Vladimir Putin, the President of Russia, announced on Thursday that pieces of a hand grenade were found in the bodies of individuals who died in the crash of Yevgeny Prigozhin's plane, the commander of the Russian mercenary group in August. Putin stated that experts investigating the incident found no signs that the aircraft had suffered from 'external impact.' All ten occupants of the plane, including Prigozhin, were killed. Prigozhin's rebellion and the Wagner group posed the most serious challenge to Putin, who has been in power for over two decades, threatening his authority. Exactly two months after the rebellion began, the plane carrying Prigozhin and his senior commanders crashed in August. The Kremlin announced on Wednesday, September 8, that the results of the investigation into the crash of Prigozhin's plane, which resulted in the death of the Wagner group's leader and nine other occupants, indicate the possibility of deliberate action. Dmitry Peskov, the Kremlin spokesman, told reporters that various interpretations of the air disaster are being considered, including one of 'deliberate cruelty.' American officials had previously stated that the plane carrying Yevgeny Prigozhin, the head of the Wagner paramilitary group, crashed as a result of a conspiracy to assassinate him. According to preliminary assessments from Washington, which officials emphasized are still incomplete, a bomb exploded on the plane carrying Prigozhin or some other form of sabotage caused its crash. The first images from the burial site of Yevgeny Prigozhin, the commander of the Wagner mercenaries, have emerged. The Kremlin claims that the crash of Prigozhin's plane was 'probably deliberate.' The Kremlin: Putin will not attend Yevgeny Prigozhin's funeral. Russia confirmed Prigozhin's death based on 'genetic testing.' Lukashenko: I told Prigozhin to take care of himself; he said: 'To hell with it, let me be killed.' Russia reported the discovery of 'flight data recording equipment from Prigozhin's plane.'
Putin Claims Evidence of Hand Grenade Explosion Found in Prigozhin's Plane
Vladimir Putin announced that evidence of a hand grenade was found in the bodies of those who died in the crash of Yevgeny Prigozhin's plane, suggesting possible foul play. The crash, occurring two months after Prigozhin's rebellion against Putin, raises questions about the circumstances surrounding his death. This incident is significant as it highlights the ongoing power struggles within Russia and the implications for Putin's authority.
👥 Key Players
📰 What Happened
Vladimir Putin announced that evidence of a hand grenade was found in the bodies of those who died in the crash of Yevgeny Prigozhin's plane, suggesting possible foul play. This incident raises questions about the circumstances surrounding Prigozhin's death, occurring two months after his rebellion against Putin.
- All ten occupants of the plane, including Prigozhin, were killed in the crash.
- The Kremlin is considering various interpretations of the crash, including the possibility of deliberate action.
💡 Why It Matters
📚 Background
Yevgeny Prigozhin was a significant figure in Russian paramilitary operations and his rebellion against Putin marked a rare challenge to the Kremlin's authority. His death in a plane crash has sparked speculation about foul play.
🏷️ Entities Mentioned
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