The civil aviation authority of Russia has confirmed that Yevgeny Prigozhin, the head of Wagner Group, was listed as a passenger on a jet that tragically crashed, claiming the lives of all individuals on board.
The crash occurred in the Tver region, situated north of Moscow.
The aircraft, an Embraer, was reportedly en route from Moscow to St Petersburg and was carrying three crew members along with seven passengers, including Prigozhin.
Initial reports from the Wagner-linked Telegram channel Grey Zone suggested that the jet was shot down by air defenses. According to local witnesses, two loud noises were heard preceding the crash, while two vapor trails were observed in the sky.
The Tass news agency has reported that the aircraft caught fire upon impact with the ground, leading to the discovery of four bodies. The incident took place shortly after takeoff, with the plane having been airborne for less than half an hour.
Notably, Yevgeny Prigozhin had recently been involved in a failed mutiny against the Russian armed forces in June.
He most recently generated worldwide attention, when he hailed Niger’s military coup as good news and offered his fighters’ services to bring order.
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In a long message posted to social media, Prigozhin blamed the situation in Niger on the legacy of colonialism and alleged, without evidence, that Western nations were sponsoring terrorist groups in the country. Niger was once a French colony and, before this week’s putsch, it had been one of the few democracies in the region.
“What happened in Niger has been brewing for years,” Prigozhin said. “The former colonizers are trying to keep the people of African countries in check. In order to keep them in check, the former colonizers are filling these countries with terrorists and various bandit formations. Thus creating a colossal security crisis.”
Prigozhin received criticism following his offer to support the cause of Niger Junta, with ECOWAS warning Prigozhin that any intervention from him or Wagner mercenaries in the Niger crisis would mean declaration of war on the regional bloc, which it will reply.
The investigation into the crash and its causes is expected to continue as authorities seek to determine the circumstances surrounding this tragic event.