What happened to Wagner Group boss Prigozhin? What we know about the Russian plane crash
Widespread reports indicate that the head of Russian mercenary group Wagner has been killed after his plane was shot down over Russia.
Two months after its aborted coup against the Russian government, the Wagner mercenary group could be looking for a new leader after its chief, Yevgeny Priogozhin, is reported dead.
Ten people were on board of a private jet that crashed near Tver, a city north of Moscow. Some outlets reported that the plane as shot down by the Russian military.
Scores bring settled in Russia it seems, as #Prigozhin dies in a plane crash exactly two months after leading a failed mutiny https://t.co/AnGfS7u6SD
— Secunder Kermani (@SecKermani) August 23, 2023
Videos online purport to show the plane being downed as well as the burning wreckage on the ground.
❗️Aircraft belonging to #Wagner PMC head #Prigozhin crashed in Russia.
— KyivPost (@KyivPost) August 23, 2023
All passengers on the aircraft were killed. Wagner founder Prigozhin allegedly was among the passengers of the plane, Russian media reported. pic.twitter.com/i5j29Db2Lh
Frank Gardner, the BBC’s security correspondent, noted that analysts of Russia said Prigozhin was a “dead man walking” after the attempted coup. Should the crash be explained away as an accident then many people would find that hard to believe.
What we know about the Russian plane crash
While details are scarce, and right now little is confirmed, some information has been released.
State-owned Russian news agency Tass said four bodies have been recovered, while RIA Novosti says eight bodies have been found. It says the plane caught fire after hitting the ground near Tver, north of Moscow.
The crashed plane was an Embraer Legacy jet with the serial number RA-02795. Information is not available from where it departed.
What is the Wagner group, Prigozhin’s mercenaries?
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The Wagner Group, often referred to simply as Wagner, is a Russian private military company (PMC) that has gained attention for its involvement in various conflicts and operations around the world.
It is known for providing military personnel and support to various clients, often with ties to the Russian government. The group has been linked to conflicts such as the Syrian Civil War and the Ukraine War, as well as various missions in Africa.