Russian authorities have officially confirmed the death of Yevgeny Prigozhin, the head of the Wagner private military company, following genetic analysis of the bodies recovered from the plane crash that occurred on Wednesday.
The Investigative Committee (SK) has revealed that identities of all 10 victims have been established and match those listed on the flight’s passenger manifest.
Prigozhin, who led Wagner, tragically lost his life when his private jet crashed northwest of Moscow on August 25, resulting in the fatalities of all individuals on board. The Kremlin has refuted suggestions of its involvement in the crash.
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The SK has ongoing investigations, stating, “Molecular-genetic testing has been completed,” and confirming that the identities of the deceased individuals have been established to match the published flight manifest.
The victims include several prominent members of Wagner, a Russian mercenary group founded by Prigozhin, known for its involvement in military activities across Ukraine, Syria, and parts of Africa. Notably, Dmitry Utkin, a key figure overseeing Wagner’s military operations, was among the casualties.
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Other Wagner members who lost their lives in the crash are Valery Chekalov, Sergei Propustin, Yevgeny Makaryan, Alexander Totmin, and Nikolay Matuseyev. The aircraft, an Embraer Legacy, was en route from Moscow to St. Petersburg. The pilot, Alexei Levshin, co-pilot Rustam Karimov, and flight attendant Kristina Raspopova also perished in the accident.
The plane crash followed a Wagner-led mutiny against Russian armed forces, spearheaded by Prigozhin, two months prior. The conflict culminated in Prigozhin and Wagner forces relocating to Belarus after a negotiated settlement. Despite this, the Russian President, Vladimir Putin, characterized the mutiny as a betrayal, leading to speculation regarding potential involvement of Russian security forces in the crash.
While US officials cited by CBS have suggested an onboard explosion as the probable cause of the crash, the Pentagon has indicated that Prigozhin likely lost his life. Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov vehemently dismissed rumors of foul play as an “absolute lie.”
President Putin extended his condolences to the victims’ families, describing Prigozhin as a “talented person” who made significant life errors
