Wagner’s boss, Yevgeny Prigozhin, was on the private plane that crashed

On Wednesday, a private plane crashed in Russia. It is said that ten people died. Wagner boss Zevgenig Prigozhzhen, 62, was among the people on board.

At 10 pm Norwegian time, Russian aviation authorities confirmed that Wagner’s boss was on board the plane that crashed.

The plane crashed in the Tver region, north of the capital, Moscow, on Wednesday afternoon.

Ten people were on board the plane, which was en route from Moscow to St Petersburg, when it crashed. All passengers are presumed dead.

Wagner GroupWagner GroupA special mercenary group, consisting of soldiers who fight, among other things, on the Russian side in the war in Ukraine. They have also worked in Syria and many countries in Africa. He writes on a telegram that Prigozhin died as a result of the actions of traitors against Russia.

Dmitry UtkinDmitry UtkinGRU officer Dmitrij Utkin is said to have been the first commander of the Wagner Group. Utkin is said to have been such a big fan of the composer Richard Wagner that he had the nickname “Wagner”.Russian authorities confirmed that the man who was Wagner’s leader was also among the dead. He was one of the founders of the group. Prigozhin’s security chief was also among the dead.

bellingcatbellingcatA group of investigative journalists online. The group has uncovered a number of crimes committed by Russian agents. Among other things, the involvement of the Russian security service in the poisoning of Russian dissident Alexei Navalny was revealed.– Journalist Christo Grozev shared the list of passengers on board. Russian aviation authorities have also published the list.

Prigozhin and several of Wagner’s managers are said to have flown to Moscow from Africa on Wednesday, according to the Russian journalist. Andrei Zakharov.

I think the plane was shot down

The plane crash sparked a huge response on pro-Wagner Telegram channels. Many believe that the plane was shot down by the Russian Air Force.

Among other things, the pro-Wagner company Greyzone claims that the video of the crash indicates that the plane was shot down.

“Therefore, we can say with high probability that the terrorist attack theory has fallen,” they wrote.

Data from FlightRadar24 indicates that the plane did not crash due to a technical fault.

Shortly after the accident, he speculated RedovkaRedovkaUltranationalist Telegram channel. That Prigozhin might not have been on the plane.

There was also supposed to be another plane belonging to Prigozhin, which flew after the crash in the airspace near Moscow.

Rydovka writes that Prigozhin had previously checked in on one plane and flew on another. One of many security considerations the 62-year-old made.

But he is said to have used the plane that crashed on Wednesday in recent months, both when traveling to the front and to Belarus.

Close to believing that Putin might be retarded

Ingerid Opdal is an associate professor at the Norwegian Defense Academy. She expressed reservations that the news was new and that Prigozhin’s death had not yet been confirmed.

But if it turns out to be a sabotage operation, it is not inconceivable that Vladimir Putin is behind it.

Since Prigozhin marched into Moscow at the end of June, the only “punishment” Putin has imposed on him has been exile to Belarus. Surprisingly, he is moderate, virile.

– It will be interesting to see what kind of reaction will come from the Kremlin. And if several days passed before they issued an official statement, that might indicate that it came as a surprise.

If the Kremlin quickly comes to the fore, says Opdal, that might indicate, on the other hand, that the plane crash was something the regime was aware of.

US President Joe Biden commented on the plane crash on Wednesday evening, Norwegian time. He said there is not much going on in Russia that Putin did not stand behind.

Biden said: – I don’t know what happened to Prigozhin, but I’m not surprised by the reports from Russia.

Putin may strengthen internally in Russia

Regardless of the cause of the plane crash, Prigozhin’s potential death could have consequences on several fronts.

– Wagner’s forces in Ukraine were very loyal to Prigozhin. Although it was now formally under the leadership of the Russian state, it was difficult to exercise real control.

And if Prigozhin died, it could change the state’s control over the troops.

Domestically in Russia, Prigozhin’s death may also strengthen Putin’s position.

– If it is highlighted that Putin has something to do with this, he will be able to strengthen Putin. Then you can see that the rebellion had consequences.

Poutine cook

Prigozhin has long been a close ally of Putin. For several years he led the Wagner Group. Meanwhile, the Russian authorities have long denied the existence of the mercenary group.

But in the past year, relations between Putin and Prigozhin have soured.

Prigozhin has repeatedly criticized Putin’s defense chiefs. He called them incompetent, cowardly and corrupt.

Wagner’s boss went so far as to say that the official justification for invading Ukraine was based on lies.

In June, the group revolted against the leadership in Moscow. The whole thing appears to be an attempted coup. The group’s mercenaries advanced towards Moscow and took control of the important city of Rostov-on-Don.

Putin called it all “high treason” in a short televised speech and promised that the authorities would quell the revolt.

And after just one day, it was all over. The Kremlin stated that it had reached an agreement with Wagner and Prigozhin.

Among other things, the director of Wagner was not to be tried.

He claimed to be in Africa

After the uprising, Prigozhin predicted imminent death.

But in the end Prigozhin’s pictures appeared outside of Russia. On Tuesday, pictures appeared on a Telegram channel linked to Wagner that appeared to put Prigozhin in Africa.

Prigozhin spoke in a video address about making Russia stronger on all continents.

– The temperature is plus 50, everything is as we like. He said that Wagner makes Russia bigger on all continents, and Africa freer.