• crowsby@lemmy.world
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    1 year ago

    Well shucks the core definition of the word “mercenary” means one who is acting out of self-interest rather than loyalty. The only thing these MFs are going to do now is look for work.

    • Son_of_dad@lemmy.world
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      1 year ago

      Yeah the only thing they’re wondering is if they’re getting their next paycheck or not. If not, they’ll move on. If Putin installs a new head of Wagner and keeps the payroll coming, they’ll fall back in line.

  • Aesculapius@kbin.social
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    1 year ago

    There were many senior leaders on the flight: Prigozhin, Utkin (early founder, commander), Chekalov (economic & security leader), Makaryan, Propustin, Totmin, Matuseev (all various commanders). While this seems super dumb to have all these folks on the same flight at the same time, apparently they were. With this much senior leadership now suddenly gone, the Wagner group may be struggling to get their own house in order before they can take organizational action.

    • Valmond@lemmy.mindoki.com
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      1 year ago

      There is even military rules since quite long time that says never ever put two important persons in the same plane in wartime.

      I mean even if Putin actually “forgave” them, seeing all of them in one spot just makes 100% sense to go get them all in one go.

      Lol

    • ImFresh3x@sh.itjust.works
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      1 year ago

      Wow I did not realize Utkin was on that flight. They really got all of them in shot. That flight basically had a sign on it saying “shoot me.”

    • Sleo@lemmy.ca
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      1 year ago

      Could they have been killed in other locations and the plane crashed to conveniently make a public narrative on how they’re no longer alive? The bodies could have been loaded on thvle plane and crashed intentionally for all we know.

      • bradorsomething@ttrpg.network
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        1 year ago

        Much more complicated than a suitcase bomb. Also if you were the pilot would you fly a bunch of dead guys? How do you think that ends for you?

        • Maggoty@lemmy.world
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          1 year ago

          Hold on, you keep loading those bodies. I need to go to the bathroom. I’ll be right back!

          • bradorsomething@ttrpg.network
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            1 year ago

            This is the same government where someone brought copies of the sims video game to a “bust of Ukrainian terrorists” to show they captured phones and sims.

            I know it feels good to imagine a grand over-arching plan in the world, but most of the time humanity is lucky to hold a bake sale without problems.

  • antonim@lemmy.dbzer0.com
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    1 year ago

    I don’t expect them to do literally anything. Wagner is now dispersed across Belarus, Russia and Africa; those in Belarus and Russia don’t have their heavy equipment anymore (taken away after the coup). Their leadership is decapitated, the two most important people in the PMC are dead along with several other higher-ups. The coup from 2 months ago wasn’t endorsed by the whole PMC, it’s been estimated that Prigo had only around 8k people with him - so today you should expect even fewer to rebel.

    The “best” they might be able to achieve is some terrorism. But they’re not trained for terrorism, so for them it’s probably best to keep their heads low.

  • lasagna@programming.dev
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    1 year ago

    Who’d expect a band of former criminals reborn anew as war criminals to have any loyalty? So long as they get to be out there pillaging and raping they will be kept happy and as loyal as such a band could get.

  • Maggoty@lemmy.world
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    1 year ago

    This is the second phase of Putin taking control of Wagner. Their response will very likely be to follow his orders so they don’t join Prigozhin.

    • mcc@sh.itjust.works
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      1 year ago

      Follow Putin’s order to not join Prigozhin isn’t very smart, but most people aren’t.

      • Maggoty@lemmy.world
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        1 year ago

        Signing up with a notorious mercenary group was the original sin. Now it’s just a fucked up game of frogger for them. The only smart move was to not play.

  • bradorsomething@ttrpg.network
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    1 year ago

    Prigozhin shouldn’t have held his breath wondering when Vlad would strike, but he definitely should have flapped his arms after it happened.

  • DarkThoughts@kbin.social
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    1 year ago

    With not willing leader to take charge it is probably not going to happen, especially after Russia took most of their gear. They’ve had their chance and blew it.

  • ebenixo@sh.itjust.works
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    1 year ago

    The only winning that will come out of this war is that of the military industrial complex. Enjoy, neocons.

    • RaineV1@kbin.social
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      1 year ago

      Russia’s fascist leadership collapsing would absolutely be a good win to come out of this. Also, yeah, an invaded country fighting back should not be put on the same level as the world power trying to make it a vassal state/pseudo-Colony. Now its talking points about nazis and soon it’ll be that anyone not Russian by blood doesn’t belong there.

      • gregorum@lemm.ee
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        1 year ago

        anyone not Russian by blood doesn’t belong there 

        Echoes of “undermench”… tell me again who were supposed to be the Nazis in this scenario? 

    • FediMan@lemmy.ml
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      1 year ago

      So correct me if I am wrong what you are asking is for ukraine to bend over and accept Putin’s dick?

      Throughout the “Special Military Operation” advocates have not explained how is it legitimate that Russia invades Ukraine due to Ukraine having a Nazi problem. Neo Nazis exist in some capacity in any country.

      Whats more baffling is this seems like an excuse that is written post-hoc to suit the outcome. When there is no care taken to avoid civilian casualities one has to wonder if 12 year old children and their mothers who died were neo-nazis.

    • jmcs
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      1 year ago

      I’m very curious about what you think of WW2 and the invasion of other countries based on colonial expansion.