Moscow, Russia — Yevgeny Prigozhin, the head of the private military company Wagner, was among the passengers of a jet that tragically crashed, resulting in the loss of all lives on board, as confirmed by Russia’s civil aviation authority. The incident had previously been reported by Grey Zone, a Telegram channel associated with the Wagner group, stating that the Embraer aircraft was allegedly shot down by air defenses in the Tver region, located north of Moscow.
The ill-fated Embraer Legacy jet was en route from the capital city to St. Petersburg, carrying a total of seven passengers and three crew members. Witnesses reported hearing two explosions prior to the crash and observed two vapor trails, according to Grey Zone. Russian news agency Tass reported that the aircraft caught fire upon impact with the ground, and authorities had already discovered four bodies at the crash site. The aircraft’s flight time was less than thirty minutes.
Yevgeny Prigozhin, aged 62, led a failed mutiny against the Russian armed forces during June of this year. The Grey Zone’s account outlined his military actions which involved moving troops from Ukraine, capturing the southern Russian city of Rostov on Don, and issuing threats to advance towards Moscow. This unrest had emerged after a prolonged period of tension between Prigozhin and Russian military commanders regarding the conflict in Ukraine.
A resolution was reached through an agreement that allowed Wagner’s forces to either relocate to Belarus or join the Russian military. While Prigozhin himself supposedly agreed to move to Belarus, there have been reported sightings of him both in Russia and even in African locations.
The crash of the Embraer jet, with its unfortunate loss of life, adds another layer of complexity to the events surrounding Yevgeny Prigozhin and his involvement in military affairs. The investigation into the crash and its circumstances is expected to unfold in the coming days, revealing further insights into this tragic incident.
