Putin's hit squad: Russia orders 400 mercenaries from Africa to assassinate Prez Zelenskyy
After four days of failure, Russian President Vladimir Putin appears to be growing increasingly angry about his army's inability to take Ukraine. As defiant Ukrainian defenders stave off multiple attacks by land, air, and sea, Putin has reportedly ordered a group of deadly assassins to take out Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and other key Ukrainian leaders, according to reports on February 28, 2022.
The Ukrainian President has been at the forefront of his nation's defense and has quickly turned into a national and international icon. "I remain in the capital, I am staying with my people," he said in a video message on February 25. Not only has Zelenskyy been fighting on the streets with his army, but he's also been working the phones, contacting numerous leaders, and arranging support. On February 27, he also announced the creation of a Foreign Legion to enable foreign nationals to fight in Ukraine.
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In fact, many experts, diplomats, and journalists have acknowledged that Zelenksyy's bravery is one of the key factors keeping Ukraine in the fight. It appears that message has reached Putin, who has now moved to make two extreme orders. For one, he's ordered his nuclear reinforcements on alert, and for another, he's deployed the deadly Wagner Group of mercenaries to target Zelenskyy himself.
Putin orders assassins to target Zelenskyy
On February 28, 2022, The Times reported, "More than 400 Russian mercenaries are operating in Kyiv with orders from the Kremlin to assassinate President Zelensky." The mercenaries, reportedly over 400 in number were first deployed five weeks ago, but are just now making the news thanks to sources that alerted the Ukrainian government. According to The Times, the mercenaries are from the infamous Wagner Group, a private militia run by one of Putin's closest allies Yevgeny Prigozhin.
For those unfamiliar, the Wagner Group is a militia believed to be operating as a branch of the Russian government. Under orders from the Kremlin, they've operated in Syria, Sudan, Madagascar, and the Donbas region as well. Many experts believe it is actually an offshoot of Russia's Ministry of Defense, which the government has contested. The group has been linked to numerous atrocities and war crimes but has never been formally charged.
It is believed the mercenaries operating in Africa were flown into Ukraine "on a mission to decapitate Zelenskyy’s government in return for a handsome financial bonus." News of their presence led Kyiv to declare a 36-hour "hard" curfew, which the army will use to hunt the assassins. Apart from Zelenskyy, the mercenaries are also reportedly targeting as many as 26 other key officials, including the entire Ukrainian cabinet and Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal, and the mayor of Kyiv Vitali Klitschko.
Reportedly, around 2,000 to 4,000 mercenaries have been operating in Ukraine since January 2022 on different missions. It is believed the hit squad is currently on a break after Belarus negotiated a peace talk between Russia and Ukraine sometime this week. However, their threat is still likely to be felt. "They are very effective because they are hard to pin down," noted General Sir Richard Barrons. The news indicates that Putin has been planning to take Zelenskyy down for a long time, even as far back as December 2021.
Nonetheless, it appears the Ukrainian President is unfazed. He's vehemently refused to leave Ukraine and instead been involved in frontline operations while simultaneously negotiating with leaders for aid, and increased pressure on Russia and Belarus.