Previously unseen footage of Yevgeny Prigozhin, the leader of the Wagner Group, has emerged following his funeral. The video, which was posted on a Wagner-aligned Telegram channel, shows Prigozhin addressing the camera while riding in a vehicle and discussing speculation about his death. Prigozhin dismisses the rumors, stating that everything is fine. Russian outlets have noted that the uniform Prigozhin is wearing in the video matches the one he wore in a previous video during the Wagner Group campaign in Africa. The release of the video is likely intended to fuel speculation that Prigozhin is still alive.
The possibility that Prigozhin’s death was staged has been suggested since his plane was destroyed in a crash on August 23, along with several other members of the Wagner Group. As the Russian government is the only investigator of the incident, there has been limited opportunity for the international community to examine evidence from the crash site. The Russian government claims that DNA testing on remains found at the scene confirmed Prigozhin’s death.
Prigozhin’s death occurred just months after he led an insurrection against Putin’s regime. The new video does not provide any concrete evidence to dispute the official narrative that Prigozhin was killed in the plane explosion. While Russian officials have largely ignored speculation that Putin was involved in the crash, the Kremlin has acknowledged the possibility of foul play. Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov stated that “deliberate wrongdoing” may have been a factor in the crash.
Prigozhin was buried in a private ceremony in his hometown of St. Petersburg. The event was kept secret until the location of his grave was revealed by his spokespeople. The investigation into the cause of the crash is ongoing, with various possibilities being considered.
