Prigozhin’s strange aborted coup is a sign of Russia’s malaise

On June 23rd Russia entered 24 hours of mayhem. Consider, for a moment, just how surreal it all was. A violent criminal and former hot-dog seller, nicknamed the “chef”, leads an armed irregular militia towards Moscow, demanding the heads of the regular army chief and of the defence minister. Border guards and security staff vanish, letting them pass. Ordinary citizens pour onto the street to observe the spectacle and chat with the militiamen. State television puts out a special news bulletin in the middle of the night. The president of a nuclear power appeals to his security services from the TV screen calling on them to stop the insurrection, and pledges a “tough response”.  The mayor of Moscow announces that his city is on a state of counter-terrorism alert.

Less than twenty-four hours later the leader of the Wagner militia group turns his men back and goes into exile. Treason charges are dropped; no explanation is given. The goals and logic of the chef, Yevgeny Prigozhin, were obscure, but so are those of Vladimir Putin’s war in Ukraine. According to Russian Telegram channels, Mr Prigozhin’s escapade has left up to 20 Russian army servicemen dead and several military aircraft destroyed. But no one really knows any of the details; this was a mutiny mostly watched on social media, and facts are still thin on the ground.