Ten people have been killed in a private jet crash in Russia – and the country’s Civil Aviation Authority say Wagner Group leader Yevgeny Prigozhin was on the passenger list.
TASS news agency reported that seven passengers and three crew were on board the Embraer aircraft, which was en route from Moscow to St Petersburg and crashed in the Tver region.
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Videos circulating on social media appear to show the jet crashing just north of Moscow.
It is believed that the Wagner leader was on board the flight.
It comes just two days after Prigozhin shared his first video address since his aborted June mutiny. The 62-year-old, who was sent to Belarus after his failed march on Moscow following a “deal” with Belarusian leader Alexander Lukashenko, released footage of himself speaking about Russia making the continent “free”.
Prigozhin, who was once a close confidant of Vladimir Putin, was wearing camouflage and holding a rifle in the footage, and appeared to be in Africa.
Vladimir Rogov, a Russia-appointed official in the partially occupied Zaporizhzhia region in Ukraine, said he talked to Wagner commanders who confirmed that Prigozhin and a top associate were on board when the crashed plane.
“We have seen the reports. If confirmed, no-one should be surprised,” said US National Security Council spokeswoman Adrienne Watson.
However, Keir Giles, a Russia expert with international affairs think-tank Chatham House, urged caution about reports of Prigozhin’s death.
He said “multiple individuals have changed their name to Yevgeniy Prigozhin, as part of his efforts to obfuscate his travels”.
“Let’s not be surprised if he pops up shortly in a new video from Africa,” Mr Giles said.
