Kremlin “sends more than 400 mercenaries from private militia to Kiev to assassinate President Zelensky and his government” – the group said peace talks were “smoke and mirrors”
- Private militia known as Wagner’s group “flew in from Africa five weeks ago”
- It is run by oligarch Evgeny Prigogine, a close ally of the Russian president
- The highly trained operatives have a list of 23 people, including the prime minister and the cabinet
More than 400 Russian mercenaries were brought in from Africa to assassinate Ukrainian President Vladimir Greenit became clear last night.
A private militia known as Wagner’s group is said to have orders Vladimir Putin to remove Zelensky – and 23 other government figures – to allow Moscow to take over its Eastern European neighbor.
According to timesthe mercenary army led by oligarch Yevgeny Prigogine – a close ally of the Russian president, often referred to as “Putin’s cook” – was sent five weeks ago and offered a huge sum for the mission.
Highly trained operatives are said to be waiting for the Kremlin to shed the green light, and the list of those killed includes Ukraine’s prime minister, the entire cabinet, Kyiv Mayor Vitali Klitschko and his brother Vladimir – both boxing champions who have become iconic. figures on the front line of the capital.
However, the plans shook as they reached the top echelons of the Ukrainian government on Saturday morning.
A private militia known as Wagner’s group is said to have ordered Vladimir Putin to destroy Vladimir Zelensky (pictured) – and 23 other government figures – to allow Moscow to take over.
The mercenary army led by oligarch Yevgeny Prigogine, a close ally of the Russian president (pictured), often referred to as “Putin’s cook”), was sent five weeks ago.
This prompted Kiev to declare a 36-hour “hard” curfew, ordering everyone to enter indoors so that soldiers could sweep the streets for Russian saboteurs.
Citizens were warned that they risked being “liquidated” if they were spotted outside during curfew, as they could be presumed to be enemies.
A source familiar with the Wagner Group told the Times that between 2,000 and 4,000 mercenaries actually arrived in Ukraine in January, but with different missions.
Some were sent to rebel-held areas of Donetsk and Luhansk in the east of the country – while the 400 tasked with removing Zelensky headed for Kiev from Belarus.
The group allegedly tracked Zelenski and his colleagues on their mobile phones, claiming they knew where they were at all times.
Another source claims that the assassins were told to put the brakes on while Putin held “peace talks” with Zelensky this week.
But they have reportedly been informed that the Russian leader has no desire to reach a deal, denouncing the border meeting with Belarus as “smoke and mirrors”.
The news of their assassination plans does not seem to embarrass Zelensky, who admitted that he was “target number one” during an address to the nation, telling them that Russian special forces were pursuing him.
Wagner (pictured in Syria) has conducted covert operations in Africa and the Middle East, including Syria, and most recently they were on the ground in Ukraine to direct Russian tanks to the capital.
When the United States offered to remove it, he told President Joe Biden, “I need ammunition, not transportation.”
Wagner has conducted covert operations in Africa and the Middle East, including Syria, and most recently they were on the ground in Ukraine to direct Russian tanks to the capital.
General Sir Richard Barnes, former Commander of the Joint Force Command, said: “They are very effective because they are difficult to determine.
“They can emerge from the shadows, do a lot of violent things and then disappear again, without it being obvious who is responsible. They are not directly related to the Russian government and are therefore plausible.
Sources told the Times that the militia had been informed of Putin’s plans for Ukraine back in December, long before it was told to the Russian military.
Soldiers and generals were afraid to oppose the invasion plans, and several were executed, the mercenaries said.
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