Russia and Ukraine flashpoint

[drkohler]

haxxiy said:

drkohler said:

Next year are elections in Russia. Putin pretty thoroughly made it clear that "Anyone who is not behind me is dead". If they can't hide the fact for the Russians that their own air defence deliberatly shot down the plane, some measly field commander is going to drink tea/pass by a window soon.

I don't know. If he wanted a display of strength he should have done it when Prigozhin was, you know, openly rebelling and marching to Moscow.

Yes but this was a once in a million chance to take out not only Prigozhin but also most of his cronies. They knew who was on the planes and took out the first plane. Why the second plane could turn and land in Moscow we'll probably never know.

The whole thing looks like a Shoigu (who always was the main target of Prigozhin) operation ordered by Putin. So a simple Shoigu order to a hapless field commander (poor guy likely doesn't know yet that he is also dead) sealed it.