The plane they shot down was a command plane. That presumably means the loss of several high ranking officers. This should be unforgivable treason, but Putin is just accepting it as fair game. You wouldn't even spike this fucker's tea, you'd drag him to Moscow and put him to trial where he legally gets sentenced to death. But instead he's free to leave.

Are Wagner really that strong an army that a world superpower is afraid to engage them? Putin must be afraid that Wagner is more popular than he is. That's the only thing that makes sense. He fears that Russian armed forces will disobey and defect, that Russian civilians will support the revolution. No way could this private army do it alone, not if Russia really is a military power worthy of note.