#Russian state media showing pictures / footage of defence minister Sergey #Shoigu supposedly visiting Russian #army positions on the frontline in #Ukraine (not clear when the footage was filmed)
Meanwhile, the rouble hit 15 mths low, and anti-terror measures have been lifted in #Moscow
When a man teaches a dog to fight and kill, with pure ruthlessness & cruelty, he shouldn't be surprised when that same dog comes after his throat and tears his face off, thirsting for his blood.
#Prigozhin was #Putin's pitbull, trained to go for the throat. I doubt it was fear or love of his old Master that stopped #PutinsChef in his tracks.
That was the coup that was - by Lawrence Freedman
"However relieved he might be about his survival his paranoia will now be working overtime. Must Prigozhin really be allowed his exile? What sort of decent interval can pass before he can be dealt with properly? Who amongst his own entourage was in cahoots with Prigozhin, and why were so many mute at his moment of peril?" https://samf.substack.com/p/that-was-the-coup-that-was?sd=pf#:~:text=However%20relieved%20he,moment%20of%20peril%3F
@jens He's not really an independent actor, as I understand the situation. But the people behind him probably aren't very nice either. But once way or another, Putin needs to go for the war to have a chance to end. #Russia #Ukraine #Putin
One of the unverified reports today from anonymous Telegram land is that Wagnerites still control 3 Russian military installations: an airfield in Millerovo (north of Rostov-on-Don), an airfield in Rostov-on-Don itself, and a forward command post of the Russian Aerospace Forces.
Let's end this Megathread with some articles, shall we? But the most urgend questions still remains unanswered. We'll still have to wait. But I am sure, that the last word in this whole affair has not yet been spoken.
A Crisis Erupts in Russia
The Kremlin is accusing a Russian mercenary of an attempted coup—a stunning development that could change the course of the war in Ukraine.
The #Council should rule that the #Russian aggressor stop the shelling of #refugees immediately and the UN should secure the #Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant (#ZPP) and empower #NATO to put its decisions into effect by armed measures (Art. 42, #UNCharter).
#Putin IMO does not have these months to preserve power.
Therefore, it is NOT unlikely that he will resort to #PlanB, using the explosives placed by his terrorist brigades in 4 of the 6 plants.
So, in order to bring his #PlanA forward, #sabotage or a "stray missile" that seriously damages the single remaining #electricity supply seems his most likely next move to me, IF he still holds sufficient...
...👉#Putin seems to plan to blow up the #ZPP👈, Polish #MEP#Michał Jan Boni cites Mr. "Budanov, head of the Main Intelligence Directorate of the Ministry of Defense of #Ukraine":
"The situation has never been as serious as it is now,"…
"Moods in Shoigu's environment are panicked. He himself is isolated. Staff decisions might be announced by tomorrow. Operation-investigative group has been formed and is at work."
"Shoigu is currently in isolation under the watch of personal security, comprised of FSS employees. Departments of FSB and Investigative Committee started studying materials of criminal cases on theft in MoD back on Thursday". #Ukraine️ #Russia#Putin#EU#NATO
For the first time since the coup attempt, Shoigu showed up. In the morning, the Russian Ministry of Defense posted a video showing that he visited the command post of the "western" group of troops in the "SMO" zone. Though it is not clear if this video is recent or from an archive. There were no comments from Shoigu #Ukraine️ #Russia#Putin#EU#NATO#Zelensky#war#news#Moscow#USA#UK#Germany#Poland#France#Turkey