Ten people have been killed in a private jet crash north of Moscow – with the Russian Civil Aviation Authority saying Yevgeny Prigozhin was on the passenger list.
Seven passengers and three crew were on board the Embraer aircraft, which was en route from Moscow to St Petersburg, TASS news agency reported.
The jet is said to have crashed in the Tver region, north of Moscow.
Multiple videos posted on social appear to show the jet crashing.
“An investigation has been launched into the Embraer plane crash that occurred tonight in the Tver region. According to the passenger list, among them is the name and surname of Yevgeny Prigozhin,” Rosaviatsia said.
Unconfirmed media reports suggest the business jet belonged to Prigozhin.
Prigozhin led a short-lived mutiny against Russia’s top military brass in June, and was described at the time by Vladimir Putin as a “traitor”. He was sent to Belarus in the aftermath of his march on Moscow
‘Extraordinary’ if plane crash with Prigozhin on board was coincidence
Everything to do with Yevgeny Prigozhin has been extremely murky and, of course, ever since his march on Moscow, there have been questions on whether he can survive.
It’s very convenient for the Kremlin and for Russia to declare him dead. I suppose a lot of people have been wondering whether this would happen.
If this is the case… then that certainly serves the Kremlin – he was not part useful having caused the biggest problem for the Kremlin that I can remember since Putin has been in power.
Take it with a pinch of salt – we need more confirmation of that. It’s pretty extraordinary. It’s pretty convenient for the Kremlin. It’s interesting how he survived. He was seemingly allowed to get off scot-free.
If this is a coincidence that Prigozhin was on a plane that crashed outside Moscow then that’s pretty extraordinary – but there are lots of extraordinary things happening in Russia at the moment.
The rebellion ended when Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko stepped in to broker a deal.
Prigozhin was last seen in a video yesterday that appeared to have been taken in Africa, where he spoke about making the continent “free”.
The 62-year-old Wagner Group boss released footage of himself speaking while wearing camouflage and holding a rifle.
Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player
0:40
Wagner Group ‘in Africa’
Prigozhin also described how Wagner was tackling terrorist groups in the region and added that the group wanted to increase its presence in Africa.
He later shared details about Wagner’s recruitment in the video, which was accompanied by a telephone number for those who wanted to join.
Once a close confidant of Vladimir Putin, Prigozhin had often lambasted the likes of defence minister Sergei Shoigu and top general Valery Gerasimov in public addresses over their handling of the Ukraine invasion.
