Part 2/7:
In the chaos of that episode, locals in Moscow were seen engaging with Wagner soldiers much like tourists—they took selfies, offered tea, and waited to see how the situation would unfold. Officially, the Russian National Guard, tasked with maintaining order, appeared dysfunctional; their commanders, including Victor Zolotov—an intensely loyal but ruthless figure—were unreachable. This lack of coordinated response underscored a significant rift within Russia's power structures, suggesting that segments of the military and security apparatus might be uncooperative or indifferent to Putin’s directives.