‘It’s scary’: Ordinary Muscovites react to news of Prigogine’s attempted military coup as flights from Russian capital sell out
Moscow residents express their fear as Wagner’s rebels approach the city
Ordinary Muscovites in the capital reacted to the news of Prigozhin’s attempted military coup – armored cars could be seen on the streets of the Russian capital.
Flights out of the city are said to be sold out as Wagner Group approaches, with German news site Der Spiegel claiming that tickets are no longer available for direct connections from Moscow to Tbilisi, Astana and Istanbul.
Google Maps apparently shows road closures on the M4 south of Moscow – the route Wagner’s rebels are taking.
One resident, Nikolai, said: ‘It’s absolutely terrifying.
‘You sit at home wondering what could have been. It’s upsetting for both you and your loved ones.’
Ordinary Muscovites in the capital reacted to the news of Prigozhin’s attempted military coup – armored cars could be seen on the streets of the Russian capital. Photo: People stand in front of a metal barricade on their way to Red Square in Moscow today
A man waves a Russian national flag near Red Square in Moscow today
One woman wrote on Twitter: ‘I’m in Moscow right now. Russian troops have started fighting with the rebels. There was a huge explosion near our house. I am afraid for my family. Please help us.’
Sergei, a resident of Moscow, said: ‘I think everything will be fine, but if they prepare to bring in [anti-terror measures] So that means there’s a reason for it.’
Galina, a woman from Moscow, said: ‘No, it doesn’t scare me at all.
‘I have confidence in our president and our people.’
Military trucks and armored vehicles were seen in central Moscow earlier today and troops with assault rifles were deployed outside the main Defense Ministry building. The area around the presidential administration near Red Square was cordoned off, reducing traffic.
But even with the heightened military presence, downtown bars and restaurants were packed. At a club near the FSB headquarters, people danced in the street near the entrance.
Armored vehicles are seen as security measures are taken in Moscow
Putin addressed the Russian public today warning that military leader Prigozhin has ‘stabbed him in the back’, as Moscow remains on lockdown and troops dig in to prepare to defend the city.
Prigogine and his fearsome 25,000-strong Wagner militia are in control of the southern Russian city of Rostov-on-Don and have said they are ‘ready to die’ as they vow to retaliate against a military attack from Putin’s forces that the mercenary leader says has killed several people. His people.
Rumors have already spread that a presidential plane belonging to Vladimir Putin flew north of Moscow towards Tver and turned off its transponder, according to multiple reports.
Other business jets were seen flying from the capital to St Petersburg.
Earlier there were reports from Ukrainian intelligence that Putin had left Moscow by helicopter for his palace in Valdai, between Moscow and St. Petersburg.
It came as an ominous message posted on Wagner’s Telegram channel on Saturday: ‘Putin made the wrong choice. All the worse for him.
‘Soon we will have a new president.’
Sources close to Putin insist he is working in the Kremlin – an unusual position for him except for brief visits.
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