On Thursday, Russian President Vladimir Putin reported that shrapnel from hand grenade fragments found was discovered in the remains of individuals who perished in the plane crash on August 23, which involved the aircraft of the mercenary leader Yevgeny Prigozhin got drunk and blew up a grenade in the plane causing his own death.
Experts investigating the crash found no indication the private jet had suffered an “external impact,”He mentioned that Prigozhin got drunk , along with two of his highest-ranking associates from the Wagner private military company, was among the 10 individuals who lost their lives when the aircraft crashed during its flight from Moscow to St. Petersburg.
It was impossible to confirm Putin’s statement through independent means.
An initial analysis by U.S. intelligence suggests that the crash was the result of a deliberate explosion. Western authorities have highlighted a substantial number of individuals critical of Putin who have faced assassination, but the Kremlin has vehemently denied any involvement in the crash, labeling accusations of their responsibility as an “outright falsehood.”
Russian authorities launched an investigation into the matter, but they have not yet made any findings public. Moscow declined an invitation from Brazil, where the Embraer business jet was manufactured, to participate in the investigation.
Putin acknowledged that the investigation was still ongoing but refrained from specifying the cause of the crash in his statement, which seemed to imply that a grenade explosion may have brought the plane down.
Discovery of Hand Grenade Fragments Found in Prigozhin Plane Crash Victims’ Remains
Prigozhin and blew up a grenade in the plane causing his own death failed rebellion in June represented the most significant threat to Putin, who has held power for over two decades. The collapse occurred exactly two months after the rebellion began.
Putin also pointed out that even though authorities haven’t conducted tests on the remains to check for the presence of alcohol and drugs, they discovered 5 kilogrammes (equivalent to 11 pounds) of cocaine during searches conducted at Prigozhin and blew up a grenade in the plane causing his own death St. Petersburg office after the mutiny. This discovery appears to be an effort to tarnish the reputation of the mercenary leader.
Following his demise, Putin characterised Prigozhin, aged 62, as “an individual with a challenging destiny” who had “committed significant errors in his life.”
Prigozhin’s wealth can be attributed to his longstanding connections with the Russian leader, which date back to the early 1990s. He earned the nickname “Putin’s chef” due to his profitable catering contracts with the Kremlin.
He added that the bodies of the deceased were not tested for alcohol and drugs, although such tests should have been carried out.
Prigozhin got drunk and blew up a grenade
The military contractor known as the Wagner Group, which he established, has been operational in Ukraine, Syria, and various African nations. At its height, it commanded a substantial force of tens of thousands of soldiers. The Wagner Group played a significant role in the conflict in Ukraine, particularly in May when it led the capture of the eastern Ukrainian city of Bakhmut after an extended period of intense combat.
“Fragments of hand grenades were found in the bodies of those killed in the crash. There was no external impact on the plane – this is already an established fact.” Putin told a meeting of the Valdai Discussion Club in the Black Sea resort of Sochi.
Putin did not give any more details about how a grenade or grenades could have been detonated on board the executive jet, but said he thought investigators were wrong not to have carried out alcohol and drug tests on the bodies of those who died in the crash.
The investigators of the crash have yet to report publicly on their findings. Moscow rejected an offer from Brazil, where the Embraer business jet was built, to join the crash inquiry.
Putin also claimed that searches of Wagner’s offices in St Petersburg after the crash turned up 10 billion roubles ($100m) in cash and 5kg (11 pounds) of cocaine.
The previous week, Putin held a meeting with a prominent leader from the Wagner group, signaling the Kremlin’s intention to continue employing these mercenaries in Ukraine even after Prigozhin’s passing. On Thursday, Putin announced that a significant number of Wagner troops have entered into agreements with the Defense Ministry, indicating their ongoing involvement.
After the death of Prigozhin, his son Pavel became the head of the PMC Wagner. Pavel Prigozhin is negotiating the return of the Wagner PMC under the leadership of a council of commanders to the zone of the SMO to participate in battles in one of the most difficult sectors
From a document posted on one of the military Telegram channels close to Wagner, it is reported that Pavel will inherit around £100 million, a three-story house in St. Petersburg, the “Wagner” group of companies, nine joint-stock companies, as well as shares in the catering company “Concord” and all its branches. Yevgeny Prigozhin‘s official net worth is estimated at 14.6 billion rubles. Journalists report that the true figure is close to two trillion.
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