I am not sure coup is the right word either because it didn’t seem to me they had a plan on overthrowing Putin. While RF may have had trouble stopping Wagner’s advance, what could Wagner actually do if they made it to Moscow?
While they may be mercenaries they are paid and directed by RF, so I think mutiny is probably more accurate even if not technically correct.
Coup is the right word. They might not have wanted to depose Putin himself, but sure as hell seemed to want to take over the government. Putin would then have been a ceremonial figurehead, one accident away from being out of the picture completely.
The entire play looked like an “evil chancellors” gambit. The king is painted as good and pure (because they’re popular) but the advisors are the ones who are pained as being at fault, so the usurpers come in to replace the advisors, and then speak for the king as well.
The coup seemed to fail for two reasons,
A, the Wagner group expected some support from the regular military that never materialized, because they’re fucking mercenaries and no one in uniform actually likes mercs.
B, Putin had people threaten the families of the Wagner leaders.
I am not sure coup is the right word either because it didn’t seem to me they had a plan on overthrowing Putin. While RF may have had trouble stopping Wagner’s advance, what could Wagner actually do if they made it to Moscow?
While they may be mercenaries they are paid and directed by RF, so I think mutiny is probably more accurate even if not technically correct.
Coup is the right word. They might not have wanted to depose Putin himself, but sure as hell seemed to want to take over the government. Putin would then have been a ceremonial figurehead, one accident away from being out of the picture completely.
The entire play looked like an “evil chancellors” gambit. The king is painted as good and pure (because they’re popular) but the advisors are the ones who are pained as being at fault, so the usurpers come in to replace the advisors, and then speak for the king as well.
The coup seemed to fail for two reasons,
A, the Wagner group expected some support from the regular military that never materialized, because they’re fucking mercenaries and no one in uniform actually likes mercs.
B, Putin had people threaten the families of the Wagner leaders.
I don’t know but I will go with this guy: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tP8VPkWXOfU (Wagner’s Mutiny - what it means for Putin’s Russia (and Coups 101) Perun)