US intelligence says an intentional explosion brought down Wagner chief Prigozhin’s plane

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According to a preliminary assessment by U.S. intelligence, the plane crash that is believed to have claimed the life of Yevgeny Prigozhin, a prominent Russian mercenary leader, was the result of an intentional explosion. Russian President Vladimir Putin eulogized Prigozhin, but suspicions have arisen suggesting that Prigozhin might have been involved in orchestrating his own assassination.

A senior U.S. official, speaking on the condition of anonymity, revealed that the initial evaluation strongly indicates that Yevgeny Prigozhin was deliberately targeted. This assessment aligns with Putin’s historical tendency to eliminate his critics. However, the specifics of what caused the explosion remain undisclosed.

Contrary to some press reports suggesting a surface-to-air missile, Pentagon spokesman Gen. Pat Ryder refuted this notion, stating that those reports were inaccurate. Ryder declined to confirm whether the U.S. suspected a bomb or considered the incident an assassination.

The crash involved a private jet carrying Yevgeny Prigozhin, the founder of the Wagner military company, and six other passengers. The aircraft crashed soon after departing from Moscow. The plane’s passengers included key figures from Wagner, including Prigozhin’s second-in-command and the logistics chief. The purpose of their joint trip to St. Petersburg remains unknown.

While the exact cause of the crash is still under investigation, critics and observers have pointed to the unusual circumstances surrounding Prigozhin’s death. The incident comes after Prigozhin’s brief mutiny, which posed a significant challenge to Putin’s rule. Prigozhin’s mercenaries had captured military headquarters and demonstrated their capabilities in a bold manner. This uprising ended with a deal that granted amnesty to Prigozhin and his associates, allowing them to move to Belarus.

The Institute for the Study of War has suggested that the recent actions against Prigozhin and his associates might be a strategic move to eliminate Wagner as an independent entity. Some experts argue that Prigozhin’s mutiny posed a potential threat to Putin’s control, and by responding decisively, Putin is sending a message to potential troublemakers.

Videos shared on social media show the plane descending rapidly, accompanied by a cloud of smoke and apparent signs of severe damage. This aligns with the preliminary assessment of an intentional explosion, although concrete details are still pending.

In conclusion, the initial findings of U.S. intelligence suggest that the plane crash involving Yevgeny Prigozhin was the result of an intentional explosion. The incident holds significance due to Prigozhin’s history and his recent mutiny, which posed a challenge to Putin’s leadership. While investigations continue, the circumstances surrounding the crash raise questions about its nature and purpose.

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More about Intentional Plane Crash

• US Intelligence Suggests Intentional Explosion in Crash of Russian Mercenary Leader’s Plane
• Yevgeny Prigozhin: Profile of a Russian Mercenary Leader
• Putin’s Response to the Plane Crash and Prigozhin’s History
• Details of Prigozhin’s Mutiny and Its Outcome
• The Institute for the Study of War’s Analysis
• Videos and Social Media Coverage of the Plane Crash