Kremlin denies Putin has fled Moscow as Russia president’s plane ‘disappears’
IndependentMAY 2023
The Spin
Pro-establishment narrative
These extraordinary scenes are reminiscent of the failed 1991 coup. It's too early to say whether history is repeating itself in Russia, but it's clear that, irrespective of whether Prigozhin fails or not, this is the weakest the presidency of Vladimir Putin has looked in over two decades in charge. This could spell Putin's downfall and a Ukrainian victory.
Pro-Russia narrative
This stunt from Wagner PMC, which comes as Russia's fate hangs in the balance in the midst of a Ukrainian counteroffensive, is a stab in the back to the Russian people, particularly those at the forefront of that fight. Using false accusations to justify its mutiny, Prigozhin is creating divisions at a time the nation should be united. He must be held to account.