does not add up to an actual assault force to attack a major city.

U.S. intel knew in advance. Russian intel knew in advance. The CIA could have thought he was their guy while he was giving an Oscar-worthy performance for Putin. As far as is known, Prigozin is alive and breathing which may indicate he was being less than a traitor, and not on the American payroll unless he declared the income to Putin.

It's too early to tell what was really going on.

As for the NY Sun, it should not be confused with a former newspaper that went by that name. The latest 2022 resurrection of The Sun has a daily print circulation of zero.

[Berlin_Freeper]

Prigozhin has exposed the Putin Stooges as total Fools.

Now they hate him.

[Timber Rattler]

Putin took the ride and not the ammo!

[McGruff]

Is this the best thing you can come up with? Biden spent the weekend at Camp David instead of his Delaware beachfront home. How's that Ukrainian offensive going? Or has it not started yet? Prigozhin hasn't been seen in days. Maybe he has already assumed room temperature.

[bert]

The convoy never “neared” Moscow”

[CodeToad]

If he didn’t flee, the liberals would say he was stupid to stay around.

If he does flee, the liberal will call him a coward.

Liberals are bigots.

[sten]

standard security measure.

think GW during 9-11. they had him flying everywhere until they had it under control.