AccidentsAP Top NewsGeneral NewsPlane crashesRussiaRussia governmentVladimir PutinWorld NewsYevgeny Prigozhin Kremlin Rejects Involvement in Plane Crash Suspected of Killing Russian Mercenary Leader Prigozhin by Ethan Kim August 25, 2023 written by Ethan Kim August 25, 2023 5 comments Bookmark 64 The Kremlin has refuted claims linking it to the recent plane crash, which is presumed to have resulted in the death of Yevgeny Prigozhin, a prominent mercenary leader. Prigozhin had previously orchestrated a short-lived yet remarkable mutiny within Russia two months ago. Yevgeny Prigozhin, known for his ruthless fighters that instilled fear across regions like Ukraine, Africa, and Syria, was commemorated by President Vladimir Putin on Thursday. However, suspicions have arisen that the crash, viewed by many as an assassination, might have been orchestrated by the Russian leader himself. An initial evaluation conducted by U.S. intelligence indicated that the plane was brought down deliberately through an explosion. One of the U.S. and Western officials who disclosed this assessment stated that Prigozhin was “highly likely” targeted, and the explosion aligns with Putin’s “persistent history of silencing his critics.” These officials, speaking anonymously due to their lack of authorization, refrained from providing specifics about the explosion’s cause. This incident is widely believed to be a form of retaliation for the mutiny in June, which posed a significant challenge to Putin’s enduring rule spanning over two decades. Despite the mounting suspicions, Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov has categorically rejected the allegations. In a conference call with reporters, Peskov stated, “At present, there are numerous speculations surrounding this plane crash and the tragic loss of life, including that of Yevgeny Prigozhin. In the West, these speculations are presented from a specific perspective, and all of this is entirely false.” Prigozhin’s name was listed among the passengers of the ill-fated plane. When asked by The Big Big News about official confirmation of Prigozhin’s demise, Peskov referred to Putin’s earlier remarks, where he mentioned that comprehensive forensic analyses, including genetic testing, were underway. Once official conclusions are reached, they will be disseminated. The presumed passing of Prigozhin could potentially destabilize his Wagner Group of private military contractors, as indicated by Britain’s Defense Ministry. The ministry noted that Prigozhin’s exceptional audacity and extreme brutality were defining characteristics of the organization, qualities unlikely to be replicated by any successor. Wagner mercenaries played pivotal roles in Russia’s involvement in the Ukrainian conflict, particularly in the arduous battle for the city of Bakhmut. Additionally, these fighters were instrumental in projecting Russian influence in global hotspots, initially in Africa and subsequently in Syria. The crash occurred shortly after the jet took off from Moscow en route to St. Petersburg. The aircraft was carrying Prigozhin, six fellow Wagner members, and a crew of three, according to Russia’s civil aviation authority. Ten bodies have been recovered so far, and sources within Wagner, cited anonymously by Russian media, have suggested Prigozhin’s demise. Nevertheless, official confirmation is still pending. President Joe Biden expressed his belief that Putin might be responsible for the crash. He stated, “While I cannot state it as a fact, I am not surprised. In Russia, very little occurs without Putin’s involvement.” Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov took offense at Biden’s statement, asserting that “it is inappropriate for the U.S. president to comment on such tragic events.” The passenger manifest included Prigozhin’s second-in-command, Wagner’s logistics chief, and at least one potential bodyguard. The rationale behind having multiple high-ranking Wagner members on the same flight, a departure from their usual security practices, remains unclear. The purpose of their trip to St. Petersburg also remains undisclosed. Russian authorities have initiated an investigation into the crash. The country’s Investigative Committee reported the recovery of the plane’s flight recorders, with genetic testing being utilized to identify the victims. In his first public address regarding the crash, Putin acknowledged the passengers’ significant contributions to the conflict in Ukraine. He stated, “We remember this, we are aware, and we shall not forget,” during a televised interview with Denis Pushilin, the leader of Ukraine’s partially occupied Donetsk region. Numerous adversaries and critics of Putin have met untimely deaths or serious illnesses in suspected assassination attempts. Therefore, many U.S. and Western officials anticipated Putin’s potential targeting of Prigozhin, even after he had promised to drop charges as part of a deal ending the mutiny in late June. Prigozhin had openly criticized the strategies employed by Russian generals in the Ukrainian conflict, where his mercenaries emerged as some of the fiercest fighters aligned with the Kremlin. Initially, Putin appeared to tolerate such internal discord, but Prigozhin’s short-lived rebellion escalated the situation. On June 23, Prigozhin’s mercenaries seized control of the military headquarters in the southern Russian city of Rostov-on-Don without firing a shot. They subsequently advanced to within approximately 200 kilometers (125 miles) of Moscow, downing several military aircraft and causing the deaths of more than a dozen Russian pilots. Although Putin initially denounced the mutiny as “treason” and a “stab in the back,” he swiftly negotiated a deal that concluded the rebellion within a day. The agreement granted amnesty to Prigozhin and his mercenaries, allowing them to relocate to Belarus. Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko, who facilitated the deal, indicated that Prigozhin had not requested security guarantees. Lukashenko conveyed, “Ensuring Prigozhin’s safety is not my responsibility… Our conversation did not revolve around that topic.” He cited information received during a trip to the United Arab Emirates, which he relayed to Putin and the head of Russia’s FSB security agency via the Russian ambassador. Lukashenko later corroborated this information with Prigozhin, confirming that Putin had warned him about the threat. In the wake of Prigozhin’s presumed demise, unverified reports suggested that numerous Wagner fighters had fled Belarus. Relatives of Wagner fighters conveyed lengthy queues for payments at a Wagner office located in Russia’s southern Krasnodar region, the base of the private military force. Contributed by Aamer Madhani, writer for Big Big News, Washington. For comprehensive coverage of the Ukraine conflict, visit https://bigbignews.net/russia-ukraine Table of Contents Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) about assassination suspicionsWhat is the main focus of the text?Who is Yevgeny Prigozhin and what is his background?What are the suspicions surrounding the plane crash?What was the U.S. intelligence assessment regarding the plane crash?How did the Kremlin respond to the allegations?What was the reaction of other world leaders to the incident?What impact might Prigozhin’s presumed death have on his group?How did Prigozhin’s mutiny escalate the situation?Was there any prior warning about the threat to Prigozhin?What is the current status of the investigation into the plane crash?What is the coverage offered by The Big Big News on the Ukraine conflict?More about assassination suspicions Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) about assassination suspicions What is the main focus of the text? The main focus of the text is the Kremlin’s denial of involvement in a plane crash that led to the presumed death of Russian mercenary leader Yevgeny Prigozhin. Who is Yevgeny Prigozhin and what is his background? Yevgeny Prigozhin was a prominent mercenary leader known for his ruthless fighters in regions like Ukraine, Africa, and Syria. He orchestrated a mutiny in Russia that challenged President Putin’s rule. What are the suspicions surrounding the plane crash? There are suspicions that the plane crash was an orchestrated assassination due to Prigozhin’s role in the mutiny and his criticism of Russian military strategies. What was the U.S. intelligence assessment regarding the plane crash? The U.S. intelligence assessment suggested that the plane was intentionally downed by an explosion. Prigozhin was considered a likely target, aligning with Putin’s history of silencing critics. How did the Kremlin respond to the allegations? The Kremlin spokesperson, Dmitry Peskov, firmly rejected the allegations, labeling them as complete lies and speculations propagated from a specific perspective. What was the reaction of other world leaders to the incident? President Joe Biden expressed his belief that Putin might be behind the crash, citing his involvement in Russian events. Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov found Biden’s remarks inappropriate. What impact might Prigozhin’s presumed death have on his group? Britain’s Defense Ministry noted that Prigozhin’s death could destabilize his Wagner Group of private military contractors due to his exceptional audacity and influence. How did Prigozhin’s mutiny escalate the situation? Prigozhin’s mercenaries captured military headquarters and downed aircraft, challenging Putin’s authority. The mutiny ended in a deal that granted amnesty to Prigozhin and his fighters. Was there any prior warning about the threat to Prigozhin? Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko claimed he had received information about an impending assassination attempt on Prigozhin and informed Putin about it. What is the current status of the investigation into the plane crash? Russian authorities have initiated an investigation and recovered the flight recorders. Genetic testing is being employed to identify the victims. What is the coverage offered by The Big Big News on the Ukraine conflict? For comprehensive coverage of the Ukraine conflict, visit https://bigbignews.net/russia-ukraine. More about assassination suspicions Kremlin Denies Involvement Yevgeny Prigozhin Background U.S. Intelligence Assessment President Biden’s Remarks Belarus President’s Warning Wagner Group Impact Investigation Status Comprehensive Coverage You Might Be Interested In US and Russia Locked in Heated Debate Following Drone Downing A judge is set to hear arguments as Michigan activists try to keep Trump off the ballot What was Hamas thinking? For over three decades, it has had the same brutal idea of victory The Taste of the Future: Trying ‘Cell-Cultivated’ Chicken for the First Time Why Quran Burnings Are Permitted in Sweden, Despite Outrage About 30 children were taken hostage by Hamas militants. Their families wait in agony AccidentsAP Top NewsassassinationGeneral NewsKremlinmercenary leaderplane crashPlane crashesPoliticsPrigozhinRussiaRussia governmentsuspicionsVladimir PutinYevgeny Prigozhin Share 0 FacebookTwitterPinterestEmail Ethan Kim Follow Author Ethan Kim is a world news reporter who covers breaking news stories from around the globe. He has reported on everything from natural disasters to international conflicts, and he is dedicated to bringing his readers accurate and timely information. previous post Kerry Washington, Martin Sheen shout for solidarity between Hollywood strikers and other workers next post At Lincoln Memorial, Observers Acknowledge America’s Imperfections but Recognize Progress Since the Historic March on Washington You may also like Bookmark A woman who burned Wyoming’s only full-service abortion... December 28, 2023 Bookmark Argument over Christmas gifts turns deadly as 14-year-old... December 28, 2023 Bookmark Danny Masterson sent to state prison to serve... December 28, 2023 Bookmark Hong Kong man jailed for 6 years after... December 28, 2023 Bookmark AP concludes at least hundreds died in floods... December 28, 2023 Bookmark Live updates | Israeli forces raid a West... December 28, 2023 5 comments Alex August 25, 2023 - 6:43 pm kremlin denying involvemnt in crash? suspcious af. russia’s dark politix at play again? Reply Max August 26, 2023 - 9:42 am u.s. intel sez explosion downed plane, Prigozhin targeet. putin silence critics? Reply Jenna August 26, 2023 - 12:09 pm whoa! Prigozhin, brutal merc leader, gone in crash. putin’s hands clean? Reply Lisa August 26, 2023 - 12:15 pm prez biden say Putin involved. Lukashenko warned too. intense power play? Reply Sammy August 26, 2023 - 3:15 pm this reads like a spy thriller. mutiny, assassination suspicions. messy politics. Reply Leave a Comment Cancel Reply Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. Δ