Russian President Vladimir Putin (file photo).
Russian President Vladimir Putin expressed his “condolence” over the death of Yevgeny Prigozhin, head of the Wagner mercenary group. Wagner chief Yevgeny Prigozhin is believed to have died in a plane crash on Wednesday.
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The cause of Wednesday’s plane crash remains under investigation. This event took place two months after Wagner’s short-lived rebellion against Moscow’s military leadership.
Putin described the incident as a “tragedy” in a televised meeting, saying, “First of all I want to express my sincere condolences to the families of all the victims.”
Putin said, “I have known Prigozhin for a long time, since the early 90s. He was a man with a complicated destiny and made serious mistakes in his life, but he achieved the right results.”
He said an investigation into the accident had been launched and “will take some time”.
Putin appears in footage of a meeting with Denis Pushilin, the Russian-established head of the Donetsk region. “It will be thoroughly conducted and concluded. There is no doubt,” he added.
Several close people of Prigozhin also lost their lives in the accident. The circumstances of the accident have fueled speculation of a possible murder.