kremlin and wagner are on opposite sides there, and they say the same thing

putin wanted to show very publicly what happens to traitors, and he did. this is the simplest explanation here; maybe it's delayed response for mutiny, in which case the only unusual thing is why it happened so late. or maybe it's gerasimov's decision, or someone else's in high command, in which case it's more of an happy accident for putin

if it's what you say, wagner and kremlin or army cooperated for what reason exactly? so that prigozhin can command what is effectively russian colonies in africa, while not allowed ever to get into limelight? putin wanted control over this and over pmc, he tried to get there before, and now it'll be much easier