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By Gabriel Lake
Aug 24, 2023, 17:22 PM EDT
After almost 24 hours of speculation and silence, Russian President Vladimir Putin has spoken about the death of Yevgeny Prigozhin, the head of the Wagner mercenary group, after a private plane crash.
The plane crashed northwest of Moscow, killing all 10 people on board. Although Putin expressed his condolences to the families of the victims and acknowledged Prigozhin’s important role, he stopped short of directly confirming his death.
The accident has sparked intense speculation about its cause and the fate of Prigozhin. A Pentagon spokesman said the United States believed Prigozhin was likely killed in the crash, the BBC reported.
Villagers near the crash site in the Tver region reported hearing a loud bang before witnessing the plane descend. One theory being investigated is the possibility that a bomb was smuggled on board, according to Russian media reports.
A US official shared with CBS News that an explosion aboard the plane was the most plausible cause, though the exact reason for the explosion remained uncertain. The possibility that it was a bomb was acknowledged, but further investigation is required to determine the truth behind the incident.
Putin, about the plane crash and Yevgeny Prigozhin
Vladimir Putin has expressed his condolences to the families of those who died in the plane crash, saying that he had known Yevgeny Prigozhin for a long time. pic.twitter.com/lTmpXly1UI
– RT in Spanish (@ActualidadRT) August 24, 2023
Conflicting theories have also surfaced, with a Telegram channel linked to Prigozhin suggesting that Russian anti-aircraft forces could have shot down the plane. However, the Pentagon discredited this theory, stating that no information corroborates such a fact, adds the BBC.
As authorities work to unravel the circumstances, ground staff at Moscow’s Sheremetyevo airport are being questioned and CCTV footage is being meticulously reviewed.
The accident marks a significant event in Prigozhin’s controversial trip, as he was once a Putin loyalist but later faced a loss of support after leading a brief mutiny in Russia.
President Putin’s initial silence on the matter drew attention, particularly when he addressed a summit without mentioning the incident. However, on Thursday afternoon Putin expressed his condolences to the families of the victims and acknowledged that “employees of Wagner” were probably on board.
He characterized them as individuals who contributed to fighting the “neo-Nazi regime” in Ukraine, a narrative he has used to justify actions in the region.
Keep reading:
· Leader of the Wagner Group died in a plane crash
Wagner Group announces the closure of its main base in Russia
Putin assures that he managed to stop a civil war in Russia after the rise of the Wagner Group