One resident of Moscow, who went by the name of Nikolai – who like the others declined to give his last name – had watched as the military took up positions to defend the city.
“It’s scary, of course. You sit at home and think about what could happen,” he told Reuters. “It’s worrying for both you and your loved ones.”
Some Moscow residents found it difficult to comprehend the scale of Saturday’s events.
“This is really difficult news, really unexpected. I just got back from university. I just took my final exam and the news was really unexpected as I was preparing (for the exam) last night,” said Vladimir, a student. “I really don’t know how to react. I still haven’t figured it out.”
Moscow Mayor Sergei Sobyanin, an ally of President Vladimir Putin, declared an “anti-terror regime” in place before private militia leader Wagner announced his fighters would return to avoid bloodshed.
In Kiev’s Independence Square, packed with residents enjoying a stroll, Nataliya Tanich, 48, admitted she takes some pleasure in watching Russia’s opposition.
“I am happy with what is happening in Russia. The inevitable conflict between Prigozhin and Putin was expected,” she said. “I don’t know what can come of it. But I wish they would shoot themselves and die.
In Moscow, a woman named Galina said she considered what was happening to be a “provocation”.
“It doesn’t scare me at all,” she said. “I have confidence in our president and our people.
One man, who declined to be named at all, said he thought it was just a political game. “They might cancel a few events, and I do events for a living. I have an event at the moment so I could lose because of that,” he said.
“But otherwise it’s their business, it’s politics – let them deal with it.”