‘Maybe I’ll clear my name this way’
The awkward life and death of Spartak Kuryanov, a Wagner convict mercenary Spartak Kuryanov Photo: VK “So basically, we’re encircled,” a guy wearing military gear with no insignia says to the camera. His body armour has a badge reading “Shkabrik” and a khaki-coloured Totenkopf patch. “Actually, we’re almost certainly fucked,” his older comrade-in-arms says as he grins. “But fucking hell, maybe we’ll survive?” The two are sitting on stone rubble, their backs leaned against a brick wall.