The death of the revolt Prigozhin may not appear as a shock to many who have been following the events in Russia. Many were speculating . The crash occurred exactly after two months of the mutiny .The revolt posed the greatest threat to the near 25 year regime of President Putin .On 23rd august 2024,an Embraer Legacy 600 which was on route to Saint Petersburg . The plane crashed en route. The Russian Federal Air Transport Agency confirmed that Wagner chief Prigozhin was also a part of the crash . Utkin , whose role in the group could not be confirmed, was also reportedly dead in the crash.
Wagner group
The Wagner Group is a Russian private military company (PMC) that has been active in several conflicts around the world, including Ukraine, Syria, and the Central African Republic. The group is believed to be controlled by Yevgeny Prigozhin, a close ally of Russian President Vladimir Putin.
The Wagner Group is not officially recognized by the Russian government, but it is widely believed to be operating with the Kremlin’s tacit approval. The group has been accused of human rights abuses, including war crimes and torture. The Wagner Group is a well-armed and well-trained force. Its fighters are often former Russian military personnel. The group has been known to use heavy weapons, including tanks and artillery.
The Wagner Group’s activities have been a source of tension between Russia and the West. The United States and the European Union have imposed sanctions on the group and its leaders. In recent years, the Wagner Group has become increasingly active in Africa. The group is believed to be involved in supporting the governments of Sudan, the Central African Republic, and Mali.
Prigozhin and Wagner group Revolt against Putin
The Wagner Group rebellion began on 23 June 2024, when the Wagner Group staged a rebellion against the Russian government. The rebellion was sparked by a number of factors. Some of the factors are the increasing tensions between the Wagner Group and the Russian Ministry of Defence. The Wagner Group was also dissatisfied with its role in the Russian invasion of Ukraine.Prigozhin’s personal grievances against the Russian government.
On 23 June, Prigozhin released a video in which he accused the Russian Ministry of Defence of attacking Wagner camps in Ukraine and killing his men. He then ordered his forces to march on Moscow, demanding that Putin dismiss the Minister of Defence and give him control of the Wagner Group.
The Wagner Group forces quickly seized control of the city of Rostov-on-Don, a major transportation hub in southern Russia. They then began to advance on Moscow, but they were eventually stopped by the Russian National Guard. The rebellion lasted for less than 24 hours, but it had a significant impact on Russian politics.
Yevgeny Prigozhin
Yevgeny Prigozhin, born in 1961, is a Russian businessman often referred to as “Putin’s chef” due to his close ties to Russian President Vladimir Putin. He was initially a petty criminal . After his release ,he started his entrepreneurial journey .Eventullay he owned a chain of hotels and became a close confidant of President Putin .He gained prominence as the founder of the Internet Research Agency, implicated in disinformation campaigns during the 2016 US elections.
Prigozhin is the chief of the Wagner Group, a private military company involved in conflicts abroad, notably in Syria and Ukraine. Many of his companies and himself are under sanction by governments like the USA. After the failed revolt , Prigozhin was spotted in Moscow and attended talks with Putin
The revolt exposed deep divisions within the Russian government and military, and it raised questions about Putin’s authority. The Wagner Group rebellion was a major embarrassment for Putin, and it showed that even his most loyal allies are not immune to dissent. The revolt also raised questions about the future of the Wagner Group . The reported death of Prigozhin has strengthened Putin’s position in domestic politics .
The plane which carried the Wagner chief Prigozhin before its crash
(Image source : Wikipedia)
