The Russian attempt to capture and control Ukraine is meeting with new hazards and enemies, some from within the Kremlin’s own forces. The mercenary Wagner Group says it captured the commander of 72nd Brigade of the Russian Army after his troops planted mines to the rear of Wagner forces and then fired on its personnel as they tried to remove them, Politico reports.
A man identifying himself as Lieutenant-Colonel Roman Gennadievich said on video that he was drunk when he ordered his troops to fire on Wagner soldiers. Wagner Group’s commander, Yevgeny Prigozhin, has frequently complained about the lack of support and the occasional outright hostility the Kremlin has shown the fighters.
In another development, the UK Independent reports hackers broadcast a fake message from Russian President Vladimir Putin on numerous Russian radio stations telling towns along the Ukrainian border region that forces from Kyiv had broken through Russian lines in the areas of the Rostov, Belgorod and Voronezh regions and that martial law had been declared. The announcement caused panic among civilians and momentary confusion with military leaders in the region.