Wagner chief presumed dead after Russia plane crash

24 August 2023 07:07 am - 8 - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

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Russian mercenary leader Yevgeny Prigozhin was on the passenger list of a jet which crashed in Russia killing all 10 people on board, Russia's civil aviation authority says.

Social media linked to the Wagner mercenary group say his private plane was shot down by Russian air defences. Prigozhin died "as a result of actions of traitors to Russia", the Grey Zone Telegram channel posted.

Prigozhin led an aborted mutiny against Russia's armed forces in June. However, some experts in Russia and abroad suggest the revolt was staged, and Prigozhin abandoned his "justice march" on Moscow after direct orders from President Vladimir Putin.

Wednesday's crash in the Tver region, north-west of the capital Moscow, comes on the same day that senior Russian general Sergei Surovikin was reportedly sacked as air force chief.

Gen Surovikin was known to have good relations with Prigozhin and had not been seen in public since the mutiny. Prigozhin's aircraft - an Embraer-135 (EBM-135BJ) - was flying from Moscow to St Petersburg on Wednesday with seven passengers and three crew, Russia's Rosaviatsia aviation authority said.

Senior Wagner commander Dmitry Utkin - who founded the group in 2014 - was also on the passenger list, it said. The plane is reported to have come down near the village of Kuzhenkino, about half-way between Moscow and St Petersburg.

One report said the body of Prigozhin, 62, had been found and identified - this has not been officially confirmed. All 10 bodies have been recovered, Russia's state-run news agency Interfax said.

Grey Zone said local residents had heard two bangs before the crash and had seen two vapour trails. Tass news agency said the plane had caught fire on hitting the ground. The aircraft had been in the air for less than half-an-hour, it added. An investigation has been launched into the crash and emergency services are searching the scene.

At the same time, Grey Zone reported that a second business jet owned by Prigozhin had landed safely in the Moscow region. (BBC)

Comments - 8

European Thursday, 24 August 2023 11:18 AM

What a coincidence hahaha........

Gert Jan, the Netherlands Thursday, 24 August 2023 11:20 AM

In Russia some people just fall out windows, some planes just fall out of the sky;-)

Atheïst Thursday, 24 August 2023 11:22 AM

Hopefully hell exists after all for these murderers.

DD Thursday, 24 August 2023 01:28 PM

Good deeds tend to be rewarded in mysterious ways, just as negative actions can lead to undesirable consequences. It appears as though unseen forces play a role in shaping our lives. May Prigozhin rest in peace, serving as a valuable lesson for humanity. This serves as a reminder that taking up arms can ultimately lead to one's own downfall.

Karalasingam Sivalingam Thursday, 24 August 2023 02:07 PM

Warner leader would have been killed similar to A. H.M. Ashruff some years ago. Big powers can eliminate people who are a threat to the government.

Appu kanda Thursday, 24 August 2023 02:27 PM

Ashruff was not a threat to any person or government That is an old flying machine stopped working

No surprise if he suddenly surfaces in Belurus or Africa a month later Thursday, 24 August 2023 04:28 PM

Prigozhin has had body doubles and had others take on his exact name to hide his movements. That was known during the months ago Wagner mutinity that he has the fake persons with name Prigozhin fly in his places to keep his real movements secret. He would never telegraph he is flying in his own private plane. And He has survived this long against Ukraine, wanting him dead and unlikely they managed to strike down the real Prigozhin so easily. He will turn up alive and well in a video again in some months.

Tissa Fernando Thursday, 24 August 2023 07:28 PM

No one can beat Putin.

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Wagner chief presumed dead after Russia plane crash

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