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Thank you, that helps put things into context.
That being said, this seems to be to suggest that there's a large degree of misalignment between the MOD and whoever sanctioned the creation of Wagner in the first place. It seems to me that Wagner largely behaved itself, both abroad and at home, and the MOD's hardline approach suggests more of an internal powerplay than something that Putin was directly orchestrating. Of course, I don't think Prigozhin could lash out at the MOD and not insult Putin in the process, you don't beat the servant without asking the master, especially if you're another servant.
You're trying to infer the nature of MoD relationship with Putin, as well as Putin motivation out of the situation, that's very understandable. However it's worth noting that Putin himself goes into great efforts to hide his involvement and the nature of his involvement with MoD(or anything and anyone else). It allows him to bank on the winner effectively and to maintain the image of 10D player while he's not doing anything or doing very little. So I wouldn't overestimate Putin's involvement or 300 iq moves out of it. He's likely to largely follow the flow making simple, boring and suggestive, however consistent decisions. Whatever happens - you can always smirk and suggestively joke about it maintaining composure. And half of the world starts - oooh, he planned it 15 years ago! Aaah, 10D chess! He's just consistent and avoids emotional steps, that's the whole chess.
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Wagner was created to solve external military tasks in Syria/Africa, and proved it's an effective tool there. But then MoD screwed the war and were scrapping for anything they can throw in the fire, so Wagner was relocated. So Wagner is by nature of its creation is quite an independent corporation, which makes sense abroad, but that independence backfired in Ukraine clearly. MoD tried to control it but failed. Or "succeeded" if you can count the current state of things as success.
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Presumably that was the point - what passes for separation of powers in an autocracy.
It may just be that it's apparently no longer a luxury Russia can afford in such a pivotal and unsuccessful war. Or Prigozhin is now sufficiently weak/used up that it isn't worth it.
I don't think the attempted gelding would have gone ahead without Putin's support, given he set up this situation, but it's hardly the most transparent regime.
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