Yevgeny Prigozhin, Leader of Wagner Group, is Reportedly Dead
Yevgeny Prigozhin, leader of the Russian mercenary group Wagner, is believed to have been on a plane that crashed near Moscow on 24 August.
The Embraer private jet, traveling from Moscow to St. Petersburg, crashed on 23 August (Russian time) in the Tver region, north of Moscow, allegedly killing 10 people.
While CNBC reported that Prigozhin, aged 62, was listed as a passenger, some sources close to Russian authorities suggest he might have been on a different plane he owned.
As of now, eight bodies have been recovered, but Prigozhin’s death remains unconfirmed.
Adding to the mystery, a BBC report from 2:05 am suggests the plane might have been shot down, with witnesses hearing “two bangs” prior to the crash.
A video from the Central European news Agency Visegrad 24 further supports this claim, showing the plane’s alleged final moments.
Earlier this year, the Wagner Group, previously fighting on Russia’s side in the Russia-Ukraine war, turned against Russia.
In a shocking move, they seized control of two Russian cities, Rostov and Voronezh, and even hinted at advancing towards Moscow. Russian President Vladimir Putin labeled this act a “betrayal.”
Despite the escalating tensions, Prigozhin managed to strike a deal with Putin, brokered by Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko. As per the agreement, Prigozhin and the Wagner group would move to Belarus, with their exact role there still undisclosed. In return, Russia would drop all charges against Prigozhin and the mutinous Wagner members.
A significant point of contention remains between Prigozhin and Russian Defence Minister Sergei Shoigu. Prigozhin had called for Shoigu’s dismissal, but it’s unclear if this demand has been met. Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov mentioned that such decisions lie with the “commander in chief” and might not have been part of the Lukashenko-mediated deal.
After the mutiny’s resolution, Prigozhin led his troops out of Russia.