Ukrainian President accuses Putin of killing Wagner chief Yevgeny Prigozhin
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, in a speech on September 8, directly accused Russian President Vladimir Putin of being behind the death of Wagner mercenary group chief Yevgeny Prigozhin. Prigozhin died in a plane crash that occurred on August 23, along with nine others. Zelensky highlighted that this incident is indicative of Putin’s political weakness. “The fact that he killed Prigozhin – at least that’s the information we all have, not any other kind – that also speaks to his rationality, and about the fact that he is weak. It is important that he became politically weak,” Zelensky said.
Prigozhin’s Death in Plane Crash
The ill-fated plane was en route from Moscow to Saint Petersburg when it crashed, claiming the lives of nine others besides Prigozhin. Russia’s Federal Air Transport Agency released names of the deceased, including two pilots, Captain Aleksei Levshin and co-pilot Rustam Karimov, and flight attendant Kristina Raspopova.
Names on the Flight and Their Significance
The flight manifest also included other names, such as Valeriy Chekalov and Dmitry Utkin. Chekalov had been designated by the US Treasury for acting “for or on behalf of Prigozhin” and was involved in shipping munitions to Russia. Utkin, known by the call sign “Wagner,” was a close aide to Prigozhin and played a key role in establishing the Wagner mercenary group.
Prigozhin’s Last Video and Speculations
In a video released before his death, Prigozhin dispelled rumors about his well-being and potential threats to his security, stating that he was in Africa. His attire and watch in the video matched his appearance in another video released on August 21, which he also claimed was filmed in Africa. The timing of the video suggests it was filmed just days before the plane crash.
Kremlin’s Stance and Public Speculation
The Kremlin has denied any involvement in Prigozhin’s death, but claims and counterclaims continue to surface. Prigozhin’s comments in the video also indicate that he was aware of the risks to his life, adding another layer of complexity to the ongoing speculations surrounding his death.