(Scypre.com) – Russian President Vladimir Putin has publicly addressed the reported demise of Yevgeny Prigozhin, the leader of the Wagner Group, offering his condolences. The statement came during a meeting on Thursday with Denis Pushilin, the leader of the Donetsk People’s Republic, a separatist state in Ukraine with Russian alignment.
Putin expressed his condolences for the aviation tragedy and remarked, “It is always a tragedy.” He acknowledged the potential presence of Wagner PMC employees in the incident, recognizing their contributions to the shared goal of combating the neo-Nazi regime in Ukraine.
He also shared some personal insights about Prigozhin, acknowledging his complex life journey, including significant achievements as a businessman, both in Russia and abroad, particularly in Africa, where he was involved in various sectors.
Without confirming international speculation regarding Russian government involvement in Prigozhin’s death, Putin assured that an investigation was underway. He stated that a preliminary investigation had already been initiated and would be pursued thoroughly. He emphasized the ongoing technical and genetic tests required for such investigations.
Yevgeny Prigozhin, the founder of Russia’s Wagner Group, who had recently challenged Putin’s rule, tragically lost his life in a plane crash outside Moscow, resulting in the deaths of ten people. The incident occurred during a flight from Moscow to St. Petersburg, according to the Tver region.
The Federal Air Transport Agency confirmed Prigozhin’s presence on the aircraft and initiated an investigation into the Embraer aircraft crash. However, concrete details about the incident and physical evidence were still pending.
Media figures and government officials speculated about Putin’s involvement, but conflicting reports from the U.S. federal government added uncertainty. President Biden refrained from making definitive statements but acknowledged that many events in Russia were associated with Putin’s influence.
Rebekah Koffler, a strategic military intelligence analyst and former senior official at the U.S. Defense Intelligence Agency, cautioned against taking Russian state media reports at face value due to Moscow’s agenda. She highlighted the possibility that the reports could be part of disinformation efforts or assassination operations conducted on Putin’s orders.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy denied any involvement in Prigozhin’s alleged death and stated, “We are not involved in this situation.” He suggested that those responsible were known to all.