In a Kremlin meeting with Denis Pushilin, the acting head of the Donetsk People’s Republic, Russian President Vladimir Putin praised the Wagner private military company for its role in countering Nazism in Ukraine. He framed its contributions as significant in the ongoing struggle and stressed that the evaluation comes from preliminary reflections on the war’s course. The remarks underscore Moscow’s long-standing narrative about the conflict and its alliances with paramilitary formations that have been active on the front lines.
Putin noted that preliminary data indicate a private plane that crashed late the previous night near Tver carried employees connected with this private military company. The president’s comments linked the loss to a broader wartime context and the network of personnel associated with the Wagner group that has operated in various theaters.
During the conversation, the president acknowledged the broader impact of these forces, mentioning their involvement in other regional conflicts, and reiterated his stance on facing what he described as a neo-Nazi regime in Ukraine. The rhetoric reflects the Kremlin’s framing of the Ukrainian government and its allied factions in terms of extremist threats, a framing that has persisted in official messaging from Moscow.
Putin pledged that the sacrifices and contributions of those connected to the Wagner group would not be forgotten, signaling that the federal leadership intends to remember the roles played by individuals in the broader war effort. The remarks came as the state of the conflict continues to evolve and as international attention remains fixed on the actions and affiliations of private military entities involved alongside Russian forces.
News outlets reported that an Embraer Legacy private jet, traveling from Moscow to St. Petersburg the evening of August 23, was involved in the incident near the village of Kuzhenkino in the Tver region. The crash drew swift attention due to the potential inclusion of prominent figures connected to the paramilitary group and to Russia’s strategic operations in neighboring regions. The event prompted the rapid mobilization of emergency services and a formal response from aviation authorities assessing flight data and safety records, while families of those on board began to receive official updates.
Authorities from the Federal Air Transport Agency confirmed that a number of passengers on board were associated with the private military company, prompting inquiries into the circumstances of the crash and the chain of events leading up to it. An official investigation was launched to determine the cause and to understand whether operational factors, mechanical issues, or human decisions contributed to the catastrophe. This development has intensified investigations into the broader network of personnel linked to the organization and their movements across regions affected by ongoing conflict.
As the scene in the Tver region is examined, relatives of the victims began receiving early condolences from officials and stakeholders, reflecting the sensitive nature of the incident for families and communities closely tied to the lives affected by the disaster. The period following the crash has been marked by a careful, measured response from authorities, with emphasis on transparency and the provision of support to those impacted while the investigation proceeds.