kov said that the Wagner Group is not officially recognized by the Russian government and does not have any legal status. Peskov’s comments came in response to questions about the alleged involvement of the Wagner Group in the plane crash that killed Yevgeny Prigozhin, the chief of the private military company.
The crash, which occurred near Moscow on August 23, is widely believed to be an assassination targeting Prigozhin. The Wagner Group, a paramilitary organization, has been linked to Russian military operations in Ukraine and Syria.
The US has refused to comment on whether a bomb was the suspected cause of the crash. President Joe Biden said that he was not surprised by Prigozhin’s death and suggested that Russian President Vladimir Putin may have been involved.
Russia’s deputy foreign minister Sergei Ryabkov criticized Biden’s remarks, calling them unacceptable. Ryabkov said that it was inappropriate for Biden to speculate on the cause of the crash without any evidence.
After 24 hours of silence, Putin appeared to acknowledge Prigozhin’s death and described him as a “talented businessman” who made “serious mistakes.” Putin also sent his condolences to the families of those killed in the crash.
Meanwhile, Ukraine’s military claimed further gains in the Zaporizhizia region, moving closer to Russia’s second line of defense. Russia accused Ukraine of firing a missile towards Moscow and claimed to have shot down scores of Ukrainian drones targeting annexed Crimea.
In a separate development, German prosecutors are investigating the possible poisoning of exiled Russian journalist Elena Kostyuchenko. Kostyuchenko, along with two other Russian journalists, experienced symptoms consistent with poisoning. The investigation into her case is pending.
The suspected death of Prigozhin has raised questions about Putin’s position and the stability of his regime. UK politician Tobias Ellwood suggested that Putin’s “back is against the wall” and his days are “very much numbered.” Ellwood said that the elimination of dissenting voices, such as Prigozhin, shows that trust in the Kremlin inner circle has disappeared.
The Wagner Group has been a subject of controversy due to its alleged involvement in military operations and its connection to Prigozhin. The group’s exact nature and relationship with the Russian government have been a topic of debate. The Kremlin’s statement that the Wagner Group has no formal legal existence adds to the mystery surrounding the organization.US refuses to say whether bomb suspected cause of ‘assassination’
Wagner chief Prigozhin killed
Joe Biden’s remarks about Wagner chief Yevgeny Prigozhin’s suspected death in a plane crash near Moscow were unacceptable, Russia’s deputy foreign minister Sergei Ryabkov has said.
The US president said on Wednesday that he was not surprised by the reports of Mr Prigozhin’s death, adding that not much happens in Russia that Vladimir Putin is not behind.
The crash, which killed 10 people on Wednesday, is widely claimed to be an assassination to avenge Mr Prigozhin’s mutiny in June that challenged Russia’s military leadership.
After 24 hours of silence on the matter, Vladimir Putin appeared to eulogise Mr Prigozhin as “a talented businessman” who made “serious mistakes”, and sent his condolences to the families of those killed.
Kyiv’s military, meanwhile, claimed further gains in the Zaporizhizia region, where the Institute for the Study of War think-tank said geolocated footage suggested Ukraine was now advancing towards Russia’s second line of defence, after a dramatic breakthrough near the village of Robotyne.
Russia also accused Ukraine of firing a missile towards Moscow and claimed to have downed scores of drones targeting annexed Crimea.
Death of pilot ‘confirmed’ by Russian investigators
Russian investigators, the pilot of the plane that crashed in Tver, reportedly killing Yevgeny Prigozhin, has been confirmed dead, according to a source with knowledge of the matter.
They have yet to confirm a genetic match, the source added.
An Embraer executive jet on which Prigozhin was listed as a passenger crashed in Tver region north of Moscow on August 23, according to Russia’s Federal Air Transport Agency.
Six other passengers
How does the alleged assassination of Yevgeny Prigozhin impact the ongoing speculation about the Wagner Group’s activities and its connection to the Russian government
Lin has consistently denied any official ties or recognition of the Wagner Group, stating that it is a private entity with no legal status.
The recent plane crash that claimed the life of Yevgeny Prigozhin, the head of the private military company, has further fueled speculation about the Wagner Group’s activities. Many believe that the crash was an assassination targeting Prigozhin, although no official confirmation has been made.
The United States has refrained from commenting on whether a bomb was suspected as the cause of the crash. President Joe Biden expressed no surprise at Prigozhin’s death and even suggested that Russian President Vladimir Putin could have been involved.
In response to Biden’s remarks, Russia’s deputy foreign minister Sergei Ryabkov criticized the speculation, calling it unacceptable. He deemed it inappropriate for Biden to make conclusions about the cause of the crash without concrete evidence.
Putin, after a day of silence, acknowledged Prigozhin’s death and described him as a “talented businessman” who had made “serious mistakes.” The Russian president also extended his condolences to the families of the crash victims.
In the meantime, Ukraine’s military reported making further advances in the Zaporizhizia region, moving closer to Russia’s second line of defense. Russia accused Ukraine of firing a missile towards Moscow and claimed to have shot down numerous Ukrainian drones targeting annexed Crimea.
On a separate note, German prosecutors are currently investigating the possible poisoning of exiled Russian journalist Elena Kostyuchenko. Alongside two other Russian journalists, Kostyuchenko displayed symptoms consistent with poisoning. The investigation into this incident is ongoing.
The alleged death of Prigozhin has raised doubts about Putin’s position and the stability of his regime. UK politician Tobias Ellwood has suggested that Putin’s “back is against the wall” and his days are “very much numbered.” Ellwood believes that eliminating dissenting voices, including Prigozhin, indicates a lack of trust within the Kremlin inner circle.
With the Wagner Group’s controversial reputation due to its alleged involvement in military operations, questions about its exact nature and relationship with the Russian government continue to persist. The Kremlin maintains its denial of any official recognition or connection to the group, contributing to ongoing debates surrounding its role and activities.
