Sheet of paper with portraits of Yevgeny Prigozhin and Dmitry Utkin, a shadowy figure who managed Wagner's operations and allegedly served in Russian military intelligence, is placed at a makeshift memorial in front of the Private Military Company (PMC) Wagner Centre in Saint Petersburg, on August 26, 2023. On August 25, 2023, the Kremlin dismissed rumors it orchestrated the death of Wagner chief Yevgeny Prigozhin, presumed dead in a plane crash two months after leading a mutiny in Russia.
Officials in Russia have confirmed Sunday (August 27) the death of Wagner Group warlord Yevgeny Prigozhin, field commander Dmitry Utkin, and eight others after the plane they were in crashed on August 23 in Russia's Tver region, northwest of Moscow and about halfway from its intended destination of St. Petersburg.
Authorities investigating the crash and what caused it said the identities of all 10 victims had been established and corresponded to the names in the flight's passenger manifest after a series of genetic tests.
The crash was speculated to be Russian President Vladimir Putin's revenge after Prigozhin's failed mutiny in June, exactly two months before the crash. However, the Kremlin has denied and distanced itself from speculation they were involved in the crash.
Read Also: Pro-Kyiv Russian Volunteer Corps Urges Wagner to Switch Sides to Avenge Prigozhin's Death
What We Know So Far
In the lead-up to the confirmation, Putin broke his silence and expressed condolences to the next of kin of all the deceased passengers. He described the dead mercenary chief as a personal acquaintance since his colorful career began in the 1990s.
At the same time, some Wagner fighters have speculated on the manner in which Prigozhin died, vowing to avenge the warlord once they discovered it was an assassination to the whole of Wagner's leadership.
Meanwhile, the pro-Kyiv and anti-Putin Russian Volunteer Corps (RVC) has offered Wagner fighters the choice of avenging Prigozhin and honoring his legacy by defecting to the Ukrainian side.
This is a developing story. Please follow HNGN for more updates.
Related Article: Wagner Leader Prigozhin's Death: Was the Russian Government Involved in the Plane Crash?
