Prigozhin’s death, investigation, reaction… what do we know after the plane crash in Russia

The Wagner leader is dead. After hours of uncertainty, a paramilitary group has confirmed the death of Yevgeny Prigozhin in a plane crash in Russia. “The head of the Wagner group, the hero of Russia, a true patriot of his homeland, Yevgeny Prigozhin, died as a result of the actions of traitors to Russia,” he wrote, earlier the news was confirmed by the Federal Air Transport Agency.

What do we know about the disaster?

The plane with ten people on board crashed on Wednesday near the village of Kuzhenkino in the Tver region, northwest of Moscow. “There were ten people on board, including three crew members. According to the first information, all the people on board died, ”the Russian Emergencies Ministry reported on Telegram. “The Ministry of Emergency Situations of Russia is conducting search and search operations,” he added.

Several Telegram channels claiming to be linked to Wagner have broadcast unverified videos showing burning debris in a field or a device falling from the sky. “An investigation has been launched into the crash of an Embraer Legacy plane that took place this evening in the Tver region,” the Russian authorities soberly stated.

Prigogine was on board.

According to RIA Novosti, TASS and Interfax, citing the Russian air transport agency Rosaviatsiya, Yevgeny Prigozhin’s name is on the passenger list of the plane that was supposed to connect Moscow with St. Petersburg. However, Wagner hinted that their leader may have been on the second plane before finally announcing his death.

“The head of the Wagner group, Hero of Russia, a true patriot of his Motherland, Yevgeny Prigozhin, died as a result of the actions of traitors to Russia,” Wagner wrote on Telegram. The Federal Air Transport Agency also confirmed the death of not only him, but also Dmitry Utkin, the right hand of Yevgeny Prigozhin.

Who was Prigogine?

Yevgeny Prigozhin instigated a June uprising against the Russian General Staff and Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu, led by his own men, who briefly took over military installations in southern Russia before heading to Moscow. Vladimir Putin called him a traitor without naming him. Prigozhin quickly abandoned the rebellion at the height of the conflict in Ukraine.

On Monday evening, Wagner’s boss, who distinguished himself in Ukraine during the long and bloody battle for Bakhmut, appeared in a video posted by groups close to Wagner on social media claiming to be in Africa. Out in the desert and armed with a machine gun, he said he was working to “make Russia even greater on every continent and Africa even freer.”

For some reason never explained, Wagner’s boss seemed to come and go in Russia, despite his pariah status, until a few days after his rebellion, he attended a meeting in the Kremlin. The whereabouts and activities of Yevgeny Prigozhin are unknown. Despite his rebellion, he managed to avoid all legal proceedings.

What are the reactions?

As rescue operations continue, President Vladimir Putin delivered a speech on the occasion of the 80th anniversary of the Battle of Kursk in World War II, visiting the region in southwestern Russia, near the border with Ukraine. Without mentioning the catastrophe, the Russian president praised on stage in front of the crowd the “selflessness” and “loyalty” of Russian soldiers in Ukraine, who “fight courageously and decisively.”

Ukrainian presidential adviser Mikhail Podolyak suggested that Mr. Prigozhin could have been eliminated by the Kremlin. “The dramatic removal of the Prigozhin and Wagner team two months after (their) coup attempt is Putin’s signal to the Russian elites ahead of the 2024 elections,” he said. written in X (ex-Twitter), believing that “Putin does not forgive anyone.”

US President Joe Biden said he was “not surprised” by the possible death of boss Wagner. “In Russia, little happens without the involvement of Putin,” he said.