On Wednesday, the tragic result of a Russian missile strike on a restaurant in eastern Ukraine became even more devastating, with the death toll reaching 11 individuals, including children. Despite the mounting evidence, the Kremlin continued to assert that Russian forces had solely targeted military-affiliated objectives.
Amidst the recent development, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz commented on the perceived weakening of Russian President Vladimir Putin following the mutiny within the Wagner mercenary group. However, the full implications of this uprising remained unclear. Sadly, the Ria Pizza restaurant in Kramatorsk became the target of a strike, resulting in the deaths of three children and causing injuries to at least 56 individuals.
Nestled in the heart of a major eastern town, still under Ukrainian control, the eatery gained notable acclaim among soldiers and journalists.
According to Ukraine’s emergency services, as mentioned on social media, ‘The bodies of 11 people, including three children, have been pulled out of the rubble, 56 people were injured, including one child,’
Having been in the immediate vicinity of the restaurant, military doctor Galyna attested to personally witnessing the moment it was struck.’We were in an apartment and we heard an explosion,’ she said, noting there were lots of wounded victims inside.
‘It’s horrible and very sad, but I am not surprised that a missile arrived here. It was a place where you could come and have a delicious lunch and coffee.’
‘I myself have sat there more than once.’
‘Strikes are only carried out on objects that are in one way or another linked to military infrastructure,’ Kremlin spokesman, Dmitry Peskov stated.
‘The Russian Federation does not carry out strikes on civilian infrastructure,’ he added.
‘Pariah around the world’
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Following the failed rebellion led by Yevgeny Prigozhin, the head of Wagner, which was widely regarded as the biggest challenge of Kremlin authority in years, Scholz emphasized that the event would undoubtedly yield enduring consequences within Russia.
‘I do believe that he (Putin) is weakened,’ Scholz told public broadcaster ARD.
‘It shows that the autocratic structures, the power structures, have cracks and he in no way sits as firmly in the saddle as he always claims,’ the German leader added.
‘But I don’t want to take part in speculation about how long he’ll stay in office — it could be a long time or short, we don’t know.’
On Wednesday, President Joe Biden stated that Russian President Vladimir Putin was experiencing a ‘loss’ in the war in Ukraine.
However, when asked whether Putin had been weakened by the Wagner group’s failed rebellion, Biden noted that it was premature to make a definitive assessment. Addressing reporters at the White House, Biden remarked, ‘It’s difficult to ascertain, but it is evident that he is clearly losing the war in Ukraine‘ he continued, ‘he is also losing the war domestically.’
Putin is now ‘a pariah around the world,’ Biden added in brief remarks.
During a meeting with a leader from Dagestan, a Caucasus republic, portions of which were broadcasted on state television, Putin expressed his confidence in having the support of the Russian people amid the mutiny.
Following Belarus’ decision to grant exile to Prigozhin, Polish President Andrzej Duda cautioned that the presence of Wagner troops in the neighboring country, which maintains close ties with Moscow, could potentially jeopardize the region’s security.
Duda, while visiting Kyiv, informed reporters that, ‘It is difficult for us to exclude today that the presence of the Wagner Group in Belarus could pose a potential threat to Poland, which shares a border with Belarus, a threat to Lithuania… as well as potentially to Latvia,’
For several months, tensions between Wagner and the Russian army had been intensifying, as Prigozhin publicly criticized the generals’ conduct of the Ukrainian offensive, holding them responsible for significant Russian casualties.
As per a report by the Wall Street Journal on Wednesday, Prigozhin intended to arrest the top military leaders during the mutiny. However, the military authorities became aware of his planned rebellion in advance, enabling them to evade arrest.
