Plane Crashes North of Moscow: Wagner Boss Prigozhin on Board and No Survivors, Say Authorities
MOSCOW, Aug 23 (Reuters) – Yevgeny Prigozhin, Russia’s most powerful mercenary and head of the Wagner group, was on board a plane that crashed on Wednesday evening north of Moscow, according to Russian authorities. The crash occurred two months after Prigozhin led an unsuccessful mutiny against the army top brass.
The fate of Prigozhin has not been officially confirmed by the Kremlin or the Defense Ministry. However, a Telegram channel linked to Wagner, called Grey Zone, announced his death and praised him as a hero and patriot who was killed by unidentified individuals it referred to as “traitors to Russia.”
Speculation surrounding the crash has led some of Prigozhin’s supporters to blame the Russian state, while others point fingers at Ukraine, which was set to celebrate its Independence Day on Thursday.
Prigozhin’s death would leave the Wagner Group leaderless and raise questions about the future operations of the mercenary group in Africa and other regions. Additionally, his death would remove a significant challenge to President Vladimir Putin’s authority.
The plane involved in the crash was a Brazilian Embraer Legacy 600 model, which has only recorded one accident in over 20 years of service, unrelated to mechanical failure. Flight-tracking data showed no signs of a problem until a sudden drop in the final 30 seconds of the flight.
Rosaviatsia, Russia’s aviation agency, released the names of all 10 people on board the crashed plane, including Prigozhin and Dmitry Utkin, his right-hand man and co-founder of the Wagner group. Russian investigators have opened a criminal investigation into the crash, and some unnamed sources suggest that the plane may have been shot down by surface-to-air missiles.
The crash occurred near the village of Kuzhenkino in the Tver Region, and rescuers have recovered seven bodies from the scene. A second private jet linked to Prigozhin, which was also heading to St. Petersburg, turned back to Moscow after the crash.
Prigozhin led the mutiny against Russia’s top army brass in June, during which Wagner fighters shot down Russian attack helicopters, resulting in the deaths of several pilots. He had been critical of Russia’s war in Ukraine and had attempted to overthrow Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu and Valery Gerasimov, the chief of the General Staff.
The mutiny was resolved through a deal with the Kremlin, which saw Prigozhin agree to relocate to Belarus. However, he had appeared to move freely within Russia after the agreement, raising questions about his personal safety.
The crash of the plane carrying Prigozhin raises further concerns about the circumstances surrounding his death and the future of the Wagner group. Investigations into the crash are ongoing, and the Russian government has not made an official statement regarding the incident.
Reporting by Andrew Osborn, Max Rodionov, and Mark Trevelyan; Writing by Andrew Osborn; Editing by Grant McCool and Cynthia Osterman
What impact could Yevgeny Prigozhin’s death, if confirmed, have on the future operations of the Wagner Group and President Putin’s authority
Crash occurred near the village of Stepanovo in the Moscow region. Russian authorities have confirmed that there were no survivors. The cause of the crash is still under investigation.
The Wagner Group is a private military company known for its involvement in conflicts, particularly in Africa. It is believed to have close ties to the Russian government and has been accused of carrying out covert operations on behalf of the Kremlin.
Yevgeny Prigozhin, often referred to as “Putin’s chef” due to his catering business that has served the Russian President, is believed to be the founder and head of the Wagner Group. He has been sanctioned by the United States for his alleged involvement in interfering in the 2016 U.S. presidential election.
Prigozhin recently led a failed mutiny against the Russian army’s top leadership, which has led to speculation as to whether his involvement in the crash was related to this incident. However, no official confirmation has been provided.
The Grey Zone Telegram channel, which is believed to have close ties to Wagner, announced Prigozhin’s death and hailed him as a national hero. They blamed unidentified individuals as “traitors to Russia” for his demise.
The crash has sparked various theories about its cause. Some of Prigozhin’s supporters suspect foul play by the Russian state, while others point fingers at Ukraine, suggesting it may have been a targeted attack due to their Independence Day celebrations.
If Prigozhin’s death is confirmed, it would leave the Wagner Group without its leader and raise questions about the future of the mercenary group’s operations. Prigozhin’s demise could also remove a significant challenge to President Putin’s authority.
As investigations continue, more information is expected to emerge regarding the cause of the crash and the fate of Yevgeny Prigozhin.
Such unfortunate and mysterious circumstances surrounding Yevgeny Prigozhin’s death. May the truth be revealed soon.