In the wake of the insurrection, Putin appeared to take a measured approach with Wagner. Hundreds of Russian citizens who have criticized the authorities and the war in less vivid terms than Prigozhin have been imprisoned, fined, and removed from their jobs or universities, and none of them sent an armored column on the road to Moscow. But, at least for now, Putin has decided that imprisoning Prigozhin would risk making him a martyr while also undermining Russia's military effort. "What's the most important political priority for Putin right now?" [Moscow news editor Konstantin] Remchukov asked. "Victory in the special military operation." Wagner may yet prove useful for that goal, and the dismantling of its forces in the middle of a war would be messy, rife with distractions and dangers for the Kremlin. Putin appears to have concluded that the Wagner insurrection wasn't aimed at him personally - a convenient position, in that it doesn't force him to take any bold or risky action. "If they aren't against me," Remchukov said, paraphrasing Putin, "we can leave them in place for the solving of important problems."
Indeed, for a person whom Putin had called a traitor in all but name, Prigozhin retained a remarkable level of influence and access. Journalists observed that a private plane linked to him made several flights to Moscow and St. Petersburg. The former Russian military official told me that Prigozhin had spent considerable time in Moscow, advocating for himself and his business empire with high-ranking figures: "He's going around beating himself on the chest, saying that he'll continue to fight on behalf of Russia. Let's see whether he's allowed to or not."
- Joshua Yaffa, 'The Making of a Mutiny', New Yorker, 7 August 2023, p.44
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