“Wagner” leader killed in plane crash in Russia

• 24 August, 16:45

Head of Russia’s “Wagner” private military company Yevgeniy Prigozhin was killed in a plane crash north of capital Moscow on Wednesday.

Prigozhin was on board of an Embraer-135 (EBM-135BJ) that was flying from Moscow to St Petersburg. The plane came down in Kuzhenkino village of Tver region near Moscow. All ten people on board, including three crew - of the plane were killed. Russia’s emergency ministry immediately confirmed that the plane crash took place, however did not elaborate on the cause of the incident. However, a Telegram channel linked to Wagner, Grey Zone, pointed a finger at Moscow, claiming that the jet was shot down by Russian air forces. The group hailed Prigozhin as a hero and a patriot who it said had died at the hands of unidentified people it called "traitors to Russia."

Being a key ally of Russian President Vadimir Putin, Yevgeniy Prigozhin’s Wagner group played an important role in Russia’s full-fledged invasion of Ukraine last year. However, the relations between the two men deteriorated after Wagner group led by Prigozhin launched a failed coup attempt against Vladimir Putin back in June. Despite the differences, Putin extended condolences over the Wagner head’s death, saying Prigozhin was a “talented person who made serious mistakes”. Among his achievements Putin mentioned Prigozhin’s work in Africa, where Prigozhin claimed to be earlier in the week and where the Wagner group maintains a significant military presence.