A preliminary assessment by U.S. intelligence indicates that the plane crash that allegedly killed Yevgeny Prigozhin, the leader of the Wagner group, was caused by an intentional explosion. U.S. and Western officials, speaking on the condition of anonymity, stated that the explosion aligns with Russian President Vladimir Putin’s history of silencing his critics. The exact cause of the explosion and the identities of those responsible have not been disclosed.
Russian President Putin expressed condolences to the families of those reportedly on board the jet and acknowledged “serious mistakes” made by Prigozhin, without providing further details. President Joe Biden stated his belief that Putin was behind the crash, although he did not have concrete evidence to support this claim.
The crash, if confirmed, would be a significant blow to the leadership of the Wagner group. The passenger manifest included Prigozhin and several high-ranking members of the organization. The purpose of their joint trip to St. Petersburg remains unknown.
Russian state media has not extensively covered the crash, instead focusing on Putin’s remarks at the BRICS summit and Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. Meanwhile, Russian authorities are investigating the cause of the crash.
Numerous opponents and critics of Putin have faced assassination attempts or suffered serious illnesses in what appeared to be targeted attacks. German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock highlighted this pattern and attributed Prigozhin’s death to the Kremlin, while Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy also suggested Russian involvement.
The plane crash coincided with the dismissal of Gen. Sergei Surovikin, who was reportedly connected to Prigozhin. Prigozhin had been outspoken about his dissatisfaction with Russian military tactics in Ukraine.
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