Special Plane Believed to Carry Wagner Leader Prigozhin Crashes near Moscow

News of the crash of a private plane near the Russian capital Moscow, suspected to have carried Wagner leader Prigozhin on its passenger list, has captured global attention.

IS PRIGOJIN DEAD? 

The announcement from Yevgeny Prigozhin, the leader of the Russian private military group known as Wagner, has sent shockwaves across the world. The private aircraft, which was en route from Saint Petersburg to Moscow, crashed north of the capital city. The plane was reported to have had 10 individuals on board. Russian news agency TASS confirmed that Wagner leader Prigozhin was among those listed as passengers.

Plane Carrying Prigozhin's Right-Hand Man Also on Board

The crashed aircraft is reported to belong to the Wagner group, with the specific model being an Embraer ERJ 135 with tail number RA-02795. It has been revealed that Dmytro Utkin, the "right-hand man" of Wagner's leader Prigozhin, was also among the passengers on the ill-fated plane.

Wagner Claims: Aircraft Shot Down by Air Defense Systems

An investigation has been initiated into the accident, with Tver Governor Igor Rudenya personally overseeing the situation. Wagner Private Military Company's affiliated Telegram channel, Gri Bölge, alleges that the plane was shot down by air defense systems in the Bologovsky region. The message shared by Gri Bölge included statements such as "Traces of a missile are visible in one of the videos, corroborated by direct eyewitness accounts."

Ministry's Statement Omits Prigozhin

The Russian Ministry of Emergency Situations issued a written statement, stating that "The plane was en route from Sheremetyevo Airport (Moscow) to St. Petersburg. The aircraft carried a total of 10 individuals, including 3 crew members." However, no details were provided regarding Prigozhin's presence.

Russian Civil Aviation Service: Prigozhin's Name Listed on the Passenger List

The Russian Civil Aviation Service, Rosaviatsiya, announced that the name of Wagner Group's leader Yevgeny Prigozhin was present on the passenger list. It was noted that an investigation into the incident has been initiated.

PRIGOZHIN'S DEATH CONFIRMED

The Russian Federal Air Transport Agency has reported that Yevgeny Prigozhin, the founder of Wagner Group, has died in the crashed plane.

8 BODIES FOUND

Meanwhile, according to a report from the Russian news agency RIA Novosti, citing sources from the Russian Ministry of Emergency Situations, it has been stated that the bodies of 8 individuals have been recovered from the wreckage of the plane.

10 PEOPLE ON THE CRASHED PLANE HAVE DIED

In a written statement from the Russian Ministry of Emergency Situations, it was indicated that a private plane traveling from Moscow to St. Petersburg crashed in the Tver region.

Reports mention that a total of 10 people, including the 3-person crew on board the aircraft, lost their lives. The relevant teams are reported to be conducting operations in the area.

Furthermore, some Telegram channels associated with Wagner Group have alleged that the plane was shot down by defense systems belonging to the Russian military.

Yevgeny Prigozhin, the founder of the private security company Wagner, had previously accused the Russian military of attacking Wagner forces and threatened retaliatory action. Following this, Wagner fighters had abandoned Ukraine and entered the Rostov region near the border. In response, the Federal Security Service (FSB) had initiated criminal proceedings against them for "armed rebellion." Russian President Vladimir Putin had labeled Wagner's actions as "treason against the homeland." Prigozhin had announced intentions to travel to Moscow, prompting heightened security measures across various regions of the country under Kremlin's orders. On June 24th, Yevgeny Prigozhin reportedly accepted a proposal from Belarus President Alexander Lukashenko to de-escalate tensions in Russia. He had acknowledged the responsibility for shedding Russian blood and had announced that their convoys would return to field camps according to the plan. Kremlin Spokesperson Dmitry Peskov had stated that the criminal case against Prigozhin would be closed, indicating that the "rebel leader" would be heading to Belarus.