Wagner boss Prigozhin killed in Russia plane crash: reports
Yevgeny Prigozhin, the leader of Russian mercenary group Wagner, has been killed in a plane crash in Russia.
Prigozhin has emerged a key player in the Russian military infrastructure during the war in Ukraine, but appeared to lead an attempted coup against Russian president Vladimir Putin earlier this summer.
The former restaurateur’s organisation has supplied many of the fighters in the bloody conflict in the east of Ukraine, whilst Wagner has also built up a sizable mercenary presence in Africa.
Nine other people were aboard the plane, according to reports.
Wagner’s deputy leader was also aboard.
Groups linked to the mercenary body’s leadership confirmed Prigozhin’s death on social media..
Prigozhin appeared in his first post-coup video earlier this week (pictured), posted through Wagner channels on Telegram.
Wagner channels on the encrypted site claimed last night that Prigozhin’s private jet had been shot down by air defences north of Moscow.
Opponents of Putin immediately pointed the finger at Vladimir Putin.
Bill Browder, the London-based hedge fund manager who has become a leading critic of the Kremlin, said Putin looked like a “weakling” after Prigozhin was allowed to remain a free man post-coup.
An account linked to the Wagner group also warned the Kremlin that Prigozhin’s death could trigger further unrest amongst the mercenaries, whose loyalty is largely believed to lie with Wagner, rather than Russia.
This is a developing story and will be updated