The governor of the Tver region, Igor Rudenya, confirmed that the aircraft involved in the accident near Kuzhenkino in the Bologovsky District was a civilian airliner. Reports from the regional government’s press service clarified the situation and noted that local authorities were coordinating aid and response efforts as more details emerged.
According to the press service, the incident occurred on August 23 when a civilian aircraft went down close to the village of Kuzhenkino. Local officials stated that the event was promptly assessed by regional leadership and that rescue teams were deployed to the crash site as quickly as possible. In the hours following the incident, authorities worked to establish the facts and ensure the safety of nearby residents, while larger agencies began to organize a formal response.
In the evening, reports described the crash as involving an Embraer Legacy aircraft on a Moscow–St. Petersburg flight corridor. Initial information indicated ten people were on board, including three crew members. Early assessments suggested that all occupants had perished, though investigators continued to verify the identities of those on board and the precise sequence of events leading to the crash. The loss of life heightened the sense of urgency among emergency responders and local officials who were on site to secure the area and support grieving families.
Official declarations from Rosaviatsia noted the list of passengers circulating in preliminary data, which included a high-profile businessman identified by some sources as Yevgeny Prigozhin. As investigators and reporters cross-checked passenger manifests, authorities emphasized that the confirmation of any names required careful verification through official channels and protective privacy for those affected.
Witnesses near Kuzhenkino recalled hearing two powerful detonations at the moment of the crash, a detail reported by local observers who described the sounds as unmistakable and frightening. These accounts have been carefully reviewed by investigators, who are assessing whether the explosions may be linked to the aircraft’s mechanical failure, a sudden in-flight event, or an external factor. The eyewitness testimonies have been treated as important leads in piecing together what happened, while official investigators maintain a cautious approach to early conclusions.
Earlier reports had hinted at fatal consequences tied to other incidents in the region, including a separate explosion in Makhachkala. Authorities stressed that two distinct events were under review and that the delivery of additional information would proceed through official channels as soon as it could be verified. In the meantime, the focus remained on ensuring public safety, supporting affected families, and coordinating the next steps for crash-site operations, forensic analysis, and a comprehensive inquiry to determine causes and accountability.