Rebellion in Russia: Why did Prigozhin back down? | DW News 

Prigorshins turning back is his biggest mistake. The Kremlin is never going to forgive his insults

The video of the Wagner Group mercenaries smiling from ear to ear indicates they received a large payment for their effort. This appeared to be more of a successful shakedown attempt than a coup. And you can tell it wasn't a coup as Prigozhin did not attack Putin personally, but instead Shoigu and Gerasimov.

This guy went from owning restaurants to mercenary leader. Living the Russian dream

This is great reporting ... the interviewer asked intelligent questions and the woman at the end of the video provided excellent, balanced analysis.

This CANT be real. Im just stunned that after all this, 12 russian pilots killed and a march on Moscow, Putin has merely decided to drop the charges against Progozhin, and only exile him. To Belarus? This is all so stunning and leaves so many questions. For instance: one question I have is why Progozhin said "ok ok....nevermind...Im withdrawing my troops according to plan...." Plan? What plan? Whos "plan"? And how on Earth did Lukashenko get involved in all this? This all just seems so coordinated and organized, very fishy.

Well prigozhin that is your end, rest in peace

It wasn’t an attempted coup, it was a mutiny. Prigozhyn did not want to overthrow Putin. The motivating factor was autonomy and not having to sign contracts with the Russian MoD. He succeeded because the MoD backed down and Wagner will remain independent.

Prigozhin cant avoid every window, stairwell or Radioactive teapot for the rest of his life.

Most rational analysis I’ve heard so far. It was just a business decision for Prigozhin. Excellent job, DW.

I laughed so hard when he turned back 🤣. He was so close to victory

That awkward moment where for a day Russia went from the "second best army on earth" to the second best army in Russia.

Don't be surprised if this is all just theater and he actually ends up attacking Ukraine from Belarus while Ukraine's forces are in the east and south focused on a counter-offensive. Russia has a massive number of troops in Belarus ready to strike. This could just be a redeployment in preparation for taking the capitol of Ukraine. Of course, the Belarussian people are against the war so this could cause an uprising in Belarus if Ukraine strikes back at Belarus for an attack from that country.

I think we don’t know everything about the deal that was made. I doubt he just backed down. I think he got something he wanted out of it, for instance getting out of the Ukraine war and being able to deploy his troops to places where he gets paid. Per his own words he did not believe in the Ukraine war anymore.

This man’s Face: His mouth expresses pride and accomplishment, but his eyes express resignation to a predetermined fate.

What a bummer, I wanted to see him make it to Moscow.

Both of them came to a perfect settlement. Nothing personal, just business. 💯💪🎉🎉✌✌

Prigozhin is now a marked man. It’s never good to undermine your leader & make him compromise. Good luck in your stay in Belarus.

Prigorzhin RIP for trusting Putin.

The disappointment from west side is something else 😂😂😂😂

He took a calculated gamble. He found it wasn't achieving his aims so backed out, unlike Putin. But it's shaken the Kremlin, and he's made his point for all to see.

So you can get arrested for anything remotely critical of Putin and the war but also move with a freaking army on the capital and they might say: 'Yeah nah, we all make mistakes sometimes.'

Is anyone looking at the fact PMC Wagner is in the position now to turn Belarus into their training grounds. Nice way to move men and equipment without anyone thinking to much. Then they can launch missions from Belarus against everyone. While the rest of the world watches Crimea/counter offensive as drones and troops pour back into Ukraine from Belarus. Why did you think they put a bunch of nuclear weapons there.

This ended as fast as it started lol. I love how so many were so happy when this "coup" started hahahhaa

So he says this war was all a lie and not just and yet he sends his own men back 🤨🤨

There is obviously something they haven't said or talked about. Prigozhin knows very well the FSB assassination ways. He wouldn't just give up and call it a day knowing he could be stabbed in the back.

From now on he must stay away from windows.

Can't help wondering if it was all a trick to get Wagner into Belarus

10/10 acting, 10/10 story-telling but the ending is kinda mid. 7/10 overall.

I still think a piano will fall on him as he is walking in Minsk Belarus in a ‘tragic accident’

No one knows but my guess: Prigoschin wanted Shoigu to be replaced, perhaps even by himself, and the total mobilization for the war in Ukraine. After Putins speech he tried to increase the pressure with his march toward Moscow but, finally, had to accept that this doesn’t work out. It was never about taking control or gaining public support.

One does not slap the king. If you strike, he must fall.

"their rebellion turned to retreat" nah Prigozhin got to make his point and walk away unscathed

If this was a crazy movie, the plot twist would be Lukashenko and Prigozhin take over Russia in the end.

As the old saying goes: 'If you aim for the king then you better make sure you hit the target.' I like everyone here don't know the details of the deal between Prigozhin & the Russian MoD but Prigozhin will most likely be looking over his shoulder for the rest of his life😀😈

I have often seen Prigozhin's name come up in subtitles as "precaution" but never before seen "big ocean"!

From criminal in jail to begin heros imagine how that would have felt

Dude did the mother of all rage quits lmao

This seems very hard to understand, I'm still trying to wrap my head around all these events. If anyone has further thoughts on this ambivalent coup attempt and Prigozhin's role, please feel free to share them here. ty

All Lukashenko had to say was: “Think about it, if you’re successful you’ll be stuck running Russia.”

He goes to Belarus, gets his hands on the russian nuclear arsenal there and this is how life is way better than fiction.

What surprises me most is that Luckashenko was capable of brokering a deal. I was under the impression that he could barely pick his own nose. I was not surprised that P would accept a compromise. He is ultimately a pragmatist and has no desire to die just yet.

Prigorshins can look over his shoulder the rest of his life. FSB is serious stuff.

What a pleasant surprise on this channel! The guest Marina Miron did an amazing job analyzing the unfolded Events. Bravo

Prigozhin got fed up and having his men attacked by his rivals in the Russian military was the last straw. Not only did he want to display that he could throw a spanner in the war plans if the situation didn't improve for his army, but mostly he needed to do something to restore the moral of his men.

Imagine being one of all those police officers, generals and others who either refused orders of acting against Prigozhin during his motorized 'march' on Moscow or even straight up pledged their support for him now... And how shameful must all those politicians look who instantly fled the capital for destinations abroad or Saint Petersburg.. Not to mention, the fact the official, state run television channels, the only ones there are by the way, that got "hacked" and that for hours on end broadcast Prigozhin's statements, that must be something that made just about all of the whole population (re)think the whole situation! The courts and prisons are gonna overflow with thousands of new suspects and inmates, and half the fabric (as far as they have any, maybe 'hierarchy' would be a better word) of all departments and bureaucracy is gone fall away whilst those who remain in (their) position(s) will not ever know any more whoever they can even trust, they all are gonna be like solemn islands in a sea that's infested with possible opponents that are not visible! I am thinking the events of the last few days actually, effectively, will have weakened the power structure(s) that existed for at least 80% and from a western perspective is the best thing that ever could have happened. Later on it will become obvious that this was the actual turning point at which the dictatorship started taking apart, most noticeably be cause they from there on lost their grip (and oversight). In the long run this may turn out to have been the start of the development of better things. However it is very likely that first again a period of harsh chaos will arise again. One that may be (much) worse that the one we saw after the collapse of the Soviet Union.. One in which Russia's government and its institutions may stop functioning altogether, one that sees pensioners and others not receive their incomes whilst supplies of food, energy, transport and (other) services may get interrupted, chaos that ensues in the streets may get unchecked as even police services may have suspended their operations due to not getting paid and the department they resort under having been disbanded.. All this whilst several different factions of little Prigozhin-like (effective) warlords fight over positions of leadership and power..

imagine a mercenary group with that amount of resources, thats crazy

Very good report. Excellent questions and the lady gives a very plausible assessment of the events

If he really was attacked first by the Russian army then i guess all he really wanted was a public promise of amnesty.

This is such a bizarre event that I'm sure many will have their theories as to what happened behind the scenes. The one thing that I'm certain about is that some soldiers in Wagner must be pissed. First, your boss publicly states that we are fighting in a war that was started because of lies. Second, said boss has you leaving front lines and travel to Moscow for whatever reason, only for him to tell you to turn back as he is leaving to another country. I'm sure Putin will hold no grudge to the soldiers that made him look weak.

Changes happen so fast can't keep up. Wonder if Prigozhin will still be heard from again.

Prigozhin’s life will make a great movie.

If Prigozn leaves for Belarus, that would mean that the Wagner troops that went with him are even closer to Kiev. If Putin is all that upset with him, then we all know how Putin usually deals with that. None of this makes any sense.

The guy had better stay far, far away from any hotel windows.

Well Prigozhin’s transfer to Belarus could be Russia’s plan all along. Wagner group could launch another attack from Belarus.

Look at all that heavy armed equipment. THAT costs millions of dollars. Who has that kind of money except a government?

I foresee Pregozin falling down from his car window.... R.I.P comrade

What ever deal they made with him means nothing, he will either vanish,fall out of a window ,or just die mysteriously.

Methinks there is no coincidence that Prigozhin followed the recent deployment of tactical nuclear weapons into Belarus.

In Russia you don’t go against the government in Russia and go “ unpunished “ .

The analysis is top-notch thank you. The automatic subtitle tripped up hilariously by the pronunciation of the name of the ex-convict turned hotdog seller turned Putin’s chef turned evil head of Russian illegal bandits, who got rich not just being paid by the Russian military with Putin’s blessing but by extorting gold from African states in the name of Putin. Prigozhin is anything but” Precaution” in name. He made a bad gamble to hold on to his bunch of bandits when his bandits were not getting their mercenary contacts renewed with the Wagner Group but with the Russian military instead. He lost his gamble and was forced to exile.

It was all posturing, and contract negotiation, by the PMC leader. Brigozian is not the sole owner of Wagner. It was about money.

Nah they will attack Kyiv from Belarus.

Yesterday Wagner was 200km from Moscow, today Wagner is 100km from Kiev. Life is full of surprises.

Thanks DW, for this interesting report.

It is a plan to replace Lukashenko

They can easily reinstate those criminal charges at any time in the future.

I'll not be surprised to hear that Prigozhin has met an untimely ended very shortly.

I think Prigozhin should start taking some solo flying lessons on how to fly out of window without any parachute.😂😅I have no idea why he thinks it is safe to be in Belarus rather than in Russia. I am not too sure I see a big difference.😬🙄

Prighozin is given a new assignment and that is to attack Ukraine from Belarus. Good move

7:13 Don't call her Shirley!

It’s just a matter of time until Prigozhin has an accidental fall out of a winder.

The whole thing was a theatrical performance.

Does anyone else think this was purely orchestrated by Putin and Prigozhin? The sudden retreat after such intense defiance is very odd.

That's the most pathetic attempt at a coup I've ever seen in my life. Or ever read about. Where's the effort? Where's the follow-through?

I think Marina Miron nailed this on every point. After watching Prigozhin turn tail so quickly after talking so tough, I wouldn't follow him to the latrine. Don't know if the US CIA was involved or not, but it had the hallmarks of one of their Bay of Pigs-style fiascos.

Could be a ploy to attack from different location.

Has Prigozhin's army been exiled to Belarus also?

Somebody will be mysteriously falling from a balcony soon

It's a test to prove who is loyal to Russia and Putin a well orchestrated plan,Putin is not a fool although he is reckless sometimes he know how to play his cards well.

He received his golden parachute. He was exiled to Belarus but will most probably go elsewhere to live a lavish and peaceful retirement.

I can't help but wonder if any nukes were moved around during all the confusion. From Rostov to Belarus or Ukraine? This whole coup/mutiny/rebellion could have been a ruse.

Wow he pussed out!!! Vodka must have wore off 😂

Prigozhin is going to have to take a crash course in low altitude flying... Putler will do everything in his playbook to have him taken out. It's going to quickly turn into a fight to the death, literal or figurative.

The civil war ended as soon as Prigozhin's drunkenness.

Not long for something unfortunate to occur while he is in Belarus. 😮

So Russia moved Wagnar to Belarus without much of an international backlash?

What were the end results? What if all this drama was hurt a way of getting the pirgoshin and the Wagner group into Belarus? And their arrival in Belarus just happens to coincide with the installation of those nuke loaded missiles. In a totally different country. Add that all up and you have a perfect situation for firing nukes from a non-russian territory, by a group of mercenaries who are no longer on the Russian payroll. Are you thinking what I am thinking?

Shame and shame. No behind the scenes much blood will be spilled for those who opened there arms to him

Can't wait for the documentary about this war

Technically, it wasn't the Kremlin he struck a deal with. The president if the Republic of Belarus was negotiating with him while Putin did nothing.

He's throwing his troops under the bus. They will all die .

Sad news for Ukraine and NATO

Stand down and stand by.

Prigozhin is clearly not the sharpest knife in the drawer.

Putin’s probably offered him Belarus if he gets shut of Luka 🤔

Don't be sad because it's over, be happy because it happened

In a world taken over by narratives and celebrity news, I want to congratulate DW and Germany as a whole for reminding me that true journalism is still alive.

The man changes his mind like Katy Perry changes clothes. The consequences might be real enough for him, but there was never any reason to Prigozhin's words all that serious.

It's like ancient Rome with a nominally private citizen having his own army. In this case he didn't quite cross the Rubicon.

He was quite simply advertising Wagner and did a great job