As per an announcement by Russia’s Federal Air Transport Agency press service, Yevgeny Prigozhin, the head of the Wagner Group, was among the passengers listed on a plane that tragically crashed in the Tver region of Russia on Wednesday.
The leader of a group of mercenaries, Yevgeny Prigozhin, who had recently led a short-lived armed uprising against the Russian military, tragically lost his life in a plane crash north of Moscow. The crash, which occurred on Wednesday, claimed the lives of all 10 individuals on board, as reported by Russia’s civil aviation agency.
The plane crash immediately aroused suspicions due to the ongoing speculation surrounding the fate of the founder of the Wagner private military company. The founder’s actions had triggered intense debates since the uprising he led.
Back then, President Vladimir Putin strongly condemned the rebellion, labeling it as “treason” and a “betrayal,” and promised to seek retribution. However, the charges against Prigozhin were subsequently dismissed. The leader of Wagner, whose forces had played a significant role for Russia in the conflict in Ukraine, was permitted to withdraw to Belarus, and there were occasional reports of his appearances in Russia.
Wagner Group leader Yevgeny Prigozhin dies in a plane crash
Furthermore, the plane crash follows recent reports in Russian media indicating the removal of a high-ranking general associated with Prigozhin from his role as the air force commander.
An aircraft carrying a total of ten individuals, consisting of three pilots and seven passengers, was en route from Moscow to St. Petersburg when it crashed approximately 300 kilometers (185 miles) north of Moscow. This information was provided by officials cited by Russia’s state news agency Tass.
Rosaviatsia, Russia’s civilian aviation agency, swiftly confirmed that Yevgeny Prigozhin was listed on the manifest and later verified by the airline to be on board.
Earlier, Vladimir Rogov, an official appointed by Russia in the partially occupied Zaporizhzhia region of Ukraine, reported having conversations with Wagner commanders who affirmed the presence of Prigozhin on the aircraft. Dmitry Utkin, known by the call sign Wagner, which later became the company’s name, was also reported to be on board.
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“I can’t confirm the details, but it doesn’t come as a surprise,” remarked U.S. President Joe Biden.
Keir Giles, a Russia expert from the international affairs think-tank Chatham House, advised caution regarding reports of Prigozhin’s demise, pointing out that there have been instances of individuals assuming the name Yevgeniy Prigozhin as part of efforts to conceal their travels.
Giles said, “We shouldn’t be astonished if he reemerges shortly in a new video originating from Africa.”
According to data from flight tracking examined by The Associated Press, a private jet previously associated with Yevgeny Prigozhin departed from Moscow on Wednesday evening and its transponder signal vanished within minutes.
The signal abruptly ceased while the aircraft was at an elevated altitude and traveling at a significant speed. In a photograph shared by a pro-Wagner social media account depicting smoldering wreckage, a partial tail number resembling that of a jet previously linked to Prigozhin was identifiable.
Videos posted on the pro-Wagner Telegram channel Grey Zone depicted the plane plummeting dramatically from a dense cloud of smoke, exhibiting substantial twisting motions during its descent. Such rapid descents often result from substantial damage to an aircraft, and a meticulous frame-by-frame analysis of two videos by The AP indicated indications of an apparent in-flight explosion. The visuals seemed to reveal the absence of a wing on the aircraft.
Russia’s Investigative Committee has initiated an inquiry into the crash based on charges of breaching air safety regulations, a customary approach when such investigations are launched.
Even if verified, the passing of Yevgeny Prigozhin is improbable to exert an impact on Russia’s engagement in the Ukrainian conflict, where his troops engaged in some of the most intense battles throughout the past year and a half.
Following their capture of Bakhmut, a city in the eastern Donetsk region, in late May, his forces withdrew from active frontline involvement. The struggle for Bakhmut marked one of the most brutal episodes of the entire war, with Russian troops contending to gain control for several months.
In the aftermath of the uprising, Russian authorities indicated that his fighters would be reintegrated into Ukraine solely as part of the regular armed forces.
This week, Yevgeny Prigozhin unveiled his inaugural recruitment video post-mutiny, outlining Wagner’s engagement in reconnaissance and search operations aimed at “enhancing Russia’s influence across all continents, and promoting greater freedom in Africa.”
Additionally, reports from Russian media, based on unnamed sources, detailed the dismissal of Gen. Sergei Surovikin from his role as commander of Russia’s air force. Surovikin, previously in charge of Russia’s operation in Ukraine, has remained out of public view since the mutiny. He had recorded a video message during the uprising, urging Yevgeny Prigozhin’s forces to withdraw.
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