Tragedy struck in Russia yesterday as paramilitary leader Yevgeny Prigozhin was found dead after a plane crash just north of Moscow. According to Russia’s civil aviation agency, all passengers and crew were killed in the crash, though the official cause of the accident has yet to be revealed.
Prigozhin is known for his attempt to take over the Wagner Group in Russia two months ago. The coup failed and Prigozhin fled to Africa, though he was reported to have returned to Russia shortly before his death. Russian President Vladimir Putin referred to the attempted takeover as a “betrayal” and promised revenge, though it is not yet known whether this plane crash was linked to the coup attempt.
The plane crashed near the town of Kuzhenkino, with Russian emergency services confirming the death of ten people on board. Russia’s Investigation Committee is looking into the incident to determine any possible criminal liability. Meanwhile, the White House has already confirmed that President Joe Biden is monitoring the event and its progress.
Although the crash was officially reported as involving the death of all passengers, a Telegram channel linked with the Wagner Group suggested that the plane had been shot down instead. This has not yet been confirmed by any official sources.
The news of Prigozhin’s death has shocked and saddened many in Russia, where he was seen as a hero among some people. Prigozhin’s whereabouts were the talk of the town just two months ago, and now many are left wondering the cause of the plane crash. The regional administration has reported that the governor of Tver, Igor Rudenya, is taking control of the situation to look into what happened. While some sources close to Prigozhin have pointed the finger at suspected enemies of the businessman, such as Defence Minister Shoigu, some align their suspicions on the seemingly easy operation of the hired aircraft, leading to rumors of foul play.
With information from Semana
1 thought on “Paramilitary Leader Yevgeny Prigozhin Dead after Plane Crash”