Yevgeny Prighozin: Wagner Boss Killed In Plane Crash In Russia Day After Posting First Video Since Mutiny

• Russia's Wagner Group chief, Yevgeny Prigozhin, leader of the Wagner Group, is believed to have died in a private jet crash near Moscow
• The ill-fated private jet was en route from Moscow to St Petersburg, carrying seven passengers and three crew members,
• Russia's aviation agency, Rosaviatsia, said they had initiated an investigation into the crash, with Prigozhin listed as one of the passengers on the Embraer plane

Moscow - Russian mercenary chief Yevgeny Prigozhin has been presumed dead following a private jet that crashed north of Moscow.

Russian authorities said no survivors were reported in the Wednesday, August 23 evening accident.

BBC reported that the private jet was flying from Moscow to St Petersburg, carrying seven passengers and three crew.

Russia's aviation agency said an investigation had been launched into the plane crash that had Prigozhin listed as a passenger.

"An investigation has been launched into an Embraer plane crash that occurred tonight in the Tver region. According to the passenger list, the name and surname of Yevgeny Prigozhin is among them," Rosaviatsia, Russia's aviation agency, was cited as saying by the state TASS news agency.

The agency explained that their specialists would search for objective control decoding and analyse the records in the black box.

"At this stage of the investigation, specialists will also have to search for on-board means of objective control for their subsequent decoding and analysis of the records of the "black box," continued the statement.

Plane registered in Prigozhin's name

According to CNN, the plane engine debris taken at the crash site in the Tver region matches a plane registered to Prigozhin.

In the video, the last four digits of a registration number on the still-burning engine debris are seen — 2795, while Prigozhin's plane is registered as RA-02795.

An additional analysis of the debris, compared with past photos of the plane, also shows that distinct features of the engine, including its colour, match the aircraft.

The plane had reached an altitude of some 26,000 feet, according to flight data, before ceasing to transmit information.

Where is Prigozhin

On Monday, August 21, the Russian mercenary chief posted his first video address since leading a short-lived mutiny in late June.

In the video, possibly shot in Africa, Prigozhin is seen standing in a desert in camouflage with a rifle in his hands.

He announced that Wagner continues to recruit fighters and the group, sharing a telephone number for those who want to join.

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Russian mercenary chief Yevgeny Prigozhin.

Wagner chief Yevgeny Prigozhin is presumed dead after a plane crash in Russia | News24

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