Yevgeny Prigozhin, the leader of the Wagner Group, a Russian mercenary group, is believed to be dead following a plane crash outside of Moscow. While it has not been confirmed whether Prigozhin was aboard the downed plane, his name was listed on the flight manifest. Russian state media outlet TASS later reported that Prigozhin and his second-in-command, Dmitry Utkin, were among the deceased, according to the Russian Federal Air Transport Agency.
Wagner-affiliated social media channels claimed that Prigozhin was killed in the crash and blamed traitors of Russia. The Russian defense ministry has not yet commented on the situation.
The circumstances surrounding Prigozhin’s death remain unclear, and due to Russia’s complex web of propaganda, it is unlikely that the full story will ever be revealed. However, experts have put forward several possible explanations based on the available information.