You could see this coming since the middle of the Bahkmut battle. When some Russian warlord with an army has the GIGANTIC brass balls to call out the heads of the Russian MOD on global social media, you know that this was the way it go down. There has to be show down to save face. The MOD generals have had enough of his clowning and Mr. P. has had enough of getting thrown in the meat grinder and having others take credit for his men's bloodborne victories.
Battle Royale.
I'm betting on Putin. Somehow I think he figures out a solution. We'll see.