As the Wagner mercenaries and their leader Yevgeny Prigozhin marched towards Moscow last weekend, Vladimir Putin is said to have enjoyed a fireworks display aboard a yacht at St. Petersburg’s Scarlet Sails festival. Mikhail Tsygar, Russian journalist and former editor-in-chief of the Russian independent medium Dozhd, reports this in a guest article for the New York Times.
According to Zygar’s local sources, Putin was said to have partied on a yacht belonging to Russian oligarch Yuri Kovalchuk when the Wagner mercenaries occupied several military installations in southern Russia. The Scarlet Sails Festival is a traditional celebration of high school students held annually in St. Petersburg, culminating in a spectacular light show. Ships, including one with scarlet sails, usually cruise the Neva with a fireworks display overhead.
The information cannot be independently verified. But there are indications that they could be true: On the day of the Wagner uprising, there were rumors that Putin had left the Kremlin.
Kremlin planes in sight towards St. Petersburg
On the website “Flightradar” it turned out that the Il96-PU special aircraft, which is usually used by the Russian president, took off for St. Petersburg. This is reported by the Russian medium “Meduza”. That same evening, a second plane departed in the same direction. It is also said to be a II96-PU aircraft. This is reported by the Wall Street Journal based on Flightradar.
Vladimir Putin’s Il-96 presidential jet took off from Moscow Vnukovo Airport at 2:16 p.m. Moscow time toward St. Petersburg and later disappeared from radars, FlightRadar data shows. 1/3 pic.twitter.com/TCBdqgxdfP
— Novaya Gazeta Europe (@novayagazeta_en) June 24, 2023
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov dismissed the rumours. “Putin works in the Kremlin,” he told state news agency Tass. Putin himself described Wagner boss Prigozhin as a “traitor”. He stopped his “March of Justice” in the direction of Moscow last Saturday night.
Putin subsequently released him into exile in Belarus. He also gave Prigozhin’s Wagner mercenaries involved in the uprising the choice of going to their families or to Belarus—or join the Russian army. Several tents have now been spotted near the Belarusian capital Minsk, which indicate the arrival of the Wagner group. Experts assume that Putin will not forgive Prigozhin.
But the mood can also change around the Russian president, according to journalist Zygar. “He still believes that he has everything under control and that the Prigozhin uprising has not changed the political situation in any way. But he’s wrong.” According to Zygar’s sources, there is a growing desire for change around Putin. “For many people I spoke to, Mr. Putin’s system of rule simply cannot last much longer,” the journalist writes.
Used sources:
Soource :Watson
I am Amelia James, a passionate journalist with a deep-rooted interest in current affairs. I have more than five years of experience in the media industry, working both as an author and editor for 24 Instant News. My main focus lies in international news, particularly regional conflicts and political issues around the world.
