Well shucks the core definition of the word "mercenary" means one who is acting out of self-interest rather than loyalty. The only thing these MFs are going to do now is look for work.
Yeah the only thing they're wondering is if they're getting their next paycheck or not. If not, they'll move on. If Putin installs a new head of Wagner and keeps the payroll coming, they'll fall back in line.
There were many senior leaders on the flight: Prigozhin, Utkin (early founder, commander), Chekalov (economic & security leader), Makaryan, Propustin, Totmin, Matuseev (all various commanders). While this seems super dumb to have all these folks on the same flight at the same time, apparently they were. With this much senior leadership now suddenly gone, the Wagner group may be struggling to get their own house in order before they can take organizational action.
@Valmond@Aesculapius Not just military. Most larger companies in the west have policies against putting too many senior leaders on the same flight. In peacetime.
Could they have been killed in other locations and the plane crashed to conveniently make a public narrative on how they're no longer alive? The bodies could have been loaded on thvle plane and crashed intentionally for all we know.
I don't expect them to do literally anything. Wagner is now dispersed across Belarus, Russia and Africa; those in Belarus and Russia don't have their heavy equipment anymore (taken away after the coup). Their leadership is decapitated, the two most important people in the PMC are dead along with several other higher-ups. The coup from 2 months ago wasn't endorsed by the whole PMC, it's been estimated that Prigo had only around 8k people with him - so today you should expect even fewer to rebel.
The "best" they might be able to achieve is some terrorism. But they're not trained for terrorism, so for them it's probably best to keep their heads low.
Who'd expect a band of former criminals reborn anew as war criminals to have any loyalty? So long as they get to be out there pillaging and raping they will be kept happy and as loyal as such a band could get.
Signing up with a notorious mercenary group was the original sin. Now it's just a fucked up game of frogger for them. The only smart move was to not play.
With not willing leader to take charge it is probably not going to happen, especially after Russia took most of their gear. They've had their chance and blew it.
Russia's fascist leadership collapsing would absolutely be a good win to come out of this. Also, yeah, an invaded country fighting back should not be put on the same level as the world power trying to make it a vassal state/pseudo-Colony. Now its talking points about nazis and soon it'll be that anyone not Russian by blood doesn't belong there.
So correct me if I am wrong what you are asking is for ukraine to bend over and accept Putin's dick?
Throughout the "Special Military Operation" advocates have not explained how is it legitimate that Russia invades Ukraine due to Ukraine having a Nazi problem. Neo Nazis exist in some capacity in any country.
Whats more baffling is this seems like an excuse that is written post-hoc to suit the outcome. When there is no care taken to avoid civilian casualities one has to wonder if 12 year old children and their mothers who died were neo-nazis.