Title: Mercenary Speaks Out on Failed Mutiny Against Russian President Putin
Date: [Insert Date]
Byline: Anastasia Lotareva, BBC Russian
In a shocking turn of events, a mercenary who participated in the attempted mutiny against Russian President Vladimir Putin has come forward, claiming that he and his fellow fighters “didn’t have a clue” about what was happening. The mutiny, led by Yevgeny Prigozhin, the leader of the notorious Wagner Group, unfolded within a span of just 24 hours, with troops advancing from the southern city of Rostov towards Moscow.
Gleb, a pseudonym used to protect his identity, had previously been involved in the fighting in eastern Ukraine. As the mutiny began, he was stationed in the Russian-occupied Luhansk region. Early on June 23, Gleb and his unit received a call to join a column of Wagner fighters leaving Ukraine. The orders came from a Wagner commander, acting on instructions from Prigozhin and the Wagner Command Council.
Surprisingly, Gleb and his comrades were not informed about the destination of the column. It became apparent that they were moving away from the frontline, crossing the Russian border into the Rostov region without encountering any resistance. Gleb revealed that even the traffic police saluted them along the way.
Telegram channels closely associated with Wagner later claimed that Russian border guards at the Bugayevka checkpoint had even laid down their weapons upon the arrival of the Wagner fighters. Meanwhile, as they approached Rostov-on-Don, the fighters were instructed to surround law enforcement agency buildings and occupy the military airport. Gleb’s unit was specifically ordered to take control of the regional offices of the Federal Security Service (FSB).
However, upon reaching the FSB building, it appeared to be empty and locked. A drone was flown overhead to check for any signs of life. Eventually, two individuals emerged from the building and offered to negotiate. Gleb, asserting that the city belonged to them, declined the proposal and agreed to leave each other alone.
Local journalists in Rostov reported similar situations with other government buildings, where Wagner fighters surrounded them, preventing anyone from leaving but allowing food deliveries. On the same day, Prigozhin was at the Southern Military District headquarters meeting with senior Russian army officials, demanding the handover of top military leaders.
Simultaneously, another column of Wagner fighters, allegedly led by Wagner founder Dmitry Utkin, was heading towards Voronezh, with Moscow as its final destination. Gleb confirmed reports of this second column but admitted he had no knowledge of Prigozhin’s intentions or plans.
As the images of the mutiny in Rostov spread worldwide, people were surprised to see local residents and journalists engaging with the normally secretive Wagner fighters occupying their city. Gleb pointed out that these interactions were primarily with ex-convicts, recruited by Wagner last year. He emphasized that established fighters like him, employed long before the war in Ukraine, operated according to stricter rules, forbidding them from speaking to the media.
On the evening of June 24, Gleb and his unit received a sudden order to return to their base in Luhansk without any explanation. While en route, they followed the news on Telegram, learning that criminal charges against Prigozhin had been dropped, and he was set to move to Belarus. They also discovered that Wagner fighters would not be held accountable for their involvement in the mutiny due to their “combat merits,” as stated by President Putin’s spokesman.
Amidst the uncertainty, Gleb and his unit await further orders, confined to their barracks in Luhansk. The authorities of the self-proclaimed Luhansk People’s Republic, pro-Russian separatist militants in eastern Ukraine, have shown interest in their future plans and the fate of their equipment and ammunition. When asked why he remains with Wagner, Gleb simply states, “My contract hasn’t expired yet.”
Although the mutiny failed, this insider account sheds light on the covert world of private military contractors and raises questions about their role in global conflicts and their relationship with powerful leaders like Prigozhin.
Image source: Getty Images (Image Caption: Wagner fighters on the streets of Rostov-on-Don during the mutiny)