A rap glorifying a notorious mercenary group linked to Russia’s conflicts in Ukraine and Syria is trending on Russian YouTube this week.
Although mercenaries are banned under Russian law, the Wagner private contractor — named after the nom de guerre of its founder Dmitry Utkin — is believed to have played central roles in conflicts in Ukraine and Syria.
Utkin is reported to have been on the guest list of a Kremlin banquet last year and was spotted receiving a medal at a state ceremony in December.
By Wednesday morning, the video had amassed more than 450,000 views.
Titled "To Our Heroes: PMC Wagner - Who Defend the World From Terrorists in Syria" the song copies a well-known refrain from the legendary rock singer Viktor Tsoi's 1980s song “Kukushka.”
The video shows numerous desert scenes with demolished buildings and soldiers firing on targets and references the capture of the Syrian city of Palmyra and killing jihadists.
According to an Oct. 16 report by the independent investigators at the Conflict Intelligence Team, at least seven Wagner contractors have died fighting in Syria. The Russian Defense Ministry does not acknowledge their presence in the war or their deaths.
A Message from The Moscow Times:
Dear readers,
We are facing unprecedented challenges. Russia's Prosecutor General's Office has designated The Moscow Times as an "undesirable" organization, criminalizing our work and putting our staff at risk of prosecution. This follows our earlier unjust labeling as a "foreign agent."
These actions are direct attempts to silence independent journalism in Russia. The authorities claim our work "discredits the decisions of the Russian leadership." We see things differently: we strive to provide accurate, unbiased reporting on Russia.
We, the journalists of The Moscow Times, refuse to be silenced. But to continue our work, we need your help.
Your support, no matter how small, makes a world of difference. If you can, please support us monthly starting from just $2. It's quick to set up, and every contribution makes a significant impact.
By supporting The Moscow Times, you're defending open, independent journalism in the face of repression. Thank you for standing with us.
Remind me later.
