Wagner Group Boss Dies in Mysterious Jet Crash: Russia Investigates
Yevgeny Prigozhin, the boss of the private military contractor, Wagner Group, was tragically killed in a jet crash, sparking a mysterious investigation by Russian authorities. The 62-year-old Prigozhin was aboard a private plane that crashed, resulting in the loss of all lives on board, according to Russia’s civil aviation authority. The incident occurred shortly after Grey Zone, a Wagner-linked Telegram channel, reported that the aircraft was shot down by air defenses.
Grey Zone later claimed that Prigozhin’s death was a result of the actions of traitors within Russia. Prigozhin had previously led a failed mutiny against the Russian armed forces in June, which further adds to the intrigue surrounding the crash. Coincidentally, the same day also saw the reported dismissal of senior Russian general Sergei Surovikin from his position as air force chief. Surovikin had maintained a close relationship with Prigozhin and had not been seen in public since the mutiny.
The ill-fated aircraft was en route from Moscow to St. Petersburg, carrying seven passengers and three crew members. It went down near the village of Kuzhenkino in the Tver region, approximately halfway between the two cities. Witnesses in the area reported hearing two loud bangs before the crash and observed two vapor trails. Tass news agency stated that the plane, identified as an Embraer Legacy belonging to Prigozhin, caught fire upon impact with the ground. The total flight duration was less than 30 minutes.
Aviation officials confirmed that another influential figure within the Wagner Group, senior commander Dmitry Utkin, was also among the passengers. An investigation has been initiated to determine the cause of the crash, while emergency services continue to search the crash site. Interfax news agency reported that all ten bodies have been recovered.
Meanwhile, Grey Zone disclosed that another business jet owned by Prigozhin safely landed in the Moscow region. These latest developments have left many in Russia questioning the circumstances surrounding the crash and the possible connections to the mutiny led by Prigozhin. As the investigation unfolds, authorities aim to shed light on the mysterious events that claimed the lives of the Wagner Group boss and all others on board the ill-fated jet.
