Speaker of the State Duma Vyacheslav Volodin has released a statement on Wagner Group's armed insurrection. Russia's history makes clear: external threats and challenges have only united our society in the past. The deputies of the State Duma, who represent the interests of Russian citizens, support the consolidation of powers and President Vladimir Putin as our Supreme Commander-in-Chief. We are confronting a common external adversary, who is advancing the ideology of Nazism to destroy the Russian citizens, threatening the security of our country. In this situation, it's necessary to unite even more, and to do all we can for victory.
This is insane. I went to Rostov-on-don like 15 years ago. It was my first time out of the country, too. I had college friends from there and I stayed at their house.
I’ve really lost touch with them many years ago. I’m hoping their families are safe. I know one of them is still in the states, I’m think one went back to Rostov. I guess I hope he is not there at the moment.
Residents of Moscow and the Moscow region have reported receiving calls from unfamiliar numbers with messages from Wagner Group, according to journalist Farida Rustamova.
One person said the caller played the recording of Yevgeny Prigozhin’s statement in which the mercenary leader vowed to “restore justice.”
Another person heard a message from a “robotic male voice” that suggested he join Wagner Group and claimed its units were advancing on Moscow.
Does anyone know what the chances are of Wagner succeeding? Russian's military has been thinned out greatly because of the war so a concentrad attack behind the main front-lines should be effective. Assuming Wagner has access to Russian army intelligence. This Chechen warband seems like a valid thread though but they also look like the next group to try to grab power...if they crush Wagner, that would be a display of strength that could Putin in a corner as well.
The Hypermind prediction market currently estimates the chances of Putin losing power by the end of the year at 40%. Hypermind is usually a pretty good source, and I'd say this estimate is fairly reasonable (a bit high maybe?).