Report: Russian mercenaries operating in Kyiv ordered to kill Zelensky and his government

[BeyondGeography]

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More than 400 Russian mercenaries are operating in Kyiv with orders from the Kremlin to assassinate President Zelensky and his government and prepare the ground for Moscow to take control, The Times has learnt.

The Wagner Group, a private militia run by one of President Putin’s closest allies and operating as an arm-length branch of the state, flew in mercenaries from Africa five weeks ago on a mission to decapitate Zelensky’s government in return for a handsome financial bonus.

Information about their mission reached the Ukrainian government on Saturday morning and hours later Kyiv declared a 36-hour “hard” curfew to sweep the city for Russian saboteurs, warning civilians that they would be seen as Kremlin agents and risked being “liquidated” if they stepped outside.

[Scrivener7]

1. This is weird. 400 of them have been in the city for 5 weeks.

Zelensky keeps filming himself in front of that same distinctive building (which I wish he wouldn't do.)

But where are they when he does that?

[EarthFirst]

4. Seems they either don't exist...

Or they’re just as ineffectual as their enlisted counterparts.

Kremlin propaganda ghosts…

[Scrivener7]

5. You'd think the Kremlin WOULD have done this, though.

But who knows what is true. And another question that's beginning to rear its head: "Who knows how ill prepared Russia was for Vlad's vanity war?"

[Lovie777]

2. Since before the invasion . . ...

duh, and I'm pretty sure President Zelenskyy and administration have knowledge of this.

[no_hypocrisy]

3. Likely will try to recruit Ukrainians to do the deed.

Not everyone is a patriot

[tetedur]

6. Pay them with rubles?

the incentives maybe dwindling.

[gab13by13]

7. This is old news,

Putin wants Zelenskyy dead.

[mitch96]

8. I wonder how many of these "Wagners" were on the two IL-76 that the UKR army shot down?

From what I have read the russians army took the airfield and the UKR were listening in on the traffic between the aircraft and the russians. When it was certain the planes were landing the UKR attacked the airfield, took it over and shot down the planes as they were landing. It was reported that 300 troops were killed.
These troops were to fly in, find and kill Zelenskyy.. Didn't happen..YMMV
m

[LetMyPeopleVote]

9. For this thread

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