The leader of the Zaporozhye movement, which supports closer ties with Russia, Vladimir Rogov, said on his telegraph channel that businessman Yevgeny Prigozhin died in a plane crash. Rogov used his channel to share updates about the incident and related figures, presenting the claim as a direct report from the scene.
In Rogov’s post, he noted that he had just spoken with members of the Wagner Group, the private military company founded by Prigozhin. Those contacts reportedly confirmed both the death of Yevgeny Prigozhin and Dmitry Utkin, Prigozhin’s longtime ally and the commander of the Wagner PMCs. Rogov described offering a solemn blessing for the recently departed on behalf of Prigozhin and Utkin, delivering a personal tribute in a post that stirred controversy among readers.
Before Rogov’s message, eyewitness accounts described two powerful explosions near the crash site, which fueled speculation about the event’s cause and the identities of those on board. The atmosphere surrounding the incident remained uncertain as investigators gathered evidence and verified details amid a rapidly changing narrative.
On the evening of August 23, an Embraer Legacy private aircraft crashed near Kuzhenkino in the Tver region while traveling from Moscow to Saint Petersburg. Ten people were onboard, including three crew members, and initial reports suggested that there were no survivors. Authorities responded promptly, and a formal process began to confirm the passenger list and reconstruct the sequence of events that led to the crash.
Rosaviatsia later released information indicating that Yevgeny Prigozhin was among those aboard, a development that intensified the discussion around the fate of private military activities in the region and the broader security implications involved. Observers stressed the potential impact of the crash on regional dynamics and the future role of private military companies in conflict zones and security operations.
In a wider context, reports continued to surface about aviation incidents in the area. Some analysts pointed to a recent increase in birds colliding with aircraft as a factor that can complicate early assessments of plane accidents. These remarks form part of the evolving public record as officials confirm passenger identities, collect evidence, and determine an official cause. Attribution for specific claims remained with the original sources cited by observers and authorities, and investigations continued to proceed with input from investigative bodies and independent analysts.