Today’s news summary – Paper Talk
Sunday’s front pages report on a dramatic day in Russia as Wagner group mercenaries staged a rebellion in parts of the country. Some of the papers focus on the humiliation of Russian President Vladimir Putin, whose leadership, the papers say, has been left damaged.
The Sun on Sunday says Putin has been “pushed to the brink” before the Wagner mercenaries halted their match towards Moscow as the paper puts it at the “eleventh hour.”
The Sunday Express says Russians will see Putin as a far weaker person following this incident as the paper reports the Russian leader “fled” Moscow as mercenaries approached the capital.
The Sunday Times leads with historian Robert Tombs, who believes Putin is “gravely weakened” but was able to avoid a “1917 moment.”
The head of the Wagner mercenary group, Yevgeny Prigozhin’s last-minute de-escalation deal with Putin prevented “bloodshed” according to the Observer.
The Mail on Sunday wonders if the Kremlin “bribed” Prigozhin to end the mutiny, citing UK security official sources. But the Daily Star’s Sunday edition says both sides are “equally bonkers.”