Wagner Group mercenary arrested in Moscow for partner's murder

In Moscow, a former convict who had joined the Wagner Group was arrested for the brutal killing of his partner after returning from the war in Ukraine. At the time of the crime, the victim's 15-year-old daughter was in the apartment.

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The heinous murder occurred in the Bibirevo district of Moscow's northeastern administrative area. Sergei Mironov, a 51-year-old member of the Wagner Group, cut off the ear of his 42-year-old partner before stabbing her at least 15 times with a knife. Eventually, he called the police himself.

Reports from Russian media indicate that the arrested man had several previous convictions. Before joining the Wagner mercenaries, he was serving a sentence for causing serious bodily harm that led to death.

Mironov was involved in fighting in Ukraine from October 2022 to April 2023. Following his return, President Vladimir Putin pardoned him, and he moved back to Moscow to live with Svetlana K. The murder took place during an argument, while the victim's 15-year-old daughter was present in the apartment.

An article in "The Wall Street Journal" by Ivana Stradner and Mark Montgomery suggests that "as NATO marks its 75th anniversary and Putin faces further losses in Ukraine, Moscow is attempting to establish a new battleground in the Balkans".

The experts highlight that Russia might not need to deploy its troops but could instead rely on Serbia, which may trigger violence and instability.

"Belgrade and Moscow appear to be gearing up for a second campaign of violence and provocation in 2024," they state, referencing the previous year's developments when Serbia began gathering troops and equipment at its border with Kosovo.

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Source: moscowtimes.ru