Wagner Prigozhin's private plane crashed in Tver province, western Russia; his name was also on the passenger list.
"A privately owned Embraer Legacy aircraft crashed in Tver province. There were 10 people on board, including 3 crew members and 7 passengers. Preliminary information indicates that all of them perished," the Russian Ministry of Emergency Situations said on August 23.
Videos posted on social media show the plane with one of its main wings broken off, plummeting rapidly to the ground.
An Embraer Legacy aircraft crashed in Tver province, western Russia, on August 23. Video: Telegram/RVvoenkor
The plane crashed near the village of Kuzhenkino in Tver province while en route from Moscow to Saint Petersburg.
The Russian Federal Aviation Agency said the passenger list on the plane included the name of Yevgeny Prigozhin, the head of the Wagner private military corporation. Eight bodies have been found at the crash site, but their identities have not been released.
Russian authorities are investigating the cause of the accident.
The scene of the plane crash in Tver province on August 23. Photo: RIA Novosti
Yevgeny Prigozhin, 62, rose to prominence in St. Petersburg in the late 1990s as a restaurant businessman, gradually building a reputation with the Kremlin, venturing into construction, and then establishing a mercenary company.
Prigozhin entered the military field in 2014 when he founded the Wagner company. Wagner's members are former Russian soldiers recruited to assist Moscow in protecting national interests and security. Wagner is believed to have been involved in ensuring the smooth conduct of the 2014 referendum on the annexation of Crimea, as well as providing military support to separatist forces in the Donbass region.
Prigozhin publicly acknowledged his affiliation with Wagner last year, and also declared his support for the Russian military on the Ukrainian battlefield.
Prigozhin became the face of Wagner, appearing in numerous recruitment videos for the corporation. Wagner also gradually became a familiar name in Russia's war in Ukraine, as the role of these "mercenary" forces became increasingly important.
Prigozhin in a photo posted online on August 21. Video: Telegram/RVvoenkor
After months of fierce fighting, Wagner gained complete control of Bakhmut, boosting Prigozhin's reputation and influence in Russian politics. Prigozhin then announced the withdrawal of Wagner troops to their rear base and handed over the city to the Russian regular army.
Following a 24-hour rebellion on June 24, leader Wagner reached an agreement with the Kremlin via Belarus and moved to that country with members of his forces. Observers believe this marked the end of all of Prigozhin's political ambitions.
The last time the Wagner mogul appeared in the media was on August 21st, when Prigozhin posted a video implying he was in Africa and would "make Russia greater."
Vu Anh (According to TASS )
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