Russian state media are not yet replaying the “Swan Lake” ballet, as they did during the 1991 coup attempt against Soviet Chairman Mikhail Gorbachev, but Russia-1 did abruptly cut away Friday evening to an emergency broadcast to cover the latest news regarding Wagner Group head Yevgeny Prigozhin’s “armed rebellion” against the Kremlin. Moscow is under a siege of fear as Rosgvardiya home guard troops and armored vehicles controlled by Russian President Vladimir Putin reportedly fanned out across the capital.

The curious case of Prigozhin is heading for a violent denouement. The man once known as “Putin’s chef” is now on the Federal Security Service’s (FSB) menu as a wanted man — a newly minted fugitive who controls a 25,000-man, armed paramilitary group.

It may be either Putin’s or Prigozhin’s “Swan Lake” moment soon, but for now, Putin is doing his level best to ensure it is not his.