‘Mom, come out — the civil war has begun’ Meduza’s Russian readers react to Yevgeny Prigzohin’s insurrection

Yevgeny Prigozhin’s paramilitary fighters have captured Rostov-on-Don — and they don’t intend to stop there. Nobody knows how Russia’s next few days will unfold; the beginning of Prigozhin’s insurrection came as a complete surprise to everyone, from Vladimir Putin and Russian propagandists to independent observers. Meduza asked its Russian readers to tell us how they see the situation. We’re publishing translations of some of the most interesting responses below.

Update: Just after 8:30 p.m. Moscow time on June 24, Yevgeny Prigozhin abruptly announced that Wagner forces would stand down and retreat to their field camps “according to the plan.” This came shortly after Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko claimed to have mediated an agreement with Prigozhin to halt Wagner’s advance and take “further steps to de-escalate tensions.”

Darya

Rostov-on-Don

At about 1:00 in the morning [on Saturday], there was a rumbling sound over the large neighborhood where I live, in the city’s western outskirts. We regularly see helicopters and planes flying overhead here, but this sound was significantly longer and louder.

Honestly, I was scared. At that moment, I thought about what it must be like for residents of Ukraine, for whom that kind of rumble would probably almost seem like silence. And then the power went out for half of the neighborhood for about 15 minutes. I went to bed at about 3:00 a.m., but I didn’t get much sleep — I woke up every time I got a notification from my fitness bracelet.

Tatyana

Rostov-on-Don

I learned about what was happening at about 2:00 a.m. At first I thought it was fake news, but in the morning I realized [it wasn’t]. I’ve never been on the side of Wagner Group or the Russian army, but when I listen to [Prigozhin’s] statements, it makes me think a lot of people might side with him.

The Russian authorities have long been removed from the people, whereas public figures like Prigozhin, who engage in direct, “unformatted” dialogue with Russian citizens, evoke more empathy and understanding than the dry and rehearsed speeches and announcements from the authorities.

Elizaveta

Moscow

[Yesterday] I returned from work insanely tired and went to bed immediately. I saw the news when I woke up. It’s like the start of the war, when we went to bed in a relatively familiar (but nonetheless terrible) situation, and the next morning you’re insanely scared for the lives of your loved ones.

Elena

Penza

It’s obvious that this is a military uprising. They probably won’t touch civilians. In general, it seems more like mafia warfare, but there is a risk that [civilians in Russian cities] will suffer if they find themselves in the wrong place at the wrong time.

There is potential for a civil war, but perhaps everything will remain confined to verbal battles and insults on the Internet. It’s not going to end well for Russia — that much is guaranteed.

Putin’s address

‘We’re faced with a betrayal’ Vladimir Putin addressed the country, promising harsh measures for Yevgeny Prigozhin and Wagner insurgents

a year ago

Putin’s address

‘We’re faced with a betrayal’ Vladimir Putin addressed the country, promising harsh measures for Yevgeny Prigozhin and Wagner insurgents

a year ago

Konstantin

Moscow

In my view, what’s happening right now isn’t a reason to celebrate: Prigozhin is painting himself as a warrior for justice, but I don’t trust him. I’m almost certain that armed clashes are unavoidable. I don’t see how the situation can be resolved peacefully.

Diana

Kazan

I go to bed at around midnight [on Friday], look at the news like I always do, and I can’t believe what’s happening. At about 1:00 a.m., my 15-year-old sister comes out of her room and knocks on the bathroom door, saying, “Mom, mom, come out, the civil war has started.” In the morning, we read the news with smiles and cheered the Wagner Group’s progress.

I don’t understand anything — what their goals are, what they’re trying to accomplish. But someone is finally resisting the government and trying to achieve justice. They beat us with their clubs at protest rallies, and now someone is finally going up against them with weapons.

Leonid

Moscow

At first, I thought this was just another hoax, but in the morning [on Saturday], I realized we’re living through another historic day. I never supported the Putin regime, but the prospect of rule-by-sledgehammer in our country horrifies me.

Everyone knows the regime relies on security forces. The police have never been on the people’s side in a single peaceful protest. We’ll see what they choose: following orders or siding with the “sledgehammer.” However sad it is, it seems that our fate depends on them.

Opposing the president

‘The president is sorely mistaken’ Yevgeny Prigozhin’s response to Putin’s emergency address condemning Wagner Group’s insurrection

a year ago

Opposing the president

‘The president is sorely mistaken’ Yevgeny Prigozhin’s response to Putin’s emergency address condemning Wagner Group’s insurrection

a year ago

Andrey

Moscow

I think this will end with the defeat of Wagner Group and the regular military units that joined them. Competing with the army, which has its own industry, bureaucracy, and a powerful propaganda apparatus, as well as thousands of aircraft and ballistic missiles, is a long shot. It’ll be the same story as when the Russian army challenge the military and economic strength of NATO — defeat. It’s not hard to guess what result this rebellion will have on the front lines.

Eva

Sverdlovsk region

I’m worried for the people living in those regions [where Wagner Group forces are right now]. Nobody knows how the situation is going to develop. Even if this all ends up being for the best, we don’t want to pay for it in human suffering.

Despite the fact that Wagner Group’s main goal is to get [Russian Defense Minister Sergey] Shoigu (and this whole rebellion was organized against the Defense Ministry, not the regime), what’s happening now might turn out to be a great shake-up and signal for citizens.

Oleg

Located “outside of Russia”

I think Prigozhin’s longtime plans to take power are being implemented. A couple months ago, there were already some hints of his political ambitions with his own party, plus he’s become respected and well-known among “Z” patriots. 

Konstantin

Lived in Moscow before the war, currently living in Berlin

I think Prigozhin has found a potentially successful strategy for instantly becoming Russia’s No. 2 politician (or No. 1, if he succeeds). For Putin and his friends, everything that gets said in the public space is largely theater with a single puppeteer, but Prigozhin has elevated key conservative and imperial values that are supported by that theater, and he’s managed to draw a significant number of people’s attention to the fact that the values being expounded don’t match reality.

On one hand, it’s scary to think about the things Prigozhin actively supports and what kind of politician he would be. On the other hand, everything that undermines the current system offers hope that it will collapse and that it might be possible to build a new one in the future.

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