The authorities of the Russian capital, in order to hinder the movement of Wagner Group fighters towards Moscow, decided to block and dig up roads. The inhabitants tried to leave the country at that time. The prices of air tickets increased 2.5 times in a few hours, reaching the level at the beginning of the Russian invasion of Ukraine.
The Russian authorities frantically tried to block the roads to Moscow or prepare themselves so that it could happen in a matter of minutes. Makeshift roadblocks were made of trucks or simply dug a ditch along the way to stop the rebel mercenary column.
Police cars on Red Square in MoscowPAP/EPA/MAXIM SHIPENKOV
The Internet portal of Belsat television described that the closer to the capital, the more roads were impassable, and for this reason, many kilometers of traffic jams formed in many places.
One passenger on a bus stuck in traffic said: “Nobody can hear us. We stand in the sun like a flock of sheep. After I called the office of the governor of the Voronezh region, we were offered water.
Russian military vehicles drive through MoscowReuters
Bielat said that due to the revolt of the Wagnerians, the services control cars and may limit pedestrian traffic, and parks, shopping centers and art galleries were closed in the capital. Monday is supposed to be a day off. The authorities also warned that there could be problems with access to the internet.
In Moscow, all public and outdoor events have also been canceled for a whole week.
Some residents of the capital tried to leave Russia on Saturday, and the prices of air tickets to Tbilisi in Georgia, Astana in Kazakhstan and other countries of the former USSR increased 2-2.5 times. The German “Spiegel” reported on Saturday that tickets for departures from Moscow were already sold out in the early afternoon.
Main photo source: EPA/ANATOLY MALTSEV