Russian mercenary chief Yevgeny Prigozhin may have been among the victims of a plane crash northwest of Moscow that left no survivors, according to Russian aviation authorities.

Details about the crash: A business jet on route from Moscow to St. Petersburg crashed about 30 minutes into the journey.
* Flight tracking data shows that the plane suddenly lost altitude and witnesses captured video of the plane descending towards a field, potentially missing a wing.
* All passengers’ remains have been recovered from the crash scene in Russia’s Tver region, located around 185 miles northwest of Moscow.
* The Russian Investigative Committee has started a criminal investigation while aviation authorities are looking into the cause of the crash.

The passengers: Ten people were reportedly on board, including seven passengers and three crew members, with Prigozhin named among the passengers.
* The flight manifest also listed top Wagner lieutenants including Dmitry Uktin.
* Authorities have yet to confirm the identities of the deceased victims and none of the individuals listed on the flight manifest have been heard from since the crash occurred.

Context of recent events: The crash came two months after Prigozhin led a failed revolt against Russia’s military leadership over perceived inadequacies in the war in Ukraine.
* Prigozhin and his Wagner forces have been a topic of intense discussion since gaining amnesty and exile to Belarus after a deal was brokered to end the uprising.
* Unverified sources have reported Prigozhin sightings in Belarus, Africa, and Russia itself.

Public reaction: Following the crash, public mourning and online conspiracy theories have ensued.
* Residents have started to create spontaneous memorials outside Wagner’s headquarters in St. Petersburg and other Italian cities known for their Wagner recruitment efforts.
* Speculation about the cause and timing of the crash are struggling on social media platforms, with some accusing Russia’s internal political factions while others point to external forces like Ukraine or Western influences.

Official responses: Russian and Western leaders have offered differing responses to the incident.
* Shortly after the crash, Russian President Vladimir Putin, without making any specific references to the incident, extended his condolences to the families of the deceased and acknowledged that Wagner members were reportedly on the plane.
* Western politicians, including President Biden, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and Germany’s Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock, indicated an underlying skepticism about the circumstances of the crash. However, they all highlighted their lack of solid evidence to affirm their suspicions.

View original article on NPR

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