‘It’s frightening’: Ordinary Muscovites react to news of Prigozhin’s attempted coup
‘It’s frightening’: Ordinary Muscovites react to news of Prigozhin’s military coup attempt as flights from Russian capital sell out
- Moscow residents have expressed fear as Wagner rebels approach the city
Ordinary Muscovites in the capital have reacted to the news of Prigozhin’s attempted coup – as armored cars are seen on the streets of the Russian capital.
Out-of-town flights are reportedly sold out as the Wagner group approaches, with German news site Der Spiegel claiming tickets for direct services from Moscow to Tbilisi, Astana and Istanbul are no longer available.
Google maps apparently shows road closures on the M4, south of Moscow – the route the Wagner rebels are taking.
One resident named Nikolai said, “Of course it’s frightening.
“You sit at home thinking about what could happen. It’s distressing for you and your loved ones.”
Ordinary Muscovites in the capital have reacted to the news of Prigozhin’s attempted coup – as armored cars are seen on the streets of the Russian capital. Pictured: People today face metal barriers as they visit Moscow’s Red Square
A man waves a Russian national flag at Moscow’s Red Square earlier today
One woman wrote on Twitter: ‘I’m in Moscow now. The battle between rebels and the Russian army has begun. There was a huge explosion near our house. I’m 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] then it means there’s a reason for that.’
A woman in Moscow, Galina, said, “No, it doesn’t scare me at all.
“I have faith in our president and our people.”
Earlier today, military trucks and armored vehicles were seen in central Moscow, and soldiers with assault rifles were deployed outside the main building of the Ministry of Defense. The area around the presidential administration near Red Square was blocked off, snarling traffic.
But even with the increased 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 in Moscow
Addressing the Russian people today, Putin warned that military leader Prigozhin has “stabbed him in the back” as Moscow remains on lockdown and troops dig in in preparation to defend the city.
Prigozhin and his fearsome 25,000-strong Wagner militia are in control of the southern Russian city of Rostov-on-Don and say they are ‘ready to die’ as they swear revenge for a military strike by Putin’s forces that the leader of the mercenaries some of his men.
Meanwhile, rumors circulated that a presidential plane linked to Vladimir Putin flew north from Moscow towards Tver and disabled its transponder, according to multiple reports.
Other business jets were seen making an exit from the capital towards Saint Petersburg.
Earlier there were reports from Ukrainian intelligence that Putin had taken off from Moscow by helicopter to his palace in Valdai, between Moscow and St Petersburg.
It comes as a sinister message posted on Saturday on the Wagner Telegram channel: “Putin made the wrong choice. All the worse for him.
“Soon we will have a new president.”
Sources close to Putin insisted he worked in the Kremlin – an unusual location for him, other than short visits.