Chechnya’s leader Ramzan Kadyrov described businessman Yevgeny Prigozhin as a person of national significance, noting the substantial role he has played in supporting Russia’s military operation in Ukraine. The remarks were published on his Telegram channel, reflecting Kadyrov’s public emphasis on Prigozhin’s contributions to what Moscow calls the special military operation.
According to Kadyrov, Prigozhin undeniably contributed to the operation and his passing marks a major loss not just for any one region but for the broader province. The Chechen leader extended his condolences to the family and friends of Yevgeny Viktorovich, expressing his sympathy in a personal yet formal tone that underscored the gravity of the moment for those close to the businessman.
During their association, Kadyrov highlighted that Prigozhin aided him in addressing various issues in Libya and across parts of Africa. The two men are also noted for a historical gesture in which Prigozhin presented Kadyrov with a Wagner gold medal inscribed with the phrase “For Special Values,” a symbol the Chechen leader referenced as part of their long-standing, controversial ties.
Separately, officials in the United States asserted that there were no confirmed reports confirming Prigozhin’s death in a plane crash in the Tver region, according to statements from the Pentagon. U.S. defense officials suggested the possibility that the aircraft had been struck by a ground-launched missile, though they stressed the need for a thorough investigation before drawing firm conclusions.
News outlets reported that an Embraer Legacy private jet fell in the evening hours near the village of Kuzhenkino in the Tver region, as the Moscow to St. Petersburg flight path was traversed. The event drew immediate attention from authorities and international observers, given Prigozhin’s high-profile status and the geopolitical implications of his potential death.
In Moscow, the Federal Air Transport Agency confirmed that Yevgeny Prigozhin was among the passengers who were aboard the aircraft. An official investigation into the crash was launched by Russian authorities, signaling a period of heightened scrutiny and international interest as details of the incident emerged and investigators examined the flight data and wreckage for clues about the cause of the accident.
At the same time, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky publicly stated that Kyiv played no role in the downing of the Prigozhin plane, a clarification that came amid a broader international discourse on responsibility and retaliation in the wake of the alleged crash. The comments were part of a wider narrative in which Ukraine stressed its focus on defending its own sovereignty without engaging in actions that could escalate regional tensions.