Vladimir Putin suffered the worst daily air force losses of the war after Wagner fighters killed 39 pilots and crew by shooting down attack helicopters and a military aircraft during Prigozhin’s uprising.
It is also believed that Putin faces the humiliating expectation of changing his two top war commanders – his close ally Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu and Army Chief of Staff General Valery Gerasmivov – or face a new insurgency.
Putschist leader Yevgeny Prigozhin, once a supporter of Putin, has agreed to be based across the border in Belarus – for now. Even after his release from prison and the freedom to lead his large mercenary army, he still poses an acute threat to the 70-year-old Russian president.
Putin is believed to have suffered heavy casualties while attempting to stop Wagner’s “march of justice” against his corrupt regime toward Moscow, as the Wagner group reportedly killed pilots and crew members in their attempted “military coup.”
The dictator (pictured) suffered his worst daily Luftwaffe casualties during the war when rebel Wagner fighter jets repeatedly struck his attack helicopters and a high-flying military plane believed to be carrying a top general
Putschist leader Yevgeny Prigozhin (pictured), once a Putin loyalist, has agreed to be based across the border in Belarus — for now
The Wagner group claims to have shot down three Russian helicopters since the beginning of their attempted coup
The Wagner group claimed to have shot down several Russian helicopters in their attack. Shocking footage shows huge plumes of black smoke billowing into the air in a field after a helicopter was allegedly attacked and burst into flames.
Russian forces apparently confirmed that three of their attack helicopters had been shot down by Wagner.
The Russians are reportedly trying to cover up the loss of up to 39 pilots and crew in a matter of hours.
Among them were allegedly some of the leading Russian Air Force crews. A report said more than 20 fighter pilots had been killed.
Putin is believed to have lost six helicopters – including three Mi-8 MTPRs specialized in electronic warfare – as well as a sophisticated Il-22 aircraft used to carry out high-altitude combat plans.
A desperate, quick deal resulted in Prigozhin’s heavily armed Wagner force halting its march on Moscow in exchange for a deal dropping all treason charges against him and his men.
It prevented a possible bloodbath between Russia and Russia at the gates of Moscow.
Still, in nearly a quarter century at the helm of Russia, as president or prime minister, Putin has never seemed so weak.
Russia analysts said the 70-year-old, who has served as president or prime minister since 1999, was wounded in the battle.
Garry Kasparov, the world chess champion who has become one of the leading leaders of Russia’s democratic opposition, said Putin was “humiliated” by Prigozhin.
“The game ended in Putin’s worst humiliation – a flight for his life from Moscow when Prigozhin’s army was hundreds of miles away,” he told CNN.
Kasparov added: “Many of Putin’s top officials were looking for cover.” “A dictator relies on his aura of invincibility.”
Sergey Sanovich, a Hoover Fellow at Stanford University’s Hoover Institution who specializes in disinformation and autocracies, said Putin has never looked so weak.
He said the need for Belarusian dictator Alexander Lukashenko to negotiate with Prigozhin on his behalf was a sign of how weakened he was.
Putin also faces the humiliating expectation of changing his two top war commanders — close ally Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu (right) and army chief of staff General Valery Gerasmivov — or face a new insurgency
A desperate, quick deal resulted in Prigozhin’s heavily armed Wagner force halting its march on Moscow in exchange for a deal that dropped all treason charges against him and his men (pictured: Wagner fighters in Rostov-on-Don yesterday)
“Prigozhin makes a bold move and gets away with it, possibly with more wins,” Sanovich said.
“Lukashenko saves the day.” Putin was reduced to a bystander who complained on TV and allowed his top generals to be humiliated.
“Never in a quarter of a century has Putin looked so ineffective and unhappy.”
Sanovich’s view of Lukashenko’s involvement was shared by Michael McFaul, Barack Obama’s Russia adviser from 2009 to 2011, who then became US ambassador to Moscow.
McFaul tweeted, “Putin couldn’t control a mercenary force he created and ran by his pal.” He had to rely, of all things, on Lukashenko to negotiate a deal with a man he had called a traitor just hours before .
“These are signs of real weakness, not strength.” What weakened Putin’s rise to power? His disastrous war in Ukraine.
“The longer the war goes on, the weaker Putin’s regime becomes.” Those who want to prevent the collapse of the Russian state (e.g. Xi) should urge Putin to end his war.”
The Russians are reportedly trying to cover up the loss of up to 39 pilots and crew in a matter of hours today. Among them were allegedly some of the leading Russian Air Force crews. A report said more than 20 fighter pilots had been killed
Putin is believed to have lost six helicopters – including three Mi-8 MTPRs specialized in electronic warfare – as well as a sophisticated Il-22 aircraft used to carry out high-altitude combat plans
Released from prison and free to lead his vast mercenary army, Prigozhin (left) still poses an acute threat to the 70-year-old Russian president (right).
Putin’s casualties also appear to include an Ilyushin-22, which appears to have been shot down by a Pantsir missile system secretly supplied by Russia’s own forces to Wagner.
At first the aircraft was identified as an Il-18 turboprop and probably carried such markings – but in fact it was an Il-22 used for clandestine wartime command and control missions.
According to the correspondent of the Russian broadcaster Channel One, Irina Kuksenkova, there were ten crew members on board.
Former Soviet military tactician and politician Viktor Alksnis, now an analyst known as the “Black Colonel,” said it was likely that a “senior general” and other top officials were on board.
However, he pointed out that the death toll was almost certainly higher, as Russian state media were reportedly ordered to obscure the true figure.
“I assume that the total number of cabin crew and task force aboard the Il-22 was between 15 and 20 people. “They all died,” he posted.
Putin also lost a regular Mi-8, a Ka-52 attack helicopter and a Mi-35.
“Between 34 and 39 people were killed in the destruction of five helicopters and one plane by the Wagner rebels,” Alksnis estimated.
About 19 of those were in the five downed helicopters, he clarified.
More damage was done in one day than the Ukrainians did in the war.
“It should be noted that even in the most difficult days of the special military operation in Ukraine, our Aerospace Forces did not suffer such losses,” the Black Colonel said.
All of the casualties were caused by Russia’s Wagner troops shooting down Russia’s regular forces – yet no one will be prosecuted under the terms of the patched peace deal. The bloody fiasco can only benefit Ukraine.
Putin’s casualties also appear to include an Ilyushin-22, which appears to have been shot down by a Pantsir missile system secretly supplied by Russia’s own forces to Wagner. At first the aircraft was identified as an Il-18 turboprop and probably carried such markings – but in fact it was an Il-22 used for clandestine wartime command and control missions
All casualties were caused by Russia’s Wagner forces (some pictured in Rostov-on-Don yesterday) shooting down Russia’s regular forces – yet no one will be prosecuted under the terms of the patched peace deal
Today it became clear that he had suffered heavy casualties trying to stop Wagner’s “March of Justice” against his corrupt regime towards Moscow
As part of the rushed peace deal between Putin and Prigozhin – brokered by Belarusian tyrant Alexander Lukashenko – the billionaire Wagner boss will pay almost half a million pounds in compensation to the families of the slain Russian airmen
To date, no details have been released about the dead flight crew and Moscow appears to be waging a campaign to keep their names secret (pictured: Moscow’s Red Square, which was closed yesterday for security reasons).
As part of the rushed peace deal between Putin and Prigozhin – brokered by Belarusian tyrant Alexander Lukashenko – the billionaire Wagner boss will pay almost half a million pounds in compensation to the families of the slain Russian airmen.
When allegations surfaced today, the Fighterbomber Telegram channel – with almost 400,000 followers – demanded: “What idiot with big stars on his shoulder straps ordered the Pantsir air defense system to be handed over to an illegal armed group?” [Wagner], a gang…? Will this idiot go to court-martial?’
Putin and his supreme commanders “gave birth to this monster.” [Prigozhin] and now they’re trying to fight it.
To date, no details of the dead flight crew have been released and Moscow appears to have been waging a campaign to keep their names secret.
Hours after declaring that the coup plotters, including Prigozhin, would face “inevitable punishment,” he announced that no one would be sanctioned for the uprising.
“There was a higher goal: avoiding bloodshed, avoiding internal confrontations, avoiding clashes with unpredictable outcomes,” said his spokesman Dmitry Peskov.
The autobahns on which tens of thousands of Wagner troops marched on Moscow yesterday remained closed today.