The head of the Russian Wagner mercenary group, Yevgeny Prigozhin, has said his fighters have sometimes spent weeks attempting to capture a single house in the key contested Donbas city of Bakhmut, in the latest evidence of how the Kremlin’s efforts there have stalled.

In a grim video released over new year, Prigozhin – a key ally of Putin – was filmed visiting a basement near the eastern front filled with the bodies of his fighters, many of them convicts, who had been killed during the bitter fighting for the city, a key Russian objective since the summer.

‘Every House a Fortress’: Wagner Leader Counts Cost as Russia Stalls in Bakhmut | Ukraine | The Guardian

Can always hope that he receives a surprise HIMARS if he is indeed near the frontlines and not bullshitting like Kadyrov and Girkin.

Do agree that he would be an awful successor, I think even more brutal that Putin domestically, by the end of this Russia won't have much of an army to threaten anyone though. I don't know why Putin is so defensive of him when Wagner has failed for months to take Bakhmut and it has cost them 100s-1000s of deaths, then they resorted to throwing hordes of prisoners at Ukraine.

I do wonder what happens when Putin kicks the bucket because there doesn't seem to be any love between Gerasimov/Shoigu and Kadyrov/Prigozhin.

I just wish I saw a way for the Russian people to get rid of all of these monsters waiting in the wings, and find a decent head of state that has some modicum of respect for the rule of law and can rein in the country's military and police apparatus. I also wish that China would stop backing these people. 

Yeah, that is actually a scary thought. But assuming Putin’s eventual successor comes from the current government (which is likely) who exactly is a ‘good’ option from our viewpoint - because I don’t think there is one.

Considering it from his viewpoint *shudders*, whilst Putin probably isn't happen they haven't taken Bakhmut (yet, it still in the balance) consider what the cost has been to him and what he has lost.

The cost in military terms is in manpower but this is comprised conscripts mostly draw from prisons. In a country like Russia you use soldiers as cannon fodder, and criminals are going to be seen as even more expendable, in fact they'd probably rather they died - less pardons to issue and one less bag egg in society. I doubt they care anymore about any Wagner hires from outside Russia either. Meanwhile the numbers gradually wear down Ukraine's defences.

Until there is a major reversal or blunder he is likely fine, unfortunately.

It matters whos at the top of command chains, in the military.
But ultimately even the lower ranked grunts, should have a buttom line. And be enough to stop things.
Here in denmark, I think its unthinkable, that the military would do certain things (ei. steal power/ cupe attempt ect).
And if it did, it would only be as a last resort, and until they could hand it back to the people.
I remember asking a officer, when I was doing my draft (It was taught to us as well).
The military here see themselves more as guardians, of the people, and democracy than anything else (hence the "unthinkable" remark before).

Russia is just in a very differnt place, when it comes to their mentality and how they view the world.
It being a dictatorship, alone kinda makes that point.
Ei. two very different cultures.

Lapin was fired after Russia lost Lyman, after criticism from Kadyrov and Prigozhin, he is disliked by them both but he is now back as Chief of Staff of Russia's Land Forces. The "tug of war" between Shoigu/Gerasimov and Prigozhin/Kadyrov continues.

Silly Ukraine, Comrade Musk says that you don't need tanks.

Challenger + Leopard Lets Go! (Hopefully).

Can't wait for Ramstein.

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