DLNews Crime:
The Russian news agency Tass reports that ten people have died in a private plane crash.
Explosive: According to the report, the head of the "Wagner" mercenary group, Yevgeny Prigozhin (62), was also on the passenger list.
This photo, distributed by the Reuters news agency, is said to show the burning wreckage of the "Wagner" plane.
His Telegram channel "Grey Zone" reported that the mercenary leader died late Wednesday evening. The "Hero of Russia" died "due to the actions of traitors to Russia." "But even in Hell, he will be the best!"
- "Wagner" boss Yevgeny Prigozhin (62)
Wagner chief was on a plane that crashed in Russia, aviation authority says
Russian officials said that the aircraft, which departed Moscow and was en route to St. Petersburg, stopped transmitting data shortly after 6 p.m. local time and crashed near the village of Kuzhenkino.
The fact is, There has been NO official confirmation of Prigozhin's death so far. Even the US Secret Service was initially unable to verify this.
The Russian aviation authority reported on Wednesday evening, citing the airline, that Prigozhin and his deputy Dmitry Utkin (53) were "on board the plane." The Russian Emergencies Ministry had previously reported that all passengers had died.
Ten bodies are said to have been found at the crash site, all badly burnt.
- This shot is meant to show the crash site
The crashed private jet was en route from Moscow to St. Petersburg. The machine came from the Brazilian manufacturer Embraer.
So far, unconfirmed video recordings are circulating on social networks, which are said to show the plane after the crash. Burning debris can be seen in a field. Other images show an airplane falling from the sky.
The governor of the Tver region, Igor Rudenya, has taken personal control of the incident, according to Russian media reports.
Prigozhin, left, serves food to Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin, center, during dinner at Prigozhin's restaurant outside Moscow, Russia, in November 2011.
Prigozhin broke with Putin.
Since 2022, Prigozhin's mercenaries have been fighting for the Russian state against Ukraine. In 2023, the "Wagner" force managed to capture the eastern Ukrainian city of Bakhmut - after a nine-month battle. This brought Prigozhin considerable fame in Russia.
Exactly two months ago, Prigozhin broke with Kremlin dictator Vladimir Putin. With his fighters, Prigozhin took two major Russian cities and threatened to take Moscow. The coup was averted at the last moment. The mercenary boss made a deal with the Kremlin and left Russia with impunity to go into exile in Belarus.
After the mercenary uprising, experts repeatedly speculated that the Kremlin might have killed Prigozhin.
In July, Mykhailo Podolyak, adviser to Ukraine's President Zelenskyy, said, "Putin's reputation is to keep everyone in fear. Therefore, it is a personal matter for him to destroy Prigozhin as soon as possible." The Ukrainian continues: "I have the impression that Prigozhin is exposed to great physical risks – and these will only increase."
Russian experts: Putin had the Prigozhin jet shot down
For Russian experts, it is clear: This was not an accident but murder on behalf of Vladimir Putin. Because: Exactly two months ago, Prigozhin tried to stage a coup against Putin.
Revenge now? Russian military experts want significant evidence that Putin had Prigozhin's plane shot down. The evidence is very concrete - and highly explosive to the Kremlin.
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