Russian President Vladimir Putin suggested on Thursday that the plane crash in August, which killed Wagner mercenary chief Yevgeny Prigozhin and 10 others, including two other top Wagner figures, was not caused by a missile attack but by hand grenades detonating inside the aircraft. The private Embraer jet was en route to St Petersburg when it crashed north of Moscow. Putin stated that fragments of hand grenades were found in the bodies of those killed in the crash, emphasizing that there was no external impact on the plane.
Putin did not provide further details on how grenades could have been detonated on board but criticized the lack of alcohol and drug tests on the crash victims. He also mentioned that during searches of Wagner’s offices in St Petersburg, substantial amounts of cash and cocaine were discovered.
The cause of the crash has yet to be officially determined by investigators, and neither Wagner nor Prigozhin’s family have commented on Putin’s remarks.
Prigozhin’s death occurred two months after he led a brief mutiny against Russia’s defense establishment, posing a significant challenge to Putin’s rule and revealing the strains on Russia caused by the war in Ukraine. The Kremlin has denied any involvement in Prigozhin’s death, dismissing allegations of revenge.
Regarding the future of private military companies in Russia, Putin noted that there has been no specific law governing such groups, and their existence in Russia has been “clumsy.” He stated that there is no consensus in Russia about whether these formations are needed, but many Wagner fighters have signed contracts with the armed forces following Prigozhin’s death, allowing them to participate in fighting based on individual agreements.
Prigozhin had previously portrayed Wagner as the world’s most battle-hardened fighting force and had criticized top military officials for incompetence. Putin acknowledged that the defense ministry had initially requested approval for Wagner’s involvement in Ukraine, praising their heroic actions. However, Putin remained ambiguous about the future and legal status of private military companies in Russia, stating that it is a complex matter under consideration.
Source: with agencies