>Some Ukrainians I know tell me there's local suspicion that was a feint or a ruse to see where Ukraine would attack.

I'm credulous of this. It's a lot of effort and drama but the stakes are extremely high too. If it lured Ukraine into a death trap it would pay for itself.

The fact that very little fighting occurred and nobody even went to prison is suspicious.

The fact that Prigozhin demonstrated extreme personal loyalty to Putin in the past and vice versa on a level few others have matched is also suggestive. Who else would you ask to run a fake coup?