LONDON-The chief of the private military company Wagner Group, Yevgeny Prigozhin, is believed to be among the casualties in a plane crash in the Tver region.
The aircraft, a private jet en route to St. Petersburg, crashed under as-yet-undetermined circumstances.
Search and rescue operations were swiftly launched and by late evening, the Russian Emergency Situations Ministry confirmed that there were no survivors.
Yevgeny Prigozhin, often referred to as “Putin’s chef” due to his catering ventures and close ties with Russian President Vladimir Putin, has been a shadowy figure in Russia’s overseas engagements, especially in Africa and the Middle East.
Wagner Group, under Prigozhin’s suspected leadership, has been implicated in numerous covert operations, from Syria and Libya to the Central African Republic. Its exact role and operations, however, have always been a matter of speculation, given the secretive nature of the organization.
Prigozhin’s alleged death could have significant implications for Wagner’s operations and Russian foreign policy.
However, some experts believe that Wagner Group, given its alleged deep ties with the Russian state, will continue its operations unhindered.
Whether this tragic event leads to a cessation, escalation, or transformation of Wagner’s operations remains to be seen.
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