Yevgeny Prigozhin: What is known about the alleged plane crash that killed Wagner’s mercenary leader | Vladimir Putin | War in Ukraine | Russia | the world

He was instrumental in the Russian invasion UkraineHe is now presumed dead in a plane crash Russia That leaves a lot of unknowns.

Evgeny PrigogineHead of Group Mercenary WagnerA private company that fought alongside the Russian military in the war in Ukraine was killed Wednesday when a plane carrying nine other crew members crashed in northern Russia.

WATCH: Yevgeny Prigozhin, head of Wagner Group, dies in plane crash, Russia confirms

Local airline Rosaviatsia confirmed his name was on the passenger list of the crashed plane.

who was an accomplice Vladimir Putin He distanced himself from the Russian president last June by ordering his troops to march on Moscow in a one-day revolt against the Kremlin’s military leaders.

The conflict was resolved by an agreement in which Prigozhin abandoned his mutiny and allowed his troops to move to Belarus or join the Russian army.

The details of the accident are still unclear. But in this note we tell you what we know.

What happened to the plane?

Russian aviation authorities confirmed that the Embraer Legacy was flying between Moscow and St Petersburg when it crashed in the Tver region north of the Russian capital on Wednesday night.

But a Gray Zone Telegram channel linked to Wagner reported that the plane had been shot down by the Russian military, although members They provide no evidence To support your request.

The private plane was carrying seven passengers and three crew members.

According to preliminary information, the 10 passengers died in it. Interfax news agency reported that all the bodies have been recovered.

Another news agency, Tass, said the Embraer Legacy, registered to one of Prigozhin’s companies, caught fire when it hit the ground less than half an hour after being airborne.

Video footage verified by the BBC showed the plane falling from the sky in Kusenkino, Russia.

A second commercial plane owned by Prigozhin has landed safely in the Moscow region, Gray Zone reported.

What do we know about Prigogine’s recent movements?

Russian officials said Wednesday that Wagner’s boss was on the passenger list of the crashed plane.

The private jet is believed to have been headed from Moscow to St Petersburg, about 60 miles north of the Russian capital.

Prigozhin has moved on from his brief rebellion against Russia’s top military commanders, whom he has repeatedly criticized for their Ukraine strategy. Relatively low profile.

Under an agreement to end the rebellion, charges against him were dropped with the understanding that he would go to Belarus.

He did it briefly, but seemed to do it on his own terms.

In mid-July, a video appeared on Telegram channels showing Prigozhin welcoming his fighters to Belarus.

But in the same month, he was photographed in the Russian city of St. Petersburg during the Africa-Russia Summit.

Last week, Prigozhin released his first video statement since the failed June uprising, saying he was on the African continent.

The BBC was unable to verify where the video was filmed.

After the gray zone reported that he was dead, Russia’s aviation agency released a confirmed list of people on board the crashed plane.

What is happening now?

According to Russian authorities, they have opened a criminal investigation into the cause of the crash under Article 263 of the Russian Criminal Code, which regulates traffic safety and the operation of air transport.

Meanwhile, emergency services have completed a search at the scene.

Tver regional governor Igor Rudenya reportedly accepted the investigation.

Doubtful ancestors

Shashank Joshi, Editor of Defense Magazine EconomistHe recalled that the Russian government has a history of going after those it perceives as treasonous.

As an example, he pointed to the murder in the United Kingdom Alexander LitvinenkoA former Russian intelligence agent died of radioactive polonium-210.

There was also an assassination attempt in England Sergei Skripal And his daughter uses a substance called Novichok. The perpetrators are suspected to be linked to Russian intelligence.

Christopher SteeleThe former head of the Russia department of Britain’s MI6 intelligence agency said Prigozhin’s decision was “inevitable”.

He opined that perhaps it was “Putin’s tacit approval” of the plane crash.

Prigozhin “had many enemies, few allies in the current government, which was somehow inevitable.”

The June uprising was seen as a challenge to Putin’s authority, who called the riot organizers “traitors” despite negotiating a compromise with Prigogine.

Could this be an act of revenge? What will be the consequences?