Yevgeny Prigozhin, 62, the leader of the Wagner private military group, has been confirmed as one of the victims in a fatal jet crash, Russia’s civil aviation authority reports.
It was revealed that Prigozhin was on the passenger list of the Embraer aircraft that crashed, claiming the his life and others on board.
The Wagner-linked Telegram channel Grey Zone initially reported a chilling theory, suggesting that the Embraer aircraft might have been shot down by air defenses in the Tver region, located to the north of Moscow.
Witnesses in the area claimed to have heard two loud bangs before witnessing the aircraft plummet from the sky.
Eyewitnesses also reported seeing two vapor trails, adding to the intrigue and speculation.
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According to TASS News Agency, a private jet crash in Russia’s Tver region, north of Moscow, has resulted in the loss of ten lives.
The jet, which was traveling from Moscow to St. Petersburg, had a total of seven passengers and three crew members on board.
Prigozhin, who is known for his controversial leadership of the Wagner group, had recently been at the center of a failed mutiny against Russian armed forces in June.
Prigozhin’s forces had moved from Ukraine to seize the southern Russian city of Rostov on Don.
This move had ratcheted up tensions with Russian military commanders due to its direct confrontation with the ongoing conflict in Ukraine.
The stand-off was eventually defused by a negotiated agreement that allowed Wagner troops to either relocate to Belarus or join the Russian army.
Prigozhin had reportedly agreed to move to Belarus, but recent sightings suggest that he continued to move freely between Russia and even ventured to Africa.
The cause of the crash remains undisclosed and is currently under investigation.
However, considering Prigozhin’s ongoing conflict with the military and his involvement in a rebellious insurrection in June, there exists a substantial incentive for the Russian government to seek retribution.
Media outlets associated with Wagner promptly implied that a Russian air defense missile might have been responsible for downing the aircraft.
