Russian Mercenary Chief Yevgeny Prigozhin and Associates Dead in Mysterious Plane Crash
The Mystery Deepens: Wagner Boss Yevgeny Prigozhin Dies in Suspicious Plane Crash
In recent times, news emerging from the Kremlin’s inner circles tends to come shrouded in intrigue.
The latest such development involves the supposed demise of Russian mercenary leader Yevgeny Prigozhin and his top lieutenants in a mysterious plane crash.
As speculations swirl, the incident further thickens the plot in the complex saga surrounding President Vladimir Putin and his fracture with the Wagner Group.
The Crash that Shocked Wagner
Last week, a private jet crashed shortly after taking off from Moscow, killing all on board.
Unofficial sources from within the Wagner Group indicated that the deceased included founder Yevgeny Prigozhin along with six other senior officials.
The passenger list featured big names like Prigozhin’s deputy, the company’s logistics chief, and a fighter wounded in U.S. airstrikes.
However, the Russian authorities are yet to provide any official confirmation.
Supporters have set up memorials for Prigozhin outside Wagner’s St. Petersburg headquarters.
But President Putin’s silence amidst the rumors has been conspicuous.
With the Kremlin’s critics often meeting mysterious ends, foul play seems likely.
The incident may well have been an assassination aimed at the heart of Wagner leadership.
As German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock notes, “It appears suspicious that right after a mutiny, the owner dies in a plane crash along with other high-ranking people.”
Unraveling the Lead Up to the Crash
The context surrounding the crash raises pressing questions.
Why were so many senior Wagner officials together on this flight?
What was the purpose of their trip to St. Petersburg?
The gathering of leaders known for stringent security measures is confounding experts.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy alludes to possible Russian involvement to settle internal scores.
The ill-fated flight occurred just days after the dismissal of General Sergei Surovikin, linked to Prigozhin, from his military post.
It followed Prigozhin’s June mutiny against Putin’s authority that somehow concluded with his amnesty.
As the Institute for the Study of War highlights, eliminating Prigozhin could aid dismantling Wagner as an independent force.
The mysterious plane crash may have been the long-awaited reckoning.
Wider Implications of Prigozhin’s Downfall
While the loss of its founder deals a blow to Wagner, immediate impacts on Russia’s war efforts are unlikely.
Prigozhin’s forces already played a diminished role after recent frontline failures.
But his demise marks another intriguing twist in Russian politics.
It illustrates the complex dynamics between Putin and power players like Prigozhin, who seemingly got away with rebellion only to perish shortly after.
As the truth behind the suspicious incident remains hidden, the saga continues with more surprises likely on the horizon.
Prigozhin’s reported death opens the next chapter in this geopolitical drama.
Read the original story here:
Associated Press
