Russia’s Wagner Boss Confirmed Killed in Plane Crash
Yevgeny Prigozhin, Wagner boss, who led a failed mutiny against Vladimir Putin, was on a plane that crashed in western Russia, say aviation officials.
Authorities say all 10 people on board were killed after the private aircraft came down near the village of Kuzhenkino.
They also say the passengers included Prigozhin, who is the head of mercenary group Wagner, and his right-hand man Dmitry Utkin.
Russian authorities have launched an investigation into the cause of the crash, amid heavy speculation.
Prigozhin kept a low public profile since he led his mutiny in June, which lasted only 24 hours.
He last appeared in a video earlier this week which was said to have been filmed in an unspecified location in Africa.
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The Wagner mercenary group was founded in 2014 and was highly active in the Ukraine war until the mutiny.
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.
The mercenary group has about 25,000 fighters.
The group has been active in Ukraine, Syria and west Africa, and has gained a reputation for brutality.
