The beginning of the uprising of PMC «Wagner» was unexpected for the majority of society, but the end of Prigozhin’s rebellion became completely unrealistic. The general reaction of society could be summarized in the expression “Eh!”. To learn more about the cause of this reaction and its potential consequences for Russia and Ukraine – read on.
Prigozhin’s real motives
According to Prigozhin, the reason for the failed coup was to replace the incompetent military leadership in charge of the special operation. However, the saying proved true once again: “When you don’t know what it’s about, it’s about money.”
The truth is that from July 1, the fighters of “Wagner” had to officially come under the control of the Ministry of Defense of Russia. This meant two unacceptable moments for the leader:
– loss of independence in actions and control from the outside;
– loss of freedom in the use of funds.
A threat arose to the political future, the constant replenishment of accounts through financial orders and personal survival.
Who was Prigozhin actually addressing?
Half a day before the beginning of the rebellion, the leader of “Wagner” made a defiant statement in which he said that the Armed Forces of Ukraine had not bombed Donbas for 8 years, and NATO did not threaten Russia’s security.
According to analysts, the appeal was not intended for the local public but rather targeted toward the Western nations. This indicates that Prigozhin had already planned to request assistance from other countries interested in overthrowing the current governing system during the initial stages of the uprising.
Consequences
The failed coup has many consequences, but let’s focus on the most important ones:
– For Prigozhin. Prior to June 24, his primary supporters were largely from the ultra-nationalist community, including those in the government and associated with the Wagner organization. In one day, he lost their overwhelming sympathy by compromising with politicians.
– For Putin. The support of the President of Russia has decreased, because the image of a person who never negotiates with an opposing force has been destroyed. The fact that the government does not control anything in the country has become obvious even to the most loyal supporters of the Kremlin elite.
– For Ukraine. From the obvious, it is the destruction of Russian military aircraft. On June 24, Russia suffered more losses in aviation than on any other day in its war with the Armed Forces of Ukraine. Additionally, the rebellion resulted in the withdrawal of some military units from the occupied territories.
According to experts and political scientists, the uprising led by Prigozhin will have long-lasting effects on both Russian and international audiences.
