Prigozhin, Wagner Group chief, listed among those killed in plane crash north of Moscow

The leader of the Wagner mercenary group, Yevgeny Prigozhin, who had orchestrated an unsuccessful mutiny in June, reportedly found himself entangled in a plane crash according to Russian state media. The incident occurred north of Moscow and involved a private Embraer Legacy aircraft en route from Moscow to St. Petersburg. The aircraft, carrying 10 individuals including three crew members, crashed in the Tver region northeast of Moscow, as confirmed by the Russian Ministry of Emergency Services.

While the initial statement from the ministry did not explicitly mention Prigozhin's presence on the plane, Tass state news agency cited the Federal Air Transport Agency, stating that Prigozhin was among the seven passengers aboard the ill-fated flight. An investigation was initiated into the crash, as reported by Tass and RIA Novosti.

Prigozhin's fate had been veiled in mystery since his Wagner fighters captured Rostov-on-Don in southern Russia on June 23 and subsequently embarked on a march toward Moscow, eventually stopping around 120 miles from the capital. This effort was curtailed through a purported agreement brokered by Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko. The arrangement aimed to exile Prigozhin in Belarus while his fighters would align with the Russian Defense Ministry or join him in Belarus.

Despite Prigozhin's audacious challenge and his labeling of Wagner's rebellion as treason, the Kremlin's treatment of him post-mutiny perplexed many. President Vladimir Putin denounced the rebellion, yet Prigozhin, a former close ally, appeared to face minimal consequences.

Prigozhin, previously referred to as Putin's "chef" due to his involvement in catering state events, had initially denied leading the Wagner group, a private military company active in various conflict zones. Following his fighters' involvement against Ukrainian troops, he began to embrace a more public role, appearing in videos donning military attire. These videos portrayed him in recruitment efforts and active participation on the front lines, diverging from the urban elites he critiqued.

The news of the plane crash emerged after Prigozhin seemingly issued his first video address since the mutiny. The individual, purportedly Prigozhin, was seen in military attire and a bulletproof vest featuring the Wagner logo, standing in a desert-like setting. The authenticity and timing of the video remained unverified.