In a shocking turn of events, Yevgeny Prigozhin, the chief of the Russian mercenary group Wagner, was confirmed to be on board a plane that tragically crashed northwest of Moscow. The incident has sent ripples through the international community, given Prigozhin's controversial reputation and his recent mutiny against Russia's military leadership.
Witnesses from the village of Kuzhenkino, near where the plane crashed, reported hearing an "explosion" or a "metallic bang" before seeing the aircraft plummet from the sky. The plane was observed falling in at least two pieces, igniting immediate speculation about the cause of the crash. Vitaly Stepenok, a 72-year-old resident, recounted the harrowing moment, "I hear an explosion or a bang... One wing flew off in one direction and the fuselage went like that," he gestured downwards. By the time he reached the crash site, everything was ablaze, and some remains were being pulled from the wreckage.
The Russian Federal Air Transport Agency confirmed Prigozhin's presence on the flight, along with six other passengers and three crew members. Among the passengers were Dmitriy Utkin, a trusted lieutenant of Prigozhin since the formation of Wagner, and Prigozhin's senior aide, Valeriy Chekalov. All on board were reportedly killed.
Videos circulating in Russian media showed the plane descending with one wing missing, further fueling speculations. The plane's engine debris, still aflame, displayed the registration number RA-02795, matching Prigozhin's plane. Flight data indicated that the aircraft had reached an altitude of 28,000 feet before the publicly available tracking data ceased transmission.
This tragic incident comes on the heels of Prigozhin's brief rebellion against Russian President Vladimir Putin's authority. The Wagner forces, under Prigozhin's leadership, played a significant role in capturing eastern Ukrainian cities following Russia's invasion of Ukraine. However, tensions escalated when Prigozhin criticized the Russian military leadership and called for an armed rebellion.
In the international arena, US President Joe Biden hinted at potential foul play, suggesting that Putin might have had a hand in the crash. "I don't know for a fact what happened, but I'm not surprised," Biden remarked. This sentiment was echoed by CIA Director William Burns, who had previously warned of potential retribution against Prigozhin from the Kremlin.
Prigozhin's rise from a wealthy oligarch to a brutal warlord has been marked by his involvement in various international conflicts, especially in Ukraine. His recent insurrection against Putin had made headlines, challenging the Russian president's authority. While criminal charges against Prigozhin were dropped, Putin had ominously warned that those on the "path of treason" would face consequences.
The investigation into the crash is ongoing, with Russian authorities working diligently to determine the cause. As the world watches closely, the incident underscores the volatile nature of Russian politics and the dangers faced by those who challenge the status quo.
