Russia’s Investigative Committee has confirmed that Yevgeny Prigozhin, the founder of the mercenary Wagner Group and leader of a short-lived rebellion against Russia’s military, died in a plane crash. Forensic and genetic testing has identified all 10 bodies recovered from the crash site and the findings are consistent with the plane’s manifest. The cause of the crash has not been disclosed. The US believes that Vladimir Putin’s regime is responsible for the crash, a claim that the Kremlin denies. Meanwhile, reports continue to shed light on the final weeks of Prigozhin’s life.
In a separate account, the AP recounts an incident on June 24, where Prigozhin was surrounded by adoring fans in Russia’s southern city of Rostov-on-Don. Fans shouted praises and took selfies with the leader of the Wagner mercenary group as he sat in his black SUV. Prigozhin and his fighters, dressed in camouflage, were leaving the city after a day-long mutiny against the country’s military leadership. Putin condemned the rebellion as “treason” but ultimately decided not to prosecute Prigozhin. At the time, the fate of Prigozhin was uncertain.
Two months later, Prigozhin’s business jet crashed. These two scenes, occurring just two months apart, serve as bookends to the enigmatic final days of the outspoken and brutal mercenary leader. His rebellion posed the greatest challenge to Putin’s authority during his 23-year rule. In the last weeks of his life, there were questions regarding the Kremlin’s intentions towards him. Did he escape consequences or was his eventual punishment still in the cards? Prigozhin largely remained quiet, fueling speculation that his silence was part of a deal with the Kremlin. (Read the full story for more details.)
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