The citizens of Kiev watched the mercenary group Wagner’s mutiny against Moscow “very happily” and hoped that the internal strife would weaken Russian troops on the battlefield, before the Belarusian president announced that he would have succeeded in bringing the end of the mediate war. The revolt.
“I expected something like this to happen, but not so soon,” says 21-year-old Ilya Tsvirkun. “I thought it would start after the war was over. But it started earlier and it’s really good.”
Ilya said he believed Putin would “withdraw some troops from Ukraine” to help deal with the mutiny domestically, making things easier for Ukrainian troops.
Wagner’s mercenaries, who led much of the fighting in Ukraine, rebelled against the Russian military leadership and moved north towards Moscow after seizing an important military base to the south, at Rostov.
Russian President Vladimir Putin has vowed to defeat the uprising and avert the threat of civil war.
‘Watch and cheer for both parties’
For 19-year-old Bogdan Teodorovskiy, a resident of Kiev, this Russian power struggle came across as “a lot of fun”. “We just have to watch and cheer for both sides,” he said, referring to the Wagner group and the Russian military. “I hope they leave us alone and compete better with each other.”
Prigozhin’s forces, supported by tens of thousands of fighters recruited from prisons, played a vital role in Russia’s capture of the town of Bakhmut, in the eastern Donetsk region, in the longest and bloodiest battle of the conflict.
The Wagner has since withdrawn from the area, clearing the way for the regular Russian army, but fighting in the city continues and Ukrainian troops attack the Russian flanks.
Mariya, 22, believes the power struggle could have an impact on the battlefield in Ukraine. “Maybe some of Wagner’s troops will withdraw from other places now and the regular Russian army will stay there. And as we know, they are not so cold and maybe easier to beat,” he said.
But mistrust was still high in Kiev. At first, Mariya thought that “there was still some kind of agreement between the (Russian) Ministry of Defense and the Wagner group, just to divert attention from our counter-offensive … and use it to reinforce your forces.” She also wonders if the riot is a media stunt. “That’s why I think we should follow the news, and if something really serious is going on, it can be a big blow,” he says.
“End of Misery”
Wagner “has started his offensive, they will reach Moscow”, 50-year-old Mykhailo waited his turn. “I think now there is every reason for our forces to win. This will weaken Russian troops, it will weaken Russia’s internal political forces. I love it,” he celebrated.
Olga, 45, said she hoped the conflict between Wagner’s group and the Russian army “will be the end of this war and it will be the end of our misery and pain”.
Below expectations for the unfolding of the Wagner group’s uprising, insecurity remained due to Russian attacks: Three people died and 11 were injured in Kiev after Russian airstrikes across the country, Ukraine said on Saturday.
Source: DN
