Yevgeny Prigozhin, leader of the Wagner Group, dies in a plane crash: Two months after the failed coup attempt, a warlord jet falls “from the sky” north of Moscow
Wagner boss Yevgeny Prigozhin died last night after his plane crashed, two months after his failed coup attempt against Russian President Vladimir Putin.
A video showed how the plane fell from the sky in the Bologovsky district of the Tver region. The burning wreck was later seen in a field.
It was not initially known if Wagner boss Prigozhin – known as Putin’s chef and with long-standing ties to the Kremlin dictator – was on board, but reports have since been released that he was and was killed.
According to a report by Rosaviatsiya – the Russian aviation authority – Prigozhin was among the passengers.
According to Russian authorities, ten people were killed when a business jet crashed in Russia. The mercenary boss Yevgeny Prigozhin was also on the passenger list.
It was not initially known whether Wagner boss Prigozhin – known as Putin’s chef and with long-standing ties to the Kremlin dictator – was on board
The jet believed to have the Russian boss on board crashed in the Tver region of Russia
A report citing Russia’s Emergencies Ministry said ten had been killed
Witnesses to the crash heard a loud bang before seeing the jet “fall out of the sky.”
Exactly two months ago, 62-year-old Prigozhin led a coup against Putin’s regime.
After the failure, he was warned that his life was in danger. He was known to be very careful about his safety.
A channel linked to Wagner said the plane was shot down by anti-aircraft guns, but this has not yet been confirmed.
However, sources close to him said that while he owned the plane, he usually flew in another plane.
Earlier this week, a video apparently showed him in Africa vowing to make Russia great by deploying his Wagner troops on the continent.
Former Russian presidential candidate Ksenia Sobchak said: “My sources report that an Embraer plane owned by Yevgeny Prigozhin has now crashed in the Tver region.”
According to a report by Rosaviatsiya – the Russian aviation authority – Prigozhin was among the passengers
Prigozhin has long had close ties to the Kremlin and, until recently, headed the Wagner mercenary unit
“It happened 15 kilometers from Chotilovo.” According to our information, it was three crew members and seven passengers.
“It is unknown whether Prigozhin himself was on board.”
Sobchak is considered Putin’s “godaughter”.
A local woman said parts of the plane fell as it fell from the sky.
Progozhin had been warned not to enter tall buildings for fear of accidents after he led a coup aimed notably to overthrow Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu and Army Chief General Valery Gerasimov.
He is known to have used body doubles as part of his elaborate security procedures.
Further information will follow.