“..Vladimir Putin worked with Wagner mercenary chief Yevgeny Prigozhin to stage the recent armed coup as a “classic false flag.”..”
I don’t believe that. I believe the Wagner commanders refused to follow him in the revolt, and Russian soldiers didn’t desert and join in, and when the populace didn’t stage an uprising in support he realized he had made a big-time mistake and was open for a deal.
Remember Wagner has operations in many countries, not just Russia.