Capt. Ironpants
Active Member
Some Asian sources which are usually fairly reliable (but hardly infallible) say that at least some of the aircraft shot down by Wagners were actually en route to eastern/southern Ukraine per original orders, and the Wagners wrongly assumed they had been tasked with striking their column and shot them down. I'm sorry I can't go back and find those assertions now and provide links, but I offer this as only a possible explanation if any truth to it at all. As things stand at the moment, all we have are possible explanations for confusing events, given our lack of hard knowledge of what really went on. You and some others here are better able to assess whether this might be a plausible possible explanation than I.Maybe there was no intent to destroy Wagner and the strikes, very limited, by single aircraft, were meant to halt not destroy the convoy? Maybe there was knowledge that this wasn't a coup but something else? I don't know but it's not clear what exactly was going on. Most of what Wagner AA shot down weren't strike jets or attack helos. It doesn't look like Russian leadership wanted Wagner destroyed.
I have also seen assertions that at least one or two were striking the road just ahead of the advancing Wagner columns to hinder their progress, claiming this was a tried-and-true tactic used effectively by Russia in Syria. I confess I have not followed Syria closely enough to judge. It's just another possibility in my mind, given my lack of knowledge. Another question mark among many.
My own background, education and real-life experience have taught me that one truly must have a "high tolerance for ambiguity" if one is to go poking about in Other People's conflicts (and remain somewhat sane at least), or even trying to understand them from afar. This one really puts that to the test! And here I am "afar" this time.