Wagner Group Founder Yevgeny Prigozhin Confirmed as Plane Crash Victim by Russian Investigators

Yevgeny Prigozhin dies: Russian investigators have officially confirmed that Yevgeny Prigozhin, the founder of the Wagner mercenary group, was among the 10 individuals who died in a plane crash. Genetic tests were utilized to ascertain the identities of the crash victims, with Prigozhin's presence on the passenger list having been previously indicated by Russia's civil aviation authority.

Dmitry Peskov, the Kremlin spokesperson, offered condolences and characterized the incident as a "tragic" event. He dispelled any unfounded notions of foul play. In response to the crash, Russian officials have launched an investigation into potential air traffic violations.

Svetlana Petrenko, the spokesperson for the investigative committee, revealed that comprehensive molecular-genetic examinations were undertaken as part of the inquiry into the plane crash in the Tver region. The outcomes definitively confirmed the identities of all 10 victims, aligning with the flight manifest.

Yevgeny Prigozhin's trajectory shifted from a relatively low-profile entrepreneur with ties to Russian President Vladimir Putin to global prominence due to his role in the Wagner mercenary force during Russia's involvement in the Ukrainian conflict. Another individual aboard the crashed Embraer private jet was Dmitry Utkin, connected to Wagner's operations and reportedly associated with Russian military intelligence.

The private jet incident occurred subsequent to Yevgeny Prigozhin's brief mutiny against Russia's top military officials. While Russian President Vladimir Putin initially condemned the mutiny as a treacherous act, he later met with Prigozhin in the Kremlin and extended condolences to the families of the crash victims, as reported by the aviation agency.