Yevgeny Prigozhin (Wagner founder) is dead

According to preliminary information, the aircraft on which the founder of the Wagner Private Military Company, Yevgeny Prigozhin, and his right-hand man, Dmitry Utkin, were aboard exploded. Either exploded or shot down by the air-defence systems in Russia.

Aircraft Crash of Wagner Private Military Company (PMC) in Tver Region. What’s Known 10 Hours After the Incident

Reports of an aircraft crash near the village of Kuzhenkino in Tver Region appeared around 19:30 Moscow time.

It became known that an Embraer aircraft belonging to Yevgeny Prigozhin crashed. According to one version, it was flying from Moscow to St. Petersburg. Journalists from the “Agency” publication reported that the plane was heading towards Putin’s residence in Valdai.

According to the Ministry of Emergency Situations, ten people died: three crew members and seven passengers. RIA “Novosti” reported that the bodies of eight people were found at the crash site.

Rosaviation reported that Yevgeny Prigozhin was listed as a passenger. His press secretary declined to comment on Ksenia Sobchak’s information about the death of the PMC leader. Fontanka writes that people close to Prigozhin cannot reach him.

Pro-government Telegram channels wrote that Prigozhin might not have been on board, as he often “confused tracks” and could have registered on one flight but flown on another plane. Journalists from different publications pointed out that Prigozhin’s second plane returned to Moscow and landed in Ostafyevo.

Journalist Andrey Zakharov reported that Yevgeny Prigozhin did indeed leave Africa for Russia today with the leadership of the Wagner PMC.

Currently, there are two versions of what happened in the media. SHOT (via air-defense system) voiced the first: the plane disappeared from radars at 18:20. Dispatchers tried to contact the crew, but there was no response. Then, the dispatchers notified the air defense authorities about the incident. They might have been guarding a storage facility for missile and artillery weapons in military unit 55443, where the plane was shot down.

The second version: a terrorist act occurred on board the plane. This was voiced by the Telegram channel Baza.

Dmitry Utkin, the creator of the Wagner PMC, could have been on board the crashed business jet.

Tver Governor Igor Rudenya took personal control of the situation regarding the aircraft crash.

Meanwhile, Putin is in the Kursk Region celebrating the 80th anniversary of the Battle of Kursk. He is awarding participants in the war in Ukraine.

Russian Public’s Reactions to the Plane Crash and Prigogine’s Presumed Death

Stalingul, Blogger ():

“Do you even understand that we live in times when Strelkov became a political prisoner and Prigozhin a victim of the regime? Try to comprehend that.”

Alexey Priyanishnikov, Lawyer:

“By the way, a warning: today’s incident with Prigozhin’s plane could easily be qualified as a terrorist act. So be cautious with emotions on social media; article 205.2 of the Criminal Code is still in effect.”

Ilya Abishev, Military Analyst at BBC Russian Service:

“If it’s true that, as eyewitnesses say, parts of the plane were falling even after the fuselage hit the ground, it indicates that the destruction occurred in the air. In most cases, such destruction causes an explosion — either on board or due to a missile strike.”

Ksenia Sobchak, Journalist:

“Absolutely clear signal to all elites, in fact. To everyone who had any subversive thoughts—both about their own course and about the course in general.”

Roman Sopankov, Z-military correspondent:

“The murder of Prigozhin will have catastrophic consequences. The people who gave the order do not understand the mood in the military and the moral spirit.”

Anastasia Burakova, Lawyer:

“But for the ‘elite’ that might suddenly decide to stand against Putin, this situation will allow them to draw two conclusions: you can’t negotiate with Putin about anything, and if you start, you must go all the way.”

Dmitry Kolezev, Journalist:

“There will be a version of staging, but in general, it seems that Putin straightforwardly punished the rebel, as he promised on the night of the rebellion. In such matters, you must keep your word.”

Fyodor Krasheninnikov, Political Scientist:

“But in general, as soon as Prigozhin started digging up dirt — both in streams and in comments, I said that something like this is not forgiven in the Putin system. Besides, I said that before getting rid of Prigozhin, they would first remove him from the spotlight.”

Igor Kochetkov, Human Rights Activist:

“Well, this is pure Marquez, of course. He could have sent him to prison forever in full accordance with internationally recognized norms of the Criminal Code. And anything can happen in prison. But no, that’s not interesting — he must either poison him or crash his plane if it’s the same Prigozhin. If not, then it’s Marquez squared.”

Alexander Markov, Political Scientist, Pro-Government:

“The death of Prigozhin is headline news all over the world. Because the West was very afraid of him.”

Konstantin Kalachev, Political Scientist:

“Statements about impending changes are flying all over Telegram channels. Although everything happening should, on the contrary, ensure the conservation of the existing.”