Russian President Vladimir Putin has suggested that the plane crash resulting in the death of Yevgeny Prigozhin, the head of the Wagner private military company, was caused by an onboard explosion involving hand grenades and implied that drugs may have been a factor.
Prigozhin died in a plane crash on August 23, two months after a failed mutiny attempt led by Wagner mercenary troops, which temporarily took control of the southern city of Rostov and advanced toward Moscow. The crash also claimed the lives of two other top Wagner commanders, Prigozhin’s four bodyguards, and a crew of three.
During his first public comments on the crash, Putin stated that the plane had been blown up from the inside, citing reports from the head of Russia’s investigative committee. He dismissed reports from Western intelligence agencies suggesting that a bomb was responsible for the crash.
Putin did not provide details on how hand grenades could have detonated on board but suggested that alcohol and drugs might have played a role. He lamented the absence of examinations to determine the presence of these substances in the victims’ blood.
The Russian president mentioned that the Federal Security Service (FSB) had discovered a significant amount of cash and cocaine during a search of Prigozhin’s mansion following the failed rebellion. He described Russia’s dealings with Wagner as “clumsy” and highlighted that the group operated outside Russian law, citing a lack of regulatory legislation for private military companies in Russia.
Putin also revealed that several thousand soldiers from the Wagner group had signed contracts with the Russian Defense Ministry. This statement came shortly after he met with a former senior Wagner commander to discuss the group’s future after Prigozhin’s death.
In recent developments, Ukrainian officials reported that some former Wagner fighters had returned to the battlefield but were now integrated into the regular army rather than operating as a separate unit. Russia has gradually assumed control of the Wagner group following Prigozhin’s mutiny, representing a significant challenge to Putin’s long-standing rule.
Si Venus L Peñaflor ay naging editor-in-chief ng Newsworld, isang lokal na pahayagan ng Laguna. Publisher din siya ng Daystar Gazette at Tutubi News Magazine. Siya ay isa ring pintor at doll face designer ng Ninay Dolls, ang unang Manikang Pilipino. Kasali siya sa DesignCrowd sa rank na #305 sa 640,000 graphic designers sa buong daigdig. Kasama din siya sa unang Local TV Broadcast sa Laguna na Beyond Manila. Aktibong kasapi siya ng San Pablo Jaycees Senate bilang isang JCI Senator.
