Viktor Bout, the notorious Russian arms dealer who was freed in a prisoner for Brittney Griner, walked back his promise to fight in Ukraine on the frontlines.
In an interview with Russian newspaper Komsomolskaya Pravda’s radio station on Wednesday, Bout praised Russia’s invasion of Ukraine but became evasive when the host read a listener’s question asking if he had received an offer to fight with Wagner, the Russian private military company that claimed earlier this week to have captured the Ukrainian town of Soledar, though that claim has been refuted by the Ukrainians.
“Let Bout prove his patriotism towards the Motherland by joining Wagner in Soledar,” the listener said, according to the Daily Beast.
“No, there were no offers to join. There again, you have to understand where you can be most useful, and which of your skills and knowledge would be handy,” Bout responded.
Bout, the so-called ‘Merchant of Death’, was sentenced to 25 years in prison on terrorism charges. He was freed in a prisoner swap for WNBA star Brittney Griner last month.
In an interview with Russian state media after his release, Bout said, “If I could, I would share the skills I have and I would readily volunteer” to fight.
However, Bout has decided to become a politician, joining the ultranationalist, pro-Kremlin Liberal Democratic Party.
[Image: Reuters]
