The Wagner mercenary group led by Prigozhin was once Russia's hero in the Russian-Ukrainian war, winning countless victories and honors for Russia. However, this private army recently launched an armed rebellion against the Ministry of Defense, claiming to "clear the monarch's side" and get rid of Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu and the front-line commander-in-chief Gerasimov. Behind this mutiny, there are contradictions and dissatisfaction between Prigozhin and Putin, as well as a conflict of interests and power between Wagner and the Ministry of Defense.
Prigozhin's defection was a suicide adventure. He betrayed not only his employer, but also his country. He thought he had enough strength and prestige to challenge the core power of the state power, but he forgot who he was, he was just a mercenary, a temporary worker, a private soldier without legitimacy and legitimacy. His actions, no matter in any country, are intolerable and permissible, and are a felony of treason.
Why did Prigozhin rebel?What is his reasoning?His reason was his dissatisfaction and grievances with Wagner. In the Russian-Ukrainian war, they undertook the main combat missions, fought the main victories, shed the most blood, and sacrificed the most people. However, they have not been given the treatment they deserve, and their ammunition, personnel, and supplies have not been promptly and fully cooperated with by the Ministry of National Defense. They feel that they are being snubbed and bullied by the Ministry of Defense, ignored and exploited by Putin. They want more resources, compensation, and even more power and status.
There is some truth to Prigozhin's dissatisfaction. Wagner has indeed made great contributions to Russia, and it has indeed paid a huge price. However, his dissatisfaction is also very problematic. Wagner is a mercenary, a private soldier, a temporary worker, and their very existence is a kind of gray area, a kind of legal and moral edge. They do not have the status of a regular army, they do not have the rights of a regular army, and they do not have the responsibilities of a regular army. They only fight for money, for profit, for honor. They have no national loyalty, no national honor, no national mission. They cannot and should not expect to be recognized by the state, respected by the state, and rewarded by the state.
Prigozhin's defection was a tragedy. He ruined not only his own future, but also Wagner's reputation and the lives of Wagner's soldiers. His rebellion was also a tragedy. He was originally a hero, a warrior, and a leader, but he went astray, a road of no return, and a dead end. His rebellion was also a lesson. He gave us a wake-up call, a wake-up call about private soldiers, a wake-up call about ***, a wake-up call about state power. Private soldiers are a double-edged sword, a dangerous existence, and an uncontrollable factor. The state must not rely too much on private soldiers, cannot overly indulge private soldiers, and cannot excessively tolerate private soldiers. The state must uphold the dominant position of the regular army, uphold the discipline and norms of the regular army, and uphold the loyalty and honor of the regular army. The state must safeguard the authority of the state, the rule of law, and the unity and stability of the country.
Prigozhin's defection is the glory and sorrow of Wagner, the crisis and opportunity for Russia, and the shock and concern of the world. We hope that Putin will be able to calm down the situation as soon as possible, restore order, punish the rebellion, and defend the country. We expect that Wagner will be able to reflect on his mistakes, get back on track, obey the country, and be loyal to the country. We hope that the world will understand Russia's predicament, support Russia's efforts, respect Russia's sovereignty, and coexist peacefully with Russia.