These thousands of battle hardened mercenaries loyal to Prigozhin even in death won’t kiss Putin’s ring as easily as he might hope. Putin whacked a hornet’s nest with a baseball bat.
“Putin whacked a hornet’s nest with a baseball bat.”
He’s got plenty of backup.
They need a leader. Now they have no one to follow.
Oh, I think these Wagner soldiers will sign an Oath of Allegiance to Russia. But if it includes allegiance to the Russian generals or Putin, it will be worth about as much as whatever deal Priggy had with Pooty.
Putin would be better off to announce he damn well did order the shootdown, and any perky Wagner fighters should know their families can be next.
For its part, Wagner would likely best roll with the punch, get below the radar as necessary, and figure out what alliances to make while scooping up wealth in Africa.