A possible plane crash near Moscow could affect Yevgeny Prigozhin, the head of the Russian mercenary group Wagner. The uncertainty surrounding his whereabouts raises questions about his recent activities and the conflict in Ukraine.


UPDATES August 28, 2023

Prigozhin officially declared dead.

After the plane crashed, intensive work was carried out for four days to identify the victims. The Tass agency, citing the Russian Investigative Committee, has now confirmed that the DNA tests clearly show that Yevgeny Prigozhin is one of the victims.

Spokeswoman of the committee, Svetlana Petrenko, declared the investigation into the criminal case into the plane crash to be completed: “After evaluating the results, the identities of all ten dead people were determined, they correspond to the list given in the leaflet.”

The question of the cause of the crash remains open.

UPDATES 08/24/2023

  1. Worldwide reactions to the plane crash:
    US President Joe Biden suspects that Russian President Putin was behind the crash of Prigozhin's plane. Biden emphasized that hardly anything happens in Russia without Putin's influence. However, he admitted that he did not have enough information to make a definitive statement.
  2. Interpretation as an “act of revenge and retaliation”:
    Political scientist Tatiana Stanovaya from the Carnegie Russia Eurasia Center in Berlin cites that regardless of the exact causes of the plane crash, the international community will view this as an action by the Kremlin of revenge and retaliation. Stanovaya explains that after Prigozhin's attempted uprising, Putin needed time to carry out the removal of the Wagner Group from power in Russia. Prigozhin's existence was a symbol of Putin's political authority.
  3. Situation the day after the crash:
    After the crash of Yevgeny Prigozhin's plane, there are more questions than answers. His supporters believe he died because his name was on the passenger list of the crashed plane and no survivors were reported. Official Russian sources also confirm his death. However, official information should be treated with caution due to Prigozhin's confrontation with the Russian government in June.
  4. Confusion about second plane:
    The presence of Yevgeny Prigozhin on board the crashed plane has not yet been confirmed. Another private plane linked to Prigozhin, also en route to St. Petersburg, turned around after the first crash and landed in Moscow. According to reports, Prigozhin previously had a meeting with representatives of the Russian Defense Ministry.
  5. Withdrawal of Wagner mercenaries from Belarus:
    After the plane crash, Wagner mercenaries are said to be leaving Belarus and heading to Russia. This was reported by the National Resistance Center of the Ukrainian military, but this information cannot yet be verified.
  6. Statement by Abbas Galljamov:
    Former Putin speechwriter Abbas Galljamov blames Putin for the plane crash and emphasizes that Putin is strong enough to take revenge. Galljamov believes that the establishment is now convinced that resistance to Putin is hopeless.
  7. Lack of signs of trouble before crash:
    Flight tracking data shows Prigozhin's private plane showed no signs of trouble until the final 30 seconds before the steep plunge. According to Flightradar24, the plane suddenly flew straight down and lost more than 8,000 feet of altitude in 30 seconds. Prior to this event, there was no evidence of problems with the aircraft.

UPDATES 23.08.2023

  1. Russian aviation agency confirms Prigozhin's presence on crashed plane
    Rosaviatsia, the Russian aviation agency, has confirmed that Russian mercenary chief Yevgeny Prigozhin and Wagner's top commander Dmitri Utkin were on board the crashed Embraer plane, Reuters reports. The Wagner Group also wrote on its Telegram channel that Prigozhin “died as a result of the actions of traitors to Russia.”
  2. According to the
    airline, the following passengers were on board the Embraer – 135 (EBM-135BJ) aircraft: — Propustin Sergey;
    — Makaryan Evgeniy;
    —Totmin Aleksandr;
    — Chekalov Valery;
    — Utkin Dmitriy;
    — Matuseev Nikolay;
    — Prigozhin Evgeniy
    — Levshin Aleksei Pilot
    — Karimov Rustam 2 Pilot
    — Raspopova Kristina Stewardess
  3. A Telegram channel associated with Wagner has reported that Prigozhin has died, as reported by Reuters :
    Russian mercenary chief Yevgeny Prigozhin is dead, a Telegram channel associated with his Wagner mercenary group reported on Wednesday. “The head of the Wagner group, a hero of Russia, a true patriot of his homeland * Yevgeny Viktorovich Prigozhin died as a result of the actions of traitors to Russia,” said a post on the Gray Zone channel. “But even in hell he will be the best! Glory to Russia!”
  4. Death confirmed?
    The Wagner-related channel Gray Zone initially questioned the official account that Prigozhin was on the passenger list of the first plane and died. But now they also confirm his death.
  5. The White House comments on the potential death of Wagner boss Prigozhin.
    According to the US government, the possible death of Yevgeny Prigozhin, the head of Wagner, due to a plane crash would not surprise anyone. “We are aware of the report (of the crash). If it turns out to be true, it would not be unexpected for us,” said Adrienne Watson, spokeswoman for the US National Security Council. It was reported that US President Joe Biden was kept constantly informed of developments by the White House following the plane accident in Russia.
  6. The first threats are being spread in Telegram channels that are close to Wagner.
    It emphasizes: “Killing Prigozhin will have serious consequences. Those in charge clearly do not recognize the true mood and morale of the troops." Another channel comments: "This should be a warning to everyone. It is essential to get things done.” This statement seems to refer to Prigozhin preventing an uprising of his Wagner mercenaries at the gates of Moscow.
  7. Voices from Mikhail Khodorkovsky's entourage: Mikhail Khodorkovsky, whose investigators from the Dossier Center have already gained insight into some aspects of Wagner's activities, points out: "Even if Prigozhin was listed on the passenger list, there is a possibility that he would still be there Life is. He reportedly often “covered his tracks” by officially registering for one flight but actually taking a different flight.”
  8. Speculation after Prigozhin's failed uprising: Immediately after Prigozhin's failed armed uprising, there was intense speculation that the Kremlin might seek revenge against him and consider assassinating him. However, when Prigozhin and his mercenaries escaped unpunished, this issue faded into the background for the time being. Some experts suspected that Prigozhin remained important, particularly because of his fighters' activities in Africa.
  9. Alternative theories about the crash: Prigozhin's Gray Zone website has put forward an alternative explanation for the crash. She claims that it could have been a targeted shooting. Like previous reports, Gray Zone mentioned that two planes belonging to the private mercenary group Wagner were in the air at the same time. The second plane reversed course and landed at Ostafyevo Airport, south of Moscow.
  10. Doubts about the official information: "Grey Zone" also questions the authorities' official version that Yevgeny Prigozhin was on the passenger list of the first plane and died. The website expresses doubts about where Prigozhin may have ultimately been, as there is currently no precise information.
  11. Cause of the crash still unclear: The exact cause of the plane crash remains unclear. Despite intensive investigations by Kremlin Chief Putin's investigative committee, no definitive explanation has yet been found. The criminal case was opened due to possible “violation of the rules of safety of movement and operation of air transport.”
  12. Crash site in the Tver region: State news agencies have released information about the crash site, indicating that it is in the Tver region. Further details about the location and circumstances of the crash continue to be determined.
  13. Wagner Force Confirmed Losses and Nicknames: Vladimir Rogov, an employee of the Russian-appointed occupation administration in the Zaporizhzhia region, confirmed on Telegram that both Yevgeny Prigozhin and Wagner commander Dmitry Utkin died in the crash. Rogow reports that he spoke with members of the Wagner troupe, referring to the troupe's nicknames as "musicians" or "orchestra." This sheds light on the familiarity and code names used within the force.

A private jet crash with ten deaths is reported in an incident near Moscow. Yevgeny Prigozhin, the leader of the controversial Russian mercenary group Wagner, may have been among the passengers, according to reports. The uncertainty over his fate draws renewed focus on the Wagner Group's role in the Ukraine conflict and raises questions about Prigozhin's activities and his recent attempted insurrection.

Wagner boss on a possible passenger list?

The state-controlled Russian news agency Tass reports that a plane crashed northwest of Moscow, killing ten people. Citing the Rosawiatsiya aviation authority, it is speculated that Yevgeny Prigozhin, the head of the controversial Wagner mercenary group, could have been on board. The uncertainty over Prigozhin's whereabouts adds to existing speculation about his recent activities.

Prigozhin's recent activities: A look at Africa

In the weeks before the alleged crash, a video emerged purporting to show Yevgeny Prigozhin in Africa - just about two months after his failed attempt at an uprising in Russia.

In the weeks before the alleged crash, a video emerged purporting to show Yevgeny Prigozhin in Africa - just about two months after his failed attempt at an uprising in Russia.

Although the exact location and time of the recording were not specified and it could not be independently verified, Prigozhin suggested in the video that his Wagner troupe was conducting reconnaissance work and expanding Russia's influence beyond continents.

Connection to Ukraine: Wagner mercenaries in the Ukraine conflict

The Wagner mercenary group had fought alongside the regular Russian army for many months in the ongoing war of aggression against Ukraine. Prigozhin caused a stir at the end of June when he considered a march on Moscow out of frustration with the allegedly ineffective Russian military leadership, but stopped it after negotiations. His later promise to emigrate to neighboring Belarus was rewarded by the Kremlin with impunity.

Uncertain future: The question of Prigozhin's fate

The information about the possible plane crash and Prigozhin's whereabouts is currently widespread on social media, but is difficult to verify. Despite much speculation, the exact identities of the passengers and confirmation of Prigozhin's presence on board remain unclear.

Fact check:

Claim 1: A private jet crashed northwest of Moscow, killing ten people.
Fact check 1: According to reports from the state news agency Tass, a plane crash actually occurred near Moscow, killing ten people.

Claim 2: Yevgeny Prigozhin, the head of the Wagner mercenary group, may have been on board the crashed plane.
Fact Check 2: The Rosaviatsiya Aviation Authority has confirmed that Yevgeny Prigozhin was on the passenger list of the crashed plane. However, final confirmation of his presence is still pending.

Claim 3: A video shows Prigozhin in Africa, shortly after his failed rebellion attempt.
Fact check 3: A video has emerged that is supposed to show Yevgeny Prigozhin in Africa, and in it he talks about the educational work of his Wagner troupe. However, the location, time and authenticity of the video have not yet been independently verified.

Claim 4: The Wagner mercenary group fought alongside the regular Russian army in the Ukraine conflict.
Fact Check 4: The Wagner mercenary group was active in the Ukraine conflict for many months and supported the regular Russian army in its war of aggression against Ukraine.

Claim 5: Prigozhin planned a march on Moscow, but later withdrew this idea.
Fact Check 5: Yevgeny Prigozhin actually considered marching on Moscow, but later abandoned the idea and agreed to emigrate to Belarus, which earned him impunity from the Kremlin.

Conclusion:

The suspected plane crash near Moscow, in which Yevgeny Prigozhin may have been on board, sheds light on the recent activities of the Wagner boss and on the role of the Wagner mercenary group in the Ukraine conflict. The lack of clarity about Prigozhin's whereabouts and the connection to his stay in Africa add additional layers of uncertainty. Amid the speculation and uncertainty, one question remains: What will the future hold for Prigozhin and his controversial mercenary group?

Source: TASS

Also read: Are Ukrainian refugees in Germany forced to sell their cars? The fact check!


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