Over 400 Russian-paid mercenaries are currently on a mission to eliminate Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy in Kyiv, a report says.
According to the Times of London’s report, The Wagner Group, a Russian private military company, agreed to carry out the mission to bring Zelenskyy’s government down and prepare the ground for Moscow to take over in exchange for whopping financial bonuses.
On Saturday, the Ukrainian government first received tips about the coup d’etat, The newspaper reported. A few hours later, the Ukrainian government implemented a curfew in Kyiv from 5 p.m. to 8 a.m., for more effective defense of the city and the security of its inhabitants.
Kyiv Mayor Vitali Klitschko tweeted on Saturday urging all civilians remain inside during the curfew. Klitschko also warned that anyone who will be on the street during the curfew will be considered a member of the enemy’s sabotage and reconnaissance groups. “Please treat the situation with understanding and do not go outside,” he said.
According to former U.S. intelligence officials, the paid Russian mercenaries more likely have been in Kyiv beforehand, and have been operating there for months. The U.S. officials speculated to Fox News Digital that Russian President Vladimir Putin required on-the-ground intelligence in the Ukrainian capital in advance of the planned invasion that began five days ago.
One official said Putin deployed the Wagner Group to assassinate Zelenskyy in order to have an option to say, “that wasn’t me.”
