Western Reader
Yevgeny Prigozhin, the notorious Russian warlord and leader of the Wagner Group, is believed to have died in a plane crash. This comes just two months after his failed coup attempt against President Vladimir Putin’s regime.
Prigozhin, who was once a close ally of Putin, had become a problem for the Kremlin. His paramilitary unit, the Wagner Group, was involved in some of the most brutal conflicts in Ukraine.
However, their relationship deteriorated due to high mortality rates, lack of equipment, and unpaid wages. Prigozhin even threatened to withdraw troops from frontline positions if he didn’t receive the supplies he demanded from Putin.
“You know when Ukraine was addressing the world countries about planes this is not what we meant.”
– President Zelensky commented on Prigozhin’s plane crash. #Prigozhin #Wagner #Russia #Ukraine #Zelensky #Putin pic.twitter.com/sLnCTsuGMW
– Natalka (@NatalkaKyiv) August 24, 2023
Tensions escalated when Prigozhin launched a verbal attack on Putin and his allies, and led 25,000 troops towards Moscow.
After capturing the southern Russian city of Rostov-on-Don, the army marched north, causing the capital to go into lockdown. An agreement was eventually reached between Prigozhin and the government, ending the standoff.
However, the peace was short-lived. A plane carrying Prigozhin crashed in the Tver region, north of Moscow, killing everyone on board.
While some speculate that Ukrainian special agents may have planted a bomb on the aircraft, many believe that the Russian government targeted Prigozhin’s jet using a surface-to-air missile or a bomb.
The aftermath of the crash was grisly, with only the front part of the plane, windows, and a piece of hardware remaining. Ten bodies were found, one with its head separated from its shoulders.
Despite state TV claiming that Prigozhin was on board, there are rumors suggesting he might not have been on the plane due to his strict security measures.
Pentagon spox says US officials believe based “on a variety of factors” that Prigozhin was “likely killed” pic.twitter.com/VuRxi2Gspb
– Aaron Rupar (@atrupar) August 24, 2023
The incident has attracted international attention. President Biden has been briefed, and the UK government confirmed that it is closely monitoring the situation.
CIA Director William Burns described Putin as ‘the ultimate apostle of payback,’ suggesting that the Russian president might have orchestrated the crash as an act of revenge.
Meanwhile, the Wagner Group is reportedly preparing for ‘full mobilization’ in response to the death of their leader. They have vowed to seek retribution if Prigozhin’s death is confirmed and have declared those responsible as ‘traitors’ to Russia.
This incident serves as a reminder of the volatile political climate in Russia and raises questions about the future of the Wagner Group, including its potential transformation into Putin’s private army.
As the world watches, the fate of Russia’s most feared warlord hangs in the balance.
This article appeared in FreshOffThePress and has been published here with permission.
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