Last week, the armed rebellions sweeping towards Moscow ended as suddenly and unexpectedly

as it had begun.

Before escaping to Belarus, if any pregoation, the leader of the Wagner group tried to downplay

what had happened, describing the armed mutiny he'd been leading as more of a peaceful

protest.

He said the group's members had started what he called a march for justice.

We showed no aggression, he said, but added we were hit by missiles and helicopters.

He said his supporters turned around to avoid spilling Russian soldiers' blood.

But during the course of that Saturday, as a convoy of Wagner mercenaries moved towards

Moscow, taking down Russian helicopters along the way, all while the Russian

president Vladimir Putin was nowhere to be seen.

The situation felt very different.

In fact, for many, it was a reminder of another moment in Russian history.

Good morning, Mark the date will, August 19, 1991, historians are likely to be analyzing

the events of this day for generations to come.

Military leaders and the Soviet secret police have taken control of the government and

now Vice President Gennady Yanayev is sitting in the President's seat.

When the Russian president Mikhail Gorbachev was dethroned, it began with a coup that actually

failed, but the upheaval left him looking so weak that his authority leaked away.

Putin may be congratulating the country now on facing down the Wagner revolt and his government

is certainly pretending its business is usual.

But if history tells us anything, there's probably more to come.

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