Watan – Russian President Vladimir Putin has introduced a surprising twist to the tragic plane crash that killed Yevgeny Prigozhin, the leader of the Wagner mercenaries. Dismissing missile attack theories, Putin claims hand grenades exploding inside the aircraft caused the crash.
The flight, heading from Moscow to St. Petersburg, crashed on August 23, killing all ten people onboard. The deceased included two senior Wagner figures, four of Prigozhin’s personal guards, and a three-member crew.
During a meeting at the Valdai Club resort on the Black Sea, Putin said, “Investigators found shrapnel from hand grenades in the bodies of the crash victims.” This statement directly contradicts speculations by some U.S. officials who believed a missile strike downed the plane shortly after the crash.
While Putin didn’t detail how the grenades exploded onboard, he criticized investigators for not testing the crash victims for alcohol and drugs. “They should have conducted such tests,” he stated.
A subsequent search of Wagner’s St. Petersburg offices by the Russian Security Service (FSB) uncovered 10 billion rubles (equivalent to 100 million dollars) in cash and 5 kilograms of cocaine.
Prigozhin challenged the Russian Defense establishment just months before his death, marking a significant internal threat to Putin’s leadership since 1999. Western diplomats believe this rebellion exposed Russia’s mounting pressures from its conflict in Ukraine.
However, the Kremlin denies any suggestions that Putin had a hand in Prigozhin’s death.
The future direction of the Wagner group remains uncertain after Prigozhin’s rebellion and death. Putin directed Wagner fighters to join the Defense Ministry, but many resisted.
Discussing private military companies in Russia, Putin admitted the country’s approach lacked clarity due to missing legislative guidelines. He added, “Thousands of these fighters have now joined our armed forces.”
Before his death, Prigozhin viewed Wagner, with its vast manpower, as a dominant force in global military operations. However, senior military figures in Russia warned of the need for strategic changes, especially concerning the Ukraine conflict.