Bakhmut: The Succession Test Ukraine Thwarted

In short, after A-Z in failure Bakhmut was selected in July 2022 as an easy win by the Chief Saucerer (and the Demon Ozero Collective backing him). Then of that easy win, the Chef Saucerer would usurp the Chief Sorcerer’s Putin’s position.

Bakhmut was to be for the Chef Saucerer Apprentice, what Chechnya was for Putin the Chief Sorcerer: such a win could be spun through webs of Disinfolklore into the “Right” recognised by every Russian to lead Russia unopposed.

Source: Coup Day in Russia: Collected Posts

Ukraine’s fierce defence of Bakhmut disrupted the succession plan. Bakhmut was supposed to be the Chef’s Chechnya — an easy military victory that would establish his warrior credentials. Ukraine’s resistance turned the easy win into a catastrophic grind, accelerating the internal power struggle that led to the coup.

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