Putin humiliated by Wagner coup with '39 pilots and crew' lost in worst day for air force
Express by Will Stewart, Liam Ryder 6/25/2023
The Russian president faced pressure after losing a number of aircraft to the mercenary group, who remain a threat to Putin's regime
The scale of Vladimir Putin’s humiliation in stopping the dramatic coup bid became clear today, after his substantial losses were revealed. The dictator suffered his worst daily air force losses since invading Ukraine as rebel Wagner fighters repeatedly hit his strike helicopters and a high-flying military plane suspected to be carrying a top general. These were Russians killing Russians.
Putin is also facing the humbling expectation to replace his top two war commanders - close ally defence minister Sergei Shoigu and chief of the army staff general Valery Gerasmivov - or face a new insurrection.
Out of jail, and free to run his large mercenary army, he still poses an acute threat to the 70-year-old Russian president.
It became clear today that he had suffered grievous losses as he sought to halt the Wagner “march of justice” against his corrupt regime towards Moscow.
The Russians are today seeking to cover up the losses of up to 39 pilots and crew in a few hours. They included some of Russia’s leading air force crew members with one account saying 20-plus combat pilots were killed.
Putin lost six helicopters - including three Mi-8 MTPRs specialising in electronic warfare - as well as a sophisticated Il-22 plane used to conduct battle plans at high altitudes, it is now believed.
The Ilyushin-22 appears to have been shot down by a Pantsir missile system secretly supplied to Wagner by Russia’s own forces.
More:
https://www.express.co.uk/news/world/1784320/Putin-humiliated-Wagner-coup-loses-20-combat-pilots
