In the 1997 Disney animated musical fantasy film, Hercules, there is a particularly catchy number, Zero to Hero, which describes the rise of the star of the film from a clumsy boy into a strong and capable man. In the span of less than 24 hours, Yevgeny Prigozhin, the public face of the Wagner Group, a Russian private military contractor with shadowy ties to Russian military intelligence, has flipped the script of this ashes to diamonds tale, transforming an organization that had, through virtue of its impressive battlefield performance, become a legendary symbol of Russian patriotism and strength, into a discredited band of disgruntled traitors seeking the violent overthrow of the constitutional government of Russian on behalf of nations who seek the strategic defeat and ultimate destruction of Russia.
I agree. There are tidbits of vital information not found elsewhere, not to mention Scott's depth of analysis that enrich our understanding of this complex situation.
Except you provide zero to explain or back your contention, when plainly and invited. Sign of a shit for brains troll to me or prove us wrong and write a counter explanation.
"About the treason - the president is deeply wrong about it, we are patriots of our country (my comment: I guess he's referring that Putin said this is an act of treason). We fought and we are fighting, all the Wagner fighters. And nobody thinks of demanding the president, the FSB, or anybody else to come with an apology/confession/coming clean (my comment: I guess he's referring that Putin demanded that all this should be stopped immediately and people responsible should come clean). Because we do not want the country to live in corruption, lies, and bureaucracy. When we fought in Africa we were told "we need Africa" and then they abandoned Africa, because all the money that were supposed to help Africa were stolen. When we were told that we are fighting with Ukraine, we went and fought. But it turned out that all the ammunition, armament, and money that were supposed be assigned??? for this were also stolen. And bureaucrats were collecting all this for themselves, for exactly this moment when somebody marches to Moscow. Now they are not holding it back, they strike with airplanes and helicopters, striking the columns of peaceful civilians. They strike civilians because they miss, they shoot who knows where. And because of this we are - the patriots, and who's against us are gathering around the bastards".
I must say Prigozhin sounds kinda delusional in this statement.
And all that demagogery and hypocrisy statements of undetermined meaning- "stole money and abandoning afrika", "stole money and ammo in ukraine", "Because we do not want the country to live in corruption, lies, and bureaucracy", OMG those are all such a typical common Points of a Liar who just make a Noise about anything, with no facts or proof whatsoever. Also the Contradictions, inevitably linked with hypocrisy...first he said that the death of Soldiers are his biggest concern, then later he asked for decisive Offensive that would cost ten times more dead Soldiers...etc etc... In short, Prig is full of shit.
I don't think he is ..but it's hard to reconcile some of his comments with others. Those things he's talking about are happening to a certain degree ...Gerasimov for example is definitely a bad actor (if not a traitor) ...he was a part of general command in the beginning of the SMO and made A LOT of very bad decisions while hiding behind the anonymity of general command. Gen. Surovikin(g) on the other hand is a prime example of a true Russian patriot and should have been given the overall command of the SMO (he had for a while) but in order to appease certain oligarch power-groups, president Putin had to give it to Gerasimov...That's what nobody talks about much..that President Putin walks in a minefield every single day, dealing with attacks from the outside as well dodging attacks and sabotage from within. I think no person EVER had so much responsibility on his shoulders and remained sane. There will be books written about this ...but I digress. Anyway, let's hope Russia stays strong and united!
WOW! It’s much worse than I thought. His sights were not just on removing Shoigu and Gerasimov but eventually on the whole government and Putin!
The guy is dangerous! It calmed down for now but I’m not sure he’ll go quietly into the night. A more “permanent” solution might have to be implemented...
All Ukrainian special forces are now trying to find and kill Progozhin to re-ignite this conflict between Wagner and MOD. Do you work for Ukrainian special forces Boris?
Oh, that's the Logic of "Hitler loved fresh water, and you love fresh water- thus you are like hitler?!"...I agree with Boris, Prig is a rabid Dog that has to be exterminated.
If the Minsk proposal had become a reality this bloody mess would have shed no blood, no infrastructure loss, no economic loss. No potential for nuclear Armageddon.
God you are a good writer Scott. This is a twisted and nefarious tale that you have told with clarity and precision. You are the world’s peacemaker indeed, because you have a world class mind and an unquestionable devotion to truth. Thank you so much for all you do.
I'm sure you have better sources than I do, Scott, and your knowledge vastly exceeds mine. But, it seems to me that the idea of collusion between Prigozhin and the West is more than a little tenuous. Not impossible and the scenario you have described is logical.
However, the fact that Prighozin has never criticized Putin leads me to believe that money is at the heart of the issues between Wagner and the MoD. Prighozin gets power over his troops from being their paymaster. Once Wagner's contract with the regular Russian Army ends, his power evaporates. I believe that was on May 21, 2023
According to Dima at Military Summary channel, Prighozin has probably received the last payment for Wagner under their contract with MoD. So now he's raising a ruckus to try to maintain some power.
All Ukrainian special forces are now trying to find and kill Progozhin to re-ignite this conflict between Wagner and MOD. Do you work for Ukrainian special forces Boris?
The “patriots” who take the side of Prigozhin or think ANY big changes should be taken in the political or military structure of Russia RIGHT NOW are deluded fools or insidious agents.
There is nothing patriotic about supporting treason and traitors, and Prigozhin is first on that list
Without knowing what is actually going on I have had to look at the groups posting on Telegram. Many are saying that this Prigozhin's mutiny is fake and is western disinformation, just like the rest of the media saying that Ukraine is winning. I don't know but makes sense to me.
Truth to say, I thought it was deception at first, but the statements of Putin and the actions of Wagner have proven to me that the insurrection by the Wagner leadership was real, however unwitting some of the Wagner troops were in participating.
It seems more of a display of discontent with some extra testosterone thrown in. This from Telegram Ukraine Watch: Full statement from Lukashenko's press service on the PMC Wagner situation:
"This morning Russian President Vladimir Putin briefed his Belarusian counterpart on the situation in southern Russia with the Wagner private military company. The leaders agreed on joint actions.
Following the agreements, the President of Belarus, having further clarified the situation through his own channels, held talks with the head of the PMC Wagner, Yevgeny Prigozhin, in coordination with the Russian President.
The talks lasted a whole day. As a result, they agreed on the inadmissibility of unleashing a bloodbath on the territory of Russia. Yevgeny Prigozhin accepted President Alexander Lukashenko's proposal to stop the movement of Wagner fighters in Russia and to take other steps to de-escalate tensions.
At the moment, an absolutely advantageous and acceptable option for resolving the situation is on the table, with security guarantees for the PMC Wagner fighters.
As previously reported, during today's meeting the Belarusian President held two meetings with the country's security bloc on this situation."
Great info. And further testimony that Putin will eat Biden’s lunch. If Putin can take down a testosterone fueled thug with military weapons bent on grabbing money and power, imagine what he’s doing to the shriveled nuts of the Bumbler, bent on the same thing.
I would have to agree. There is much more noise in the West than in Russia itself. Here in Russia, they made Monday a day off and moved the graduation party to one week. And that's it!
If this isn't a stupendous mariscova cooked up between Putin and Prigozhin, then Prigozhin's days are numbered. He will be hunted down, tried and executed if not summary execution when found.
This whole bloody waste of human lives, destruction of land, climate, innocent creatures, culture,and means of making a living utterly appalls and disgusts. How is this entire debacle not a making of a patriarchal testosterone mindset - whether inhabited in male or female packaging? It’s a grotesque play of gangs fighting over turf for profit seeking. The lying and cheating by the USA, Merkle in Germany and who knows who else to eliminate Russia by manipulating and provoking Putin into using the terrorism of war to defend the existence of Russia - how is all this not gang warfare? Why does the feeling persist that the whole debacle is at root generated by corporate, very big money of the Empty Suits Fraternity who manipulate their legislative acolytes to promote such dastardly contests over the relative size of their gangs ‘masculine genitalia? The more the oligarchy strengthens its power addicted grip on the USA, the more the loss of her collective soul, that well spring of intellectual and cultural vitality, itself dependent on the lived synthesis of liberty and responsibility. Both given short shrift by those addicted to and obsessed by owning the world.
What should be disturbing to many in the West, meaning Washington and London, is that the war mongers who are responsible for this war, really don't care if that were to happen! The greed within the realm of oligarchs is beyond the comprehension of the vast majority of Americans and especially the mental midgets in Washington and London who are responsible for this fiasco.
I suspect that Victoria Nuland's fingerprints, as well as other elements of the Deep State, are on this affair. I believe she was promoted recently at the State Department.
A high quality video of Prigozhin sat on a bench outside the Southern Military Command, with two senior staff on each side of him, a tray on the extreme right, holding a white crockery tea set. The camera steady, as if on a tripod, in landscape mode, and Prigozhin says to one of the men, on camera, something to the effect of - don't talk to me like a friend, I wouldn't have have come in tanks if I had wanted to talk as friends. I mean, seriously, it's soooo scripted for a certain audience.
All of Prigozhin's complaints seem more applicable to what might be on the mind of the average UAF soldier - many times more dying than is being reported, the war is a waste and a lie, the generals have needlessly sent soldiers to their deaths, the generals are corrupt, etc.
I honestly think this 24 hour Wagner action was aimed at the average Ukrainian AF soldier on the ground. Prigozhin's complaints are the average UAF soldier's complaints given voice. Prigozhin has always cultivated respect and even admiration for the common UAF soldier on the ground that Wagner was fighting. Wagner has demonstrated how a military force can turn around, what can happen, and how quickly it can be be achieved.
Wagner has undertaken this type of disinformation before, remember the Wagner traitor who went over to Ukraine, was recaptured, and then apparently executed on video by Wagner with a sledgehammer... which apparently turned out to be an intelligence fake.
At the same time Putin has dismantled Wagner's hero status in Russia, and returned it to the hardcore group it was before, and sent it out of Russia.
All of this looks like preparations for the end of the conflict. It would be a so much better peace for Russia and Ukraine, if the average UAF soldier made the decision to turn around by himself, go home, and live out the rest of his life in peace.
Putin comes out of this well... a pragmatic, and magnanimous leader, who settles disputes.
They are the satan right hand men, pulling Coup at the President with 22 years of solid governmental works and 80% popularity are the work of few desperados. Hated by their own population and live in alternate reality. If their own people could give votes, they would have vote for Vladimir Putin.
Good review and food for thought. However I remain skeptical that the West was involved here. I cannot imagine what Prigozhin was thinking and indeed maybe his mind was corrupted. I guess the truth will come out some day but it feels strange that he thought there was anyway he could come out on top in this situation.
One thing is for certain, if this was not some incredible form of "maskirovka", Prigozhin is a dead man walking.....
Even if CIA/MI5.5 weren't involved, this public embarrassment to Russia and the Russian government is priceless for the West's Goebbels. Even if only temporary.
I agree on the surface it seems a terrible embarrassment. As reports continue to come in about all now being well.... I am smelling a rat. I now feel pretty certain this is not Western inspired.
Tom,
You have no idea how tough.
And you have no idea how wrong you are.
Try engaging in a more positive manner.
Or at least provide a modicum of informed analysis to back up your assertions.
Scott Ritter
Please ignore paid trolls like Tom Sanson..
Poor Tom -- NE SERI !!
Tom will bite your dust brother Scott! You are SPOT ON on your analysis. 99% OF THE TIME! Semper Fidelis
Excellent and timely article, essential when no accurate information is otherwise available.
I agree. There are tidbits of vital information not found elsewhere, not to mention Scott's depth of analysis that enrich our understanding of this complex situation.
Provide alternate facts and logic.
Please ignore paid trolls like Tom Sansone.
PS: Lyme-induced neuropathy is pretty common according to a Lyme specialist I know.
Point out the "problem". Or bite thy tongue.
Uhhhh, Okay. Like could you provide any examples when making statements like this?
Except you provide zero to explain or back your contention, when plainly and invited. Sign of a shit for brains troll to me or prove us wrong and write a counter explanation.
Wrong answer.
Re-read Prigozhin’s statement after Putin delivered his address.
I must have missed it. What did he say?
Here the translation:
"About the treason - the president is deeply wrong about it, we are patriots of our country (my comment: I guess he's referring that Putin said this is an act of treason). We fought and we are fighting, all the Wagner fighters. And nobody thinks of demanding the president, the FSB, or anybody else to come with an apology/confession/coming clean (my comment: I guess he's referring that Putin demanded that all this should be stopped immediately and people responsible should come clean). Because we do not want the country to live in corruption, lies, and bureaucracy. When we fought in Africa we were told "we need Africa" and then they abandoned Africa, because all the money that were supposed to help Africa were stolen. When we were told that we are fighting with Ukraine, we went and fought. But it turned out that all the ammunition, armament, and money that were supposed be assigned??? for this were also stolen. And bureaucrats were collecting all this for themselves, for exactly this moment when somebody marches to Moscow. Now they are not holding it back, they strike with airplanes and helicopters, striking the columns of peaceful civilians. They strike civilians because they miss, they shoot who knows where. And because of this we are - the patriots, and who's against us are gathering around the bastards".
I must say Prigozhin sounds kinda delusional in this statement.
And all that demagogery and hypocrisy statements of undetermined meaning- "stole money and abandoning afrika", "stole money and ammo in ukraine", "Because we do not want the country to live in corruption, lies, and bureaucracy", OMG those are all such a typical common Points of a Liar who just make a Noise about anything, with no facts or proof whatsoever. Also the Contradictions, inevitably linked with hypocrisy...first he said that the death of Soldiers are his biggest concern, then later he asked for decisive Offensive that would cost ten times more dead Soldiers...etc etc... In short, Prig is full of shit.
I don't think he is ..but it's hard to reconcile some of his comments with others. Those things he's talking about are happening to a certain degree ...Gerasimov for example is definitely a bad actor (if not a traitor) ...he was a part of general command in the beginning of the SMO and made A LOT of very bad decisions while hiding behind the anonymity of general command. Gen. Surovikin(g) on the other hand is a prime example of a true Russian patriot and should have been given the overall command of the SMO (he had for a while) but in order to appease certain oligarch power-groups, president Putin had to give it to Gerasimov...That's what nobody talks about much..that President Putin walks in a minefield every single day, dealing with attacks from the outside as well dodging attacks and sabotage from within. I think no person EVER had so much responsibility on his shoulders and remained sane. There will be books written about this ...but I digress. Anyway, let's hope Russia stays strong and united!
Thank you!!
WOW! It’s much worse than I thought. His sights were not just on removing Shoigu and Gerasimov but eventually on the whole government and Putin!
The guy is dangerous! It calmed down for now but I’m not sure he’ll go quietly into the night. A more “permanent” solution might have to be implemented...
That he was attacked by MOD with many dead and that Ukros made huge breakthroughs in their offensive -- both obvious and demonstrable lies.
Scott is 1000% correct -- Prig should be shot !!
All Ukrainian special forces are now trying to find and kill Progozhin to re-ignite this conflict between Wagner and MOD. Do you work for Ukrainian special forces Boris?
Oh, that's the Logic of "Hitler loved fresh water, and you love fresh water- thus you are like hitler?!"...I agree with Boris, Prig is a rabid Dog that has to be exterminated.
One can be only sorry for you.... ;-)) Plus something to read and learn.
RFK Jr. podcast (Jun 25) – Putin’s Wagner Crisis – interview with Scott Ritter -- OUTSTANDING
https://open.spotify.com/episode/2dBoxDXfJWbUtap1o8U1HJ?si=8Gz9E2UwRBqKPefPmBcV_A&context=spotify%3Ashow%3A30DqNXrHLKzz4xzmoty6xf
I see, when no arguments are available you reserve to insults. It's pity to see that some gullible and ignorant people even made to this platform.
What a bloody mess.
If the Minsk proposal had become a reality this bloody mess would have shed no blood, no infrastructure loss, no economic loss. No potential for nuclear Armageddon.
God you are a good writer Scott. This is a twisted and nefarious tale that you have told with clarity and precision. You are the world’s peacemaker indeed, because you have a world class mind and an unquestionable devotion to truth. Thank you so much for all you do.
I'm sure you have better sources than I do, Scott, and your knowledge vastly exceeds mine. But, it seems to me that the idea of collusion between Prigozhin and the West is more than a little tenuous. Not impossible and the scenario you have described is logical.
However, the fact that Prighozin has never criticized Putin leads me to believe that money is at the heart of the issues between Wagner and the MoD. Prighozin gets power over his troops from being their paymaster. Once Wagner's contract with the regular Russian Army ends, his power evaporates. I believe that was on May 21, 2023
According to Dima at Military Summary channel, Prighozin has probably received the last payment for Wagner under their contract with MoD. So now he's raising a ruckus to try to maintain some power.
My 2 cents. Stay safe.
Update: Simplicius has posted a new analysis of the events of today: https://simplicius76.substack.com/p/prigozhins-siege-ends-postmortem?utm_source=post-email-title&publication_id=1351274&post_id=130789627&isFreemail=false&utm_medium=email
This is what you might call an overly dynamic situation, and we still don't know a ton of details.
Except -- that Prigozhin should be shot !!
All Ukrainian special forces are now trying to find and kill Progozhin to re-ignite this conflict between Wagner and MOD. Do you work for Ukrainian special forces Boris?
Our poor little Mr. Idiot... - giving bad name to Russians
RFK Jr. podcast (Jun 25) – Putin’s Wagner Crisis – interview with Scott Ritter -- OUTSTANDING
https://open.spotify.com/episode/2dBoxDXfJWbUtap1o8U1HJ?si=8Gz9E2UwRBqKPefPmBcV_A&context=spotify%3Ashow%3A30DqNXrHLKzz4xzmoty6xf
Exactly...he gives bad name to russians. Sounding like a demagog, with that invoking "ukrainian forces" as a decisive factor.
I see, when no arguments are available you reserve to insults. It's pity to see that some gullible and ignorant people even made to this platform.
Perhaps. However, after the negotiations with Lukashenko, it looks like Putin still has some use for Prighozin.
Plain and simple. Bravo!
The “patriots” who take the side of Prigozhin or think ANY big changes should be taken in the political or military structure of Russia RIGHT NOW are deluded fools or insidious agents.
There is nothing patriotic about supporting treason and traitors, and Prigozhin is first on that list
Without knowing what is actually going on I have had to look at the groups posting on Telegram. Many are saying that this Prigozhin's mutiny is fake and is western disinformation, just like the rest of the media saying that Ukraine is winning. I don't know but makes sense to me.
Truth to say, I thought it was deception at first, but the statements of Putin and the actions of Wagner have proven to me that the insurrection by the Wagner leadership was real, however unwitting some of the Wagner troops were in participating.
Upside down in the matrix in the grand planetary coup d'etat of the 21st century.
It seems more of a display of discontent with some extra testosterone thrown in. This from Telegram Ukraine Watch: Full statement from Lukashenko's press service on the PMC Wagner situation:
"This morning Russian President Vladimir Putin briefed his Belarusian counterpart on the situation in southern Russia with the Wagner private military company. The leaders agreed on joint actions.
Following the agreements, the President of Belarus, having further clarified the situation through his own channels, held talks with the head of the PMC Wagner, Yevgeny Prigozhin, in coordination with the Russian President.
The talks lasted a whole day. As a result, they agreed on the inadmissibility of unleashing a bloodbath on the territory of Russia. Yevgeny Prigozhin accepted President Alexander Lukashenko's proposal to stop the movement of Wagner fighters in Russia and to take other steps to de-escalate tensions.
At the moment, an absolutely advantageous and acceptable option for resolving the situation is on the table, with security guarantees for the PMC Wagner fighters.
As previously reported, during today's meeting the Belarusian President held two meetings with the country's security bloc on this situation."
@ukraine_watch
Great info. And further testimony that Putin will eat Biden’s lunch. If Putin can take down a testosterone fueled thug with military weapons bent on grabbing money and power, imagine what he’s doing to the shriveled nuts of the Bumbler, bent on the same thing.
Biden's boss, Barry, is getting trounced by the rabid War Mongers for not beating the hate-Putin, hate the Russian People, war drum.
Thank you, how does this jibe with Putin's recent arrest warrant announcement?
Have not heard...what is the source from?
Here is one article on it:
https://www.dailywire.com/news/russias-notorious-fsb-issues-arrest-warrant-for-wagner-boss-prigozhin-urges-his-troops-to-stop-him
I would have to agree. There is much more noise in the West than in Russia itself. Here in Russia, they made Monday a day off and moved the graduation party to one week. And that's it!
If this isn't a stupendous mariscova cooked up between Putin and Prigozhin, then Prigozhin's days are numbered. He will be hunted down, tried and executed if not summary execution when found.
to Kyiv from Belorus, less than 100 km Wagner is already there, read the military channels
This whole bloody waste of human lives, destruction of land, climate, innocent creatures, culture,and means of making a living utterly appalls and disgusts. How is this entire debacle not a making of a patriarchal testosterone mindset - whether inhabited in male or female packaging? It’s a grotesque play of gangs fighting over turf for profit seeking. The lying and cheating by the USA, Merkle in Germany and who knows who else to eliminate Russia by manipulating and provoking Putin into using the terrorism of war to defend the existence of Russia - how is all this not gang warfare? Why does the feeling persist that the whole debacle is at root generated by corporate, very big money of the Empty Suits Fraternity who manipulate their legislative acolytes to promote such dastardly contests over the relative size of their gangs ‘masculine genitalia? The more the oligarchy strengthens its power addicted grip on the USA, the more the loss of her collective soul, that well spring of intellectual and cultural vitality, itself dependent on the lived synthesis of liberty and responsibility. Both given short shrift by those addicted to and obsessed by owning the world.
What should be disturbing to many in the West, meaning Washington and London, is that the war mongers who are responsible for this war, really don't care if that were to happen! The greed within the realm of oligarchs is beyond the comprehension of the vast majority of Americans and especially the mental midgets in Washington and London who are responsible for this fiasco.
https://sputnikglobe.com/20230624/prigozhin-agrees-to-stop-pmc-wagner-march-start-de-escalation-after-lukashenkos-mediation-1111446655.html
I suspect that Victoria Nuland's fingerprints, as well as other elements of the Deep State, are on this affair. I believe she was promoted recently at the State Department.
Nuland's appointment to toilet cleaner? Next up.
A high quality video of Prigozhin sat on a bench outside the Southern Military Command, with two senior staff on each side of him, a tray on the extreme right, holding a white crockery tea set. The camera steady, as if on a tripod, in landscape mode, and Prigozhin says to one of the men, on camera, something to the effect of - don't talk to me like a friend, I wouldn't have have come in tanks if I had wanted to talk as friends. I mean, seriously, it's soooo scripted for a certain audience.
All of Prigozhin's complaints seem more applicable to what might be on the mind of the average UAF soldier - many times more dying than is being reported, the war is a waste and a lie, the generals have needlessly sent soldiers to their deaths, the generals are corrupt, etc.
I honestly think this 24 hour Wagner action was aimed at the average Ukrainian AF soldier on the ground. Prigozhin's complaints are the average UAF soldier's complaints given voice. Prigozhin has always cultivated respect and even admiration for the common UAF soldier on the ground that Wagner was fighting. Wagner has demonstrated how a military force can turn around, what can happen, and how quickly it can be be achieved.
Wagner has undertaken this type of disinformation before, remember the Wagner traitor who went over to Ukraine, was recaptured, and then apparently executed on video by Wagner with a sledgehammer... which apparently turned out to be an intelligence fake.
At the same time Putin has dismantled Wagner's hero status in Russia, and returned it to the hardcore group it was before, and sent it out of Russia.
All of this looks like preparations for the end of the conflict. It would be a so much better peace for Russia and Ukraine, if the average UAF soldier made the decision to turn around by himself, go home, and live out the rest of his life in peace.
Putin comes out of this well... a pragmatic, and magnanimous leader, who settles disputes.
Anyway, thats my narrative...
The traitorous Jew strikes again.
They are the satan right hand men, pulling Coup at the President with 22 years of solid governmental works and 80% popularity are the work of few desperados. Hated by their own population and live in alternate reality. If their own people could give votes, they would have vote for Vladimir Putin.
Good review and food for thought. However I remain skeptical that the West was involved here. I cannot imagine what Prigozhin was thinking and indeed maybe his mind was corrupted. I guess the truth will come out some day but it feels strange that he thought there was anyway he could come out on top in this situation.
One thing is for certain, if this was not some incredible form of "maskirovka", Prigozhin is a dead man walking.....
Even if CIA/MI5.5 weren't involved, this public embarrassment to Russia and the Russian government is priceless for the West's Goebbels. Even if only temporary.
I agree on the surface it seems a terrible embarrassment. As reports continue to come in about all now being well.... I am smelling a rat. I now feel pretty certain this is not Western inspired.