Yevgeny Prigozhin, the powerful head of the Wagner private military firm and a longtime ally of Russian President Vladimir Putin, is now believed to be dead after his name was discovered on the passenger list of a private plane that crashed north of Moscow, the country’s capital.
Prigozhin’s role as a major player on the geopolitical stage, particularly in Ukraine following Russia’s invasion in February 2022, marked him as a key figure in Putin’s network.
Wagner Chief Yevgeny Prigozhin Presumed Dead in Enigmatic Plane Crash
However, his relationship with Putin deteriorated rapidly after he ordered his forces to march on Moscow in an ill-fated rebellion against Russia’s military leaders in June.
As details surrounding the crash continue to emerge, a clearer picture of the incident is taking shape.
Russian aviation authorities confirmed that the ill-fated aircraft, an Embraer Legacy, was en route between Moscow and St. Petersburg when it crashed in the Tver region, north of Moscow, on a Wednesday evening.
Speculation has arisen regarding the cause of the crash. While Russian officials stated that the aircraft crashed on its flight path, a Telegram channel associated with the Wagner group, Grey Zone, reported that the jet was shot down by the Russian military, though this claim has yet to be substantiated with evidence.
Tragically, the private jet was carrying ten individuals, including seven passengers and three crew members.
Preliminary information indicates that none survived the crash. Russian news agency Interfax reported that all bodies have been recovered, while Tass noted that the aircraft, registered to one of Prigozhin’s companies, caught fire upon impact after being airborne for less than thirty minutes.
Video footage, verified by the BBC, depicted the aircraft plummeting from the sky in Kuzhenkino, Russia.
Interestingly, Grey Zone reported that a separate business jet belonging to Prigozhin landed safely in the Moscow region.
Russian authorities confirmed Prigozhin’s presence on the ill-fated plane, and subsequently released an official list of those on board, with Grey Zone reporting Prigozhin’s death.
Prigozhin’s recent history has been marked by controversy. Following his brief uprising against Russia’s military leadership and subsequent accusations of treason by President Putin, he was granted clemency and offered refuge in Belarus. His whereabouts had remained uncertain since.
In the past week, Prigozhin released a video statement, his first since the failed rebellion in June, suggesting he was in Africa.
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Veracity of Video Uncertain, Geopolitical Dynamics Under Spotlight
However, the veracity of the video’s location could not be independently confirmed by the BBC.
As Russia’s investigative committee initiates a criminal investigation under Article 263 of Russia’s criminal code—pertaining to traffic safety and air transport operation—a sense of anticipation and speculation looms over the circumstances that led to the crash.
Emergency services have concluded their search of the crash site, and the governor of the Tver region, Igor Rudenya, has taken charge of the ongoing investigation.
The incident serves as a stark reminder of the unpredictable nature of geopolitical and personal dynamics, as well as the potential consequences of straining relationships within Russia’s complex power structure.
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