Putin's public acknowledgment of funding Wagner Group throws the spotlight on Russia's complicity in Ukraine's war crimes, and this doubles down on Russia's accountability internationally. If Putin thinks he can control the narrative by discarding Prigozhin as a scapegoat, he's in for a shock. It's a laughable irony seeing him call out Prigozhin for financial misconduct. Putin's "kleptocracy" is notorious, making this more of a spectacle than a serious pursuit of justice.

The purge within Russia's armed forces might be a desperate attempt to consolidate power, but it reveals the cracks within Putin's regime. What he fails to realize is that these actions might just breed more dissent. Even if he's trying to play hardball, the potential birth of new opposition mercenary groups is a ticking timebomb.

Watching this spectacle, one must acknowledge the coup's failure as a windfall for Ukraine and Western security. Despite the upheaval, Russia's nuclear arsenal remains secure, the Russian army is imploding, Putin's credibility is waning, and Ukraine is making headway. China may be the last stronghold against 'American hegemony,' but if Russia continues to crumble, it's anyone's game. Putin's scheme, however, ensures that the Ukraine crisis remains a chessboard with pieces constantly moving, and not always to Russia's advantage.