KYIV: Residents of Kyiv expressed elation on Saturday as news of the mutiny by the Wagner mercenary group against Moscow spread, with hopes that the internal strife would undermine Russian forces on the battlefield.
The Wagner mercenaries, who have been actively involved in the fighting in Ukraine, have revolted against Russian military leaders and are advancing north towards Moscow after seizing a crucial military base in the south.
Russian President Vladimir Putin has vowed to quash the rebellion and avert the risk of a civil war. However, people on the streets of the Ukrainian capital responded with delight to the unfolding events. “I expected something like this to happen, but not so fast,” Ilya Tsvirkun, 21 told AFP. “I thought it would all start after the war ends. But it started earlier, and it’s very good.” Tsvirkun believed that Putin might withdraw some troops from Ukraine to address the mutiny at home, potentially providing an advantage for Ukrainian forces.
Kyiv initiated its counter-offensive earlier this month in an attempt to reclaim territories occupied by Russia in the south and east of the country. While the Wagner group, led by Yevgeny Prigozhin, played a prominent role in Russia’s offensive in Ukraine, it has been engaged in a bitter feud with Moscow’s military leadership in recent months. Prigozhin has repeatedly blamed Defence Minister Sergei Shoigu and Chief of the General Staff Valery Gerasimov for the deaths of his fighters.
Ukrainians Hope Russia to Withdraw Troops After Wagner Mutiny
Bogdan Teodorovskiy, 19, a resident of Kyiv, described the infighting as “a lot of fun.” He expressed hope that the rival factions, Wagner and the Russian army, would focus on each other and leave Ukraine alone. The ongoing conflict has seen Wagner withdraw from certain areas, making way for regular Russian forces, but fighting continues in various regions, and Ukrainian troops have been launching attacks on their flanks.
Mariya, 22, believed that the internal discord within Wagner could impact the Ukrainian battlefield. She speculated that some Wagner forces might withdraw from Ukraine, allowing the regular Russian army to take their place. She perceived the regular army as less ruthless, potentially making it easier for Ukrainian forces to achieve victory. However, Mariya also pondered whether the mutiny was merely a media spectacle aimed at diverting attention from the Ukrainian counter-offensive.
As the news unfolds, Mykhailo, 50, expressed optimism, stating, “Wagner has started its offensive, they are going to reach Moscow.” He believed that Ukrainian armed forces had a genuine chance of success and that it would weaken both Russian troops and the internal political forces in Russia. Olga, 45, expressed her desire for the conflict between the Wagner group and the Russian army to mark the end of the war and the misery and grief it has caused. – AFP
