Wagner’s leader of mercenaries, Yevgeny Prigozhin, is presumed dead in a plane crash

 

 

 

 

Wagner Group Leader Yevgeny Prigozhin Presumed Deceased in Private Jet CrashYevgeny Prigozhin, known for his leadership of the Wagner Group, is believed to have died following his inclusion on the passenger roster of a private jet that crashed north of Moscow, Russia. A prominent associate of Russian President Vladimir Putin, Prigozhin’s private military firm played a significant role in the aftermath of Russia’s intervention in Ukraine in February 2022.

 

Relations between Prigozhin and Putin deteriorated after his order for his troops to advance on Moscow in a day-long rebellion against Russia’s military leadership in June.While details surrounding the crash remain unfolding, here is what is currently known.

The Plane Crash Incident:Officials from Russian aviation confirmed that the aircraft, an Embraer Legacy, was traveling between Moscow and St Petersburg when it crashed in the Tver region, north of Moscow, on Wednesday evening.However, a Telegram channel associated with Wagner, named Grey Zone, alleged that the jet was shot down by the Russian military, although no substantiating evidence was provided for this claim.

 

The private jet carried a total of seven passengers and three crew members. Preliminary information indicates that all ten individuals on board lost their lives, with all bodies reportedly having been recovered.The Embraer Legacy, registered under one of Prigozhin’s companies, caught fire upon impact after reportedly being airborne for less than 30 minutes. Video footage authenticated by the BBC displayed the aircraft descending from the sky over Kuzhenkino, Russia.

 

 

Grey Zone reported that a second business jet owned by Prigozhin successfully landed in the Moscow region.Passenger Identities:The private jet’s manifest revealed that it carried seven passengers and three crew members.The seven passengers were identified as: Yevgeny Prigozhin and his close associate Dmitry Utkin, along with Sergei Propustin, Yevgeny Makaryan, Alexander Totmin, Valery Chekalov, and Nikolai Matuseyev.The crew members were Captain Alexei Levshin, co-pilot Rustam Karimov, and flight attendant Kristina Raspopova.

 

 

Recent Activities of Prigozhin:The private jet was reportedly en route from Moscow to St Petersburg when it crashed approximately 60 miles north of Moscow.

Following his brief uprising against Russia’s top military commanders, whom he criticized for their strategy in Ukraine, Prigozhin maintained a relatively low profile.

As part of an agreement to quell the rebellion, charges against him were dropped in exchange for his relocation to Belarus. He seemingly complied, albeit briefly and on his own terms.In mid-July, a video circulated on Telegram channels featuring Prigozhin welcoming fighters in Belarus.

 

However, later that month, he was photographed in St Petersburg during the Africa-Russia summit.In the recent week, Prigozhin released a video statement—his first since the failed June rebellion—hinting at his presence in Africa. The authenticity of the video’s location could not be independently verified by the BBC.

 

Upon Grey Zone’s report of his death, Russia’s aviation agency released an official list of those aboard the aircraft that crashed near Moscow. Prigozhin’s name was included.Ongoing Developments:

 

According to Russia’s investigative committee, a criminal inquiry has been initiated under Article 263 of Russia’s criminal code, which pertains to traffic safety and air transport operations.Meanwhile, search and rescue operations at the crash site have concluded.

 

Igor Rudenya, the governor of the Tver region, has reportedly assumed control over the investigation.

 

SOURCE: BBCNEWS