Prigozhin, who led a failed coup against Vladimir Putin, was on a plane that crashed in western Russia, say aviation officials, authorities say all 10 people on board were killed.
Prigozhin had recently led an abortive mutiny against the Russian army’s top brass, criticizing the leadership’s handling of Russia’s war in Ukraine. While there is no official confirmation of Prigozhin’s fate, a Telegram channel linked to Wagner declared him dead and labeled him a hero and patriot who had fallen at the hands of unidentified “traitors to Russia.”
Speculation abounds regarding the cause of the crash, with some pointing fingers at the Russian state and others at Ukraine, which was about to mark its Independence Day.
Prigozhin’s death could leave the Wagner Group leaderless, raising questions about its future operations in Africa and elsewhere. It also removes a significant challenger to Russian President Vladimir Putin’s authority.
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The crashed plane, an Embraer Legacy 600 executive jet, had a relatively clean safety record, with its sole previous accident attributed to crew errors rather than mechanical failure. Another private jet linked to Prigozhin, en route to St. Petersburg, turned back to Moscow after the crash.
Prigozhin had orchestrated the June mutiny against Russia’s top military officials, and his criticism of Russia’s actions in Ukraine had raised questions about how he could openly challenge the government without repercussions.
Wagner has been dying a slow death over the last two months, and the reported death of its leader leaves the group with “limited options”, according to an intelligence chief.
Justin Crump, CEO of the Sibylline intelligence consultancy and British army veteran, tells BBC Radio 4’s Today programme that since Yevgeny Prigozhin’s failed coup attempt, rumors have been circulating over the future of the mercenary group.
While Prigozhin had reportedly agreed to relocate to Belarus as part of a Kremlin deal to end the mutiny, he had been seen moving freely within Russia.
Unconfirmed reports suggest that Prigozhin and his associates had met with Russian Defense Ministry officials shortly before the crash.
The plane’s radar data showed a sudden drop in its final moments, and unverified videos depicted a plane resembling the jet plummeting to the ground, followed by footage of the burning wreckage with at least one visible body. Rescue teams reportedly recovered seven bodies from the scene.
