In a moment that echoed the darkest chapters of recent history, battleships seemed to march back onto the streets of Russia’s major cities, emerging from the heart of Moscow into the public eye. Normal life could continue, yet the air remained tense and unsettled. In Rostov-on-Don, a southern city long associated with Wagner’s mercenaries, the atmosphere grew even more charged and extraordinary, and last night thousands of people fled the southern Russian capital as events unfolded.
Reminiscent of events from 1991 when the USSR faced its final days, nerves in the Russian capital stretched thin. State broadcasts showed scenes of ballet, with imagery of Swan Lake used in a blunt display as a grim backdrop to a political standoff. Ordinary Russians, speaking to EL PERIÓDICO DE CATALUNYA from the Prensa Ibérica group, largely avoided using real names. Lyubov, a Muscovite, posted online that many hoped Russians would awaken to demand real change. When asked how he felt, he answered that the day would be defined by what happened this Saturday, and that he would stay home to avoid attention.
As the situation intensified with Ukraine at the center of the broader tension, one resident, Vyacheslav, paused on his assessment of Shoigu and offered a guarded optimism: he believed things would calm down eventually. Yet another resident warned that the conflict could ripple beyond gunfire and arrests. He anticipated a police presence in the center and worried that the government might seize the moment to prolong anti-terror measures, making the city feel even more restrictive. The implications, he suggested, could be felt even beyond the immediate clashes, a concern voiced in part by the chaos surrounding the rebellion of the Wagner group. Roskomnadzor, the federal service charged with telecom, ICT, and media oversight, reported Saturday that internet outages affected areas under counter-terrorism operations as Moscow faced the disruptions—an echo of the wider control dynamics at play.
occupying the Kazakh capital
Wagner asserted control over Rostov-on-Don’s key military facilities, including an important southern airport, staking a bold claim across one of Russia’s most historically linked cities to the Cossacks. Yevgeny Prigozhin, the troupe’s leader, communicated a stark message this Saturday, stating that thousands of men were prepared to risk everything. Footage circulating on social networks showed civilians navigating a tense landscape, while local authorities urged residents to remain indoors. In the streets, some people expressed support for the mercenaries, offering water and food as a sign of solidarity, while others harshly criticized the disruption and the chaos it caused.
Videos from Rostov painted a clearing—but also a deep undercurrent of unease. Wagner forces appeared to be digging in, and some locals brought water to those stationed near the frontlines. Others questioned the purpose of the disruption, asking why the city was being driven into this chaos. The scene captured a moment when allegiance, fear, and uncertainty collided in a way that left a lasting imprint on how people perceived the conflict and its players.
— Alec Luhn (@AlecLuhn) 24 June 2023
Across the night, thousands of civilians watched with growing dread as the direct clash between the Wagner group and regular Russian forces loomed. With every passing hour, the fear of escalation mounted. Dmitri, a resident who spoke to local observers, described a fragile calm that rested over the city by day, even as pockets of panic emerged at night. He did not plan to leave the area, expressing a belief that a resolution would eventually arrive. The broader region’s atmosphere reflected a quiet resilience amid a growing sense of volatility, as residents weighed the risk of staying against the uncertainty of what might come next.