Prigo and the regular military did not get along. Each side kidnapped soldiers from the other side and traded them for ammunition. The military may not have intervened when Prigo started marching on Moscow (likely because they were likely scared of Wagner troops), but there was no thought of joining him.
I think you have misread the tea leaves. Russian general staff might not have liked him, but I was referring more to the rank and file. If they had joined in, Putin was a target.
After five days of withering Russian missile strikes on Odessa, Ukraine reports one civilian has been killed. Boy does Russia suck at genocide.
With such aerial superiority over the port of Odesa, it appears the Russians could launch an offensive and take the city. If they manage to landlock Ukraine, it would be a serious situation.
Neighboring countries that took in educated, non-violent Russians opposed to the Ukraine War have boosted the economies of those countries. Presumably, the Russian economy has been impoverished by a similar amount, as Russia reverts towards the Stone Age. This was allegedly heard at a sporting goods store in Moscow: "Me make club. You take club to Ukraine, beat man with it, take metal tools. Bring back to me." Hundreds of thousands of people fled Russia after it invaded Ukraine — and now the countries that took them in are seeing a boost in their economies (yahoo.com)
The rank and file were the ones getting kidnapped and beaten. And they were likely afraid of Wagner, who were more capable soldiers. And of course, they knew that Russians defending Moscow would not hesitate to shoot them. Hell, they were getting shot at if they tried to retreat from the front line positions. The chances of survival are much better if they surrender to Ukraine. There is just no way that the structure of the Russian army allows for very much independent thinking for the troops, as soldiers occasionally spy on other soldiers and report what they say to officers in exchange for better treatment. Russian soldiers would have to be led to Moscow, by officers.
Fragments from Ukrainian AD already found onsite. Had it been a Russian missile it would have destroyed the church. Now back to your bubble.
Russia destroys port of Odessa, reducing Ukraine to a land-locked rump state. In response, Kyiv regime damages home improvement office with flying lawnmower.
The Russian economy is rapidly getting worse. Putin has spent most of his war chest already, and the roubles are running out. Foreign investment has disappeared, oil income has been cut in half, workers have been conscripted into the war and are not working in factories. Inflation is climbing. This war may be ended by an economic collapse as opposed to a military collapse. Last year, the Kremlin had a budget surplus of $28 billion. It now has a budget deficit of $1.4 billion. ‘It’s guns versus butter’: Russia on the brink as Putin’s war chest empties (yahoo.com)
Iran is not happy with its business partnership with Russia. Iran has been supplying Russia with Shahed drones, and Russia has been supplying Iran with promises, and little else. Russia was supposed to start sending advanced fighter aircraft to Iran, but has not delivered anything yet. Russia and Iran's 'unprecedented' military ties worried the US, but it's starting to look like Russia can't hold up its end of the deal (yahoo.com)
Iran also just backed Japan's claim to some islands in dispute with Russia in retaliation for Russia backing UAE claims to islands that Iran claims. Iran at odds with allied Russia after Moscow backs UAE in island dispute (cnbc.com) bne IntelliNews - Iran backs Japan’s call for Kuril Islands talks with Russia amid Moscow ‘betrayal’ in Gulf territorial dispute A top Iranian official has expressed support for Japan's call for negotiations with Russia over the disputed Kuril Islands, amid feelings of betrayal in Tehran over Moscow’s backing of the UAE demand for talks over three Iranian islands in the Persian Gulf. Kamal Kharrazi, head of Iran’s Strategic Council on Foreign Relations, told Japan's ambassador to Tehran that the best resolution to the territorial dispute over the four southernmost Kuril Islands annexed by Russia after WWII would be through “direct negotiations”. Iran's decision to add to tensions over the Kuril Islands disagreement might hint that all is not well in the political, economic and defence cooperation that has sprung from Tehran's supportive approach to Moscow over the Russia-Ukraine war, which has included the delivery of hundreds of Iranian attack drones to the Kremlin. There is some speculation that Iran is unhappy that Russia has failed to deliver it military kit including Sukhoi Su-35 fighter jets, while Tehran could also be wary of the consequences of being too closely aligned with Russia as its international isolation deepens. The Japanese envoy noted that Russia has halted bilateral talks over the Kuril Islands since invading Ukraine. Kharrazi, notably, stated that Tehran opposes military interventions and violations of countries’ sovereignty, while advocating bilateral discussions to resolve the Kuril dispute. His stance on discussions mirrors Russia's position taken last week over the Iranian islands claimed by the UAE. A Russia-Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) statement supported UAE’s demand for talks over the islands of Greater Tunb, Lesser Tunb and Abu Musa, proposing “bilateral negotiations or the International Court of Justice.”
