Yevgeny Prigozhin, leader of a Russian mercenary group, died in a plane crash in Russia along with 10 others. The crash is linked to the Wagner group, with claims of a shootdown by Russian defenses. Prigozhin had previously led a failed rebellion, and the crash coincided with the reported removal of a Russian air force chief. Investigations are ongoing. The Wagner group is known for its involvement in conflicts worldwide.


The leader of a group of soldiers from Russia, Yevgeny Prigozhin, was on a plane that crashed in Russia. All 10 people on the plane died. The people who control social media for the Wagner group of soldiers said that Russian defenses shot down Prigozhin's private plane. They called the people who shot it down traitors to Russia. Prigozhin had led a failed rebellion against Russia's military in June. Some experts think the rebellion was planned and that Prigozhin stopped his march to Moscow after President Vladimir Putin told him to.


The crash happened on the same day that a high-ranking Russian general named Sergei Surovikin was said to be fired as the head of the air force. Surovikin was friends with Prigozhin and hadn't been seen since the rebellion.


Prigozhin's plane was flying from Moscow to St. Petersburg with 7 passengers and 3 crew members when it crashed. Another leader of the Wagner group, Dmitry Utkin, was also on the plane. The crash site was in a place called Kuzhenkino, between Moscow and St. Petersburg.

Yevgeny Prigozhin: Wagner chief presumed dead after Russia plane crash

People in the area heard two loud noises before the crash and saw two trails of smoke. The plane caught fire when it hit the ground. It had only been in the air for a short time. An investigation is happening, and emergency services are looking at the crash site.


At the same time, another plane owned by Prigozhin landed safely in Moscow.


The Wagner group has about 25,000 fighters. They've been involved in fighting in Ukraine, Syria, and West Africa. They're known for being very violent.


Prigozhin led the rebellion in June. He moved his soldiers from Ukraine and took over a city in Russia. He threatened to march to Moscow. This happened after a lot of tension with Russian military leaders over what President Putin did in Ukraine in 2014. The situation seemed to be resolved when Prigozhin's soldiers were allowed to go to Belarus or join the Russian army. Prigozhin was supposed to go to Belarus, but he's been seen in Russia and even released a video from Africa.