Wagner boss Yevgeny Prigozhin is feared dead as plane plunges to ground and explodes north of Moscow – exactly two months after leading coup against Putin regime
Wagner boss Yevgeny Prigozhin is feared dead as the plane crashes to the ground and explodes north of Moscow – exactly two months after leading the coup against the Putin regime
A plane associated with Russian warlord Yevgeny Prigozhin crashed tonight.
The plane was featured in a video falling from the sky in the Bologovsky district of the Tver region.
The burning wreckage was seen in a field.
It was initially unknown if Wagner chief Prigozhin — known as Putin’s chef and with longstanding ties to the Kremlin dictator — was on board.
According to a report by Rosaviatsiya, the Russian aviation agency, Prigozhin was one of the passengers.
Reports say there were seven on board the Embraer Legacy 600 business jet.
At least three died, but four could not be located.
A private jet believed to be carrying Wagner chief Yevgeny Prigozhin has crashed in Russia
A later report citing Russia’s Emergency Situations Ministry said there were ten deaths.
People on the ground heard a loud bang.
Prigozhin, 62, had led a coup against Putin’s regime exactly two months ago.
He had been warned that his life was in danger.
A channel connected to Wagner said the plane was shot down by air defenses.
There was no confirmation.
Sources close to him said that although the plane was his, he usually flew another plane.
He was known to take great care of his safety.
Earlier this week, a video apparently showed him in Africa pledging to make Russia great by deploying his Wagner troops to the continent.
Former Russian presidential candidate Ksenia Sobchak said: “My sources report that an Embraer plane belonging to Yevgeny Prigozhin has now crashed in the Tver region.
“This happened 15 kilometers from Khotilovo.
“According to our information, there were three crew members and seven passengers.
“Whether Prigozhin himself was on board is unknown.”
Sobchak is known as Putin’s “goddaughter”.
A local woman said parts of the plane fell off when it crashed from the sky.
Progozhin was warned not to enter tall buildings for fear of accidents after he led a coup aimed primarily at ousting Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu and Army Chief General Valery Gerasimov.
He is known to have used body doubles as part of his elaborate security measures.
More will follow.