Russian President Vladimir Putin revealed on October 5, that the tragic plane crash that claimed the life of Wagner mercenary chief Yevgeny Prigozhin and nine others in August was likely the result of hand grenades detonating inside the aircraft. This counters earlier speculations that a missile strike had downed the jet.
The private Embraer aircraft, carrying Prigozhin to St. Petersburg, crashed north of Moscow on August 23. All 10 occupants, including two other leading figures from Wagner, four of Prigozhin's bodyguards, and the three crew members, perished in the accident.
Addressing the Valdai Discussion Club in the Black Sea resort of Sochi, Putin stated:
"Fragments of hand grenades were found in the bodies of those killed in the crash."
He further emphasized that there was no external damage to the aircraft, a point that directly contradicts speculations made by some unidentified U.S. officials who believed the plane was shot down.
"There was no external impact on the plane - this is already an established fact," Putin confirmed.
However, President Putin refrained from divulging more specifics regarding how a grenade or multiple grenades could have been triggered on board. He did express surprise over the investigators' decision not to conduct alcohol and drug tests on the deceased, especially considering past discoveries of cocaine at Wagner's St. Petersburg office.
The investigative team has yet to make their findings on the crash cause public.
Prigozhin's rebellion is considered the most significant challenge to Putin's leadership since he assumed power in 1999. According to Western diplomats, this incident highlighted the immense pressure on Russia due to its "special military operation" in Ukraine.
Follow Daryo's official Instagram and Twitter pages to keep current on world news.
Comments (0)