Wagner Group mercenary force claims it's in control of Rostov-on-Don

Russian President Vladimir Putin vows to crush an armed insurrection after fighters with the Wagner Group private militia took control of Rostov-on-Don, a city of more than a million people close to the border with Ukraine. Andrew Rasiulis with the Canadian Global Affairs Institute discusses the escalating situation.

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[zapfanzapfan]

Russian military going from 2nd best in the world to 2nd best in Russia...

[jacobschneider]

It's not a mutiny, it's a " special military disagreement" 😂

[shannonsaunders]

Who would have thought mercenaries would have no loyalty if they weren't being properly compensated? How not surprising.

[rustedghost]

I like how old man was very analytical with no spins

[poppinc]

Great guest who knew what he's talking about and wasn't pushing any mindless talking points either!

[nicolepayne]

What the heck? Just when you think things can’t get weirder.

[andrecarpenter]

People seem to forget that not paying mercenaries usually ends up in them attacking you

[ThePhysicalReaction]

That’s the thing with mercenaries; you have to keep paying them the rate else things go sideways

[eileenchang]

If the media is eager to report something, it must be something else….

[hasAcar]

I love how comments are open too criticize our "enemies". But closed on pretty much all domestic political affairs.

[jankowalyk]

putin: "I need a ride, not ammunitions!"

[mdm]

First trigger for Prigozhin was when they were starved for ammunition, second was when they were fired on when exiting Bakhmut, third was when they were bombed.

[johnpaulwebb]

Didn't Prigozhin say, "The invasion of Ukraine, was based on a lie by Russian Military"?

[christophersmith]

Nothing better than watching corrupt tyrants fighting amongst themselves.

[mocaxu]

putin needs an excuse to withdraw from ukraine. so his best friend stepped in

[mattutley]

The russian MOD tried to forced volunteer battalions to sign military contracts with the army. Making wagner and other military groups subordinate to Shogiu, and basically making them non existent. Having one military base of power is good for overall theater of war for Russia, but Putin played the "divide and conquer" game too much and now the system is eating each other alive.

The telling thing is it wasnt only Wagner forces who refused to sign contracts. Other battalions choose not too either

[taylorlittle]

Oh Russia you have learnt nothing from history

[cratecruncher]

Prigozhin reads history books too. His rhetoric about the management of the war is a smokescreen. He wants the Kremlin and Putin has been scared of him for a while. First it was blackout on "Wagner" name. Then Wagner was blocked from recruiting in prisons. Then his ammunition supply was curtailed in Bakhmut making him vulnerable. Recently he was told to sign a contract under Shoigu. So he signed the contract and Shoigu wouldn't accept it. This effectively cut off ALL support from the Russian government. He had to move now because if he waited his military strength would atrophy as the money ran out and soldiers wandered away.

[jankowalyk]

Bakhmut has not gave up for 10 months. Rostov taken within 10 hours. Who would now believe that Russia is “strong and big”?

[danielgrafu]

Very good description about what's going on.