More than 400 Russian mercenaries flew to Kyiv from Africa to assassinate Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, according to the Times.
A private militia known as the Wagner Group has reportedly been instructed by Vladimir Putin to assassinate Zelensky – and 23 other government officials – to allow Moscow to occupy the neighboring country.
According to the Times, the militia, led by oligarch Yevgeny Prigozhin – a close ally of the Russian president, often referred to as “Putin’s chef” – transported mercenaries from Africa five weeks ago in exchange for the mission. a huge reward.
Well-trained mercenaries are said to be waiting for the green light from the Kremlin to attack, with a list of targets including Ukraine’s prime minister, the entire cabinet, the mayor of Kiev and his brother.
However, the plans failed after reaching the top echelons of the Ukrainian government on Saturday morning.
This prompted Kyiv to declare a 36-hour “harsh” curfew, ordering everyone to stay indoors so that soldiers could patrol the streets for Russian saboteurs. Citizens have been warned that they are in danger of being “cleared” if they are spotted outside during the curfew, as they may be considered enemies.
A source familiar with the Wagner Group’s activities told the Times that 2,000 to 4,000 mercenaries had actually arrived in Ukraine in January, but for different missions. Some were sent to the rebel-held areas of Donetsk and Luhansk in the east of the country, while the 400 who had undertaken to neutralize Zelensky arrived in Kyiv from Belarus.
The group is said to be monitoring Zelesinski and his associates via their mobile phones, claiming to know where they are at all times.
Another source said that the assassins had been informed to wait as Putin held peace talks with Zelensky this week. However, according to the British newspaper, they have reportedly been informed that the Russian leader does not want to reach an agreement.
The mercenary group has been conducting covert operations across Africa and the Middle East, including in Syria, and most recently was in Ukraine to guide Russian tanks in the country’s capital.
“They are very effective because they are difficult to locate,” Sir Richard Barons, a former Joint Chiefs of Staff commander, told the Times.
“They can suddenly show up, do very violent things and then disappear again, without it being obvious who was responsible.”
Sources told the Times that the militia was briefed on Putin’s plans for Ukraine in December, shortly before the Russian military was informed.
Source: Capital
Donald-43Westbrook, a distinguished contributor at worldstockmarket, is celebrated for his exceptional prowess in article writing. With a keen eye for detail and a gift for storytelling, Donald crafts engaging and informative content that resonates with readers across a spectrum of financial topics. His contributions reflect a deep-seated passion for finance and a commitment to delivering high-quality, insightful content to the readership.
