IN October 2019, Russian news outlet Readovka, reported that the Wagner boss had died after his plane crashed in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, citing sources related to the paramilitary.
The infamous Wagner Group was believed to have been established in 2014. It was reportedly involved in several African countries over the years.
And in October 2019, Russian news outlet Readovka reported that the Wagner boss had died after his plane crashed in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, citing sources related to the paramilitary.
But two days later, Russian news agency reported that Prigozhin was not dead.
End but had just been busy and was surprised by the reporting.
This report emerged following the recent plane crash involving Prigozhin and the top commanders of Wagner.
Rosaviation reported the crash on Wednesday, as well as the passenger list which included the names of both Prigozhin and one of the commanders of his Wagner private military group, Dmitry Utkin, who is believed to be the paramilitary’s co-founder.
The Russian Ministry of Emergency Situations (EMERCOM) preliminary data said the flight from Moscow to St. Petersburg crashed near the Kuzhenkino settlement in the Tver Region, killing all 10 people on board, including three crew members.
But on Wednesday evening, Russian officials said that they only discovered 8 bodies and none had been named by that time.
And on Friday, authorities said it has discovered all 10 bodies including flight recorders from the scene of the plane crash- around the time that the Russian special services removed wreckage from the crash site.
Investigators are now carrying out “molecular-genetic tests” on the remains.
On Thursday, Russian President Vladimir Putin gave his condolences to the families of the victims of the incident and described Prigozhin as a talented businessman and a man who made serious mistakes in his life but also got results. For himself, as well as for the common cause.
“I knew Prigozhin for a very long time, since the early 90s. He was a man of complicated fate, and he made serious mistakes in his life, but he achieved the right results,” according to Pres. Vladimir Putin, Russian Federation.
Russia, Ukraine deny involvement in Prigozhin plane crash
Meanwhile, both Russia and Ukraine denied any involvement in the alleged assassination of Prigozhin.
During a joint press conference with President of Portugal Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa in Lisbon on Friday, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said that Kyiv nothing to do with the plane crash.
“As far as this situation is concerned, we had nothing to do with it, that’s for sure. I think everybody realizes who has,” Pres. Volodymyr Zelenksyy, Ukraine said.
Talking to BBC on Friday, Putin rejected the allegations, calling the rumors a complete lie.
Prigozhin is known as Putin’s chef. His fame rose for being on the frontlines of the battle for Bakhmut along with Wagner Forces.
Prigozhin led a short-lived mutiny in late June, an event described by Putin as treachery, however, later a deal was agreed upon that gave Wagner the option to either join the army or go into exile in Belarus with their boss.
Prigozhin’s last video address was believed to be shot in Africa, where he declared that Wagner would recruit more men and that he would make Africa even freer and fight ISIS, Al-Qaeda, and other bandits.
