'Complicated fate': Putin issues chilling message after Prigozhin plane crash - as US says bomb likely cause of death

25 August 2023, 00:07

Putin has broken his silence on the crash
Putin has broken his silence on the crash. Picture: Getty/Alamy
Kieran Kelly

By Kieran Kelly

Russian president Vladimir Putin issued a chilling message as he finally acknowledged the plane crash believed to have killed Wagner chief Yevgeny Prigozhin.

Listen to this article

Loading audio...

Putin, speaking at the BRICS summit on Thursday, did not reference the suspected death of the Wagner chief, though later issued his condolences to Prigozhin's family.

The Russian leader said Prigozhin, who used to be Putin's chef, had a "complicated fate".

"I have known Prigozhin for a long time, since the beginning of the 1990s," Putin said in a televised address.

Appearing to reference Prigozhin's failed mutiny, Putin added: "This was a person with a complicated fate, and he made serious mistakes in life, but also sought to achieve the necessary results - both for himself and at time when I asked him to, for the common cause, such as in these recent months."

All 10 people on the plane - three crew and seven passengers - died, according to officials cited by Russia's state news agency Tass.

Read more: 'Wine crate bomb' took down Prigozhin plane as female crew member killed in crash told of 'last-minute repairs'

Putin has acknowledged that some Wagner soldiers we on board the plane, and said he wished to pay tribute to them for their role in the Ukraine war.

"Initial data suggests employees of the Wagner company were on board," Putin said.

"I would like to note that these are people who have made a significant contribution to our common cause of fighting the neo-Nazi regime in Ukraine," he continues.

"We remember and know it, and we will not forget it."

Meanwhile, the US has said it is "likely" Prigozhin was killed by a bomb in the plane crash, though added there was no indication that a surface-to-air missile had been used.

According to a Telegram Channel, Prigozhin's body was identified by a partially missing finger on his left hand. He was reportedly pulled from the plane rubble after the plane crashed in Tver, Russia, on Wednesday.

Russian Yevgeny Prigozhin, owner of the Wagner Group
Russian Yevgeny Prigozhin, owner of the Wagner Group. Picture: Alamy

Putin had stayed silent on the incident while appearing at the BRICS summit just hours later.

He instead congratulated South African president Cyril Ramaphosa on the announcement that six countries would be joining the economic alliance next year.

HIs address came after he also attended a concert celebrating the 80th anniversary of the Soviet Union's Second World War victory, despite news of the explosion breaking earlier in the day.

Read more: 'Get ready for us': Wagner fighters send chilling revenge message to Putin after jet carrying Yevgeny Prigozhin crashes

Read more: Prigozhin plane crash ‘was no accident’ as Russian authorities claim Wagner boss among 10 passengers killed

Kristina Raspopova
Kristina Raspopova. Picture: Social media

Flight attendant Kristina Raspopova, 39, was the only woman on the plane when it crashed.

Just hours before departure, stewardess Ms Raspopova told her family that the flight had been delayed. It was taken away for some short-term and incomprehensible repairs, she said.

There have been suggestions that a bomb in a wine crate was behind the explosion, former British intelligence officer Christopher Steele told Sky.

He added: "That's a kind of ironic end for Putin's former caterer."

Russia expert at Chatham House, Keir Giles, comments on Wagner boss 'killed in plane crash'

A relative of Ms Raspopova said the flight attendant had been in Moscow and was planning to fly out within the next few days.

"She said that she was in Moscow, she was going to fly out, today or tomorrow," they told the VChK-OGPU Telegram channel.

"The aircraft was under maintenance or some urgent repairs.

"They were waiting for the flight. Some kind of maintenance."

The relative continued: "She said that the flight was domestic.

"They were waiting for a call when to fly.

"Regarding the maintenance of the aircraft, she said that either it was maintenance, or it was just an aircraft repair, something like that.

"They were waiting for the order to take off…"

Mercenary leader Prigozhin was on crashed plane, Russian agency says

Wagner fighters have since warned that there will be revenge over Prigozhin's death.

It is thought that Putin is trying to wind up the organisation after it rebelled against his rule in June in a day-long coup.

In a new video, the masked men said: "There's a lot of talk right now about what the Wagner Group will do.

"We can tell you one thing, we are getting started, get ready for us."

Supporters of the group have been seen crying as they place wreaths and flowers in tribute to the leader at a memorial.

Russia jet crash kills 10, Yevgeny Prigozhin on passenger list say officials

Who was in the Prigozhin plane crash?

Seven passengers and three crew were on board the aircraft and were all killed in the crash.

Russia's aviation agency identified the seven passengers as:

Yevgeny Prigozhin

Dmitry Utkin

Sergei Propustin

Yevgeny Makaryan

Alexander Totmin

Valery Chekalov

Nikolai Matuseyev

The crew members were identified as:

Captain Alexei Levshin

Co-pilot Rustam Karimov

Flight attendant Kristina Raspopova

More Latest News

See more More Latest News

Colette Fairbanks was sacked after sharing ‘offensive’ posts

Brexit views not protected from workplace discrimination, tribunal rules after woman sacked over ‘offensive’ posts

Breaking
The Metropolitan Police carried out a controlled detonation of a suspect package near the US embassy in London

US Embassy in London on 'lockdown' as police investigate 'suspect package'

Coleen Rooney said her husband Wayne has not been forgiven in the court of public opinion

Coleen Rooney opens up on Wayne's 'difficult' mistakes as she says he hasn't been forgiven in court of public opinion

Many of the victims were staying at the Nana Backpacker Hostel

Laos hostel owner arrested after Brit lawyer becomes fifth tourist to die in 'poisoning'

Holly Bowles, 19, from Melbourne, has died in the ‘methanol mass poisoning’

Sixth person dies in Laos ‘methanol mass poisoning’ as hostel owner detained by police

Exclusive
Feargal Sharkey tests the River Test with LBC

'We're destroying what should be the finest river on Earth': Feargal Sharkey tests the River Test with LBC

Household energy bills will rise again from January

Household energy bills to rise by £21 a year from January in further blow for Brits this winter

Putin issued a chilling threat to the West as he confirmed Russia launched a ballistic missile against Ukraine

'The world must respond': Zelenskyy warns that Putin is 'testing' the West after confirmed use of new ballistic missile

Matt Gaetz withdraws as Donald Trump's nominee for attorney general amid sexual misconduct allegations

Donald Trump nominates Pam Bondi for attorney general hours after Matt Gaetz withdraws

Starmer has backed the International Criminal Court over its arrest warrant for Netanyahu

Netanyahu faces arrest if he travels to Britain as Starmer vows to enforce International Criminal Court warrant

Yvette Cooper has branded the Rwanda scheme a "complete con."

Yvette Cooper to crack down on anti-social behaviour with new 'respect orders' as repeat offenders face jail time

King Charles III And Queen Camilla on Coronation Day

King Charles' coronation cost taxpayer £72 million, report reveals

Pep Guardiola, Manager of Manchester City

Pep Guardiola signs two-year contract extension with Manchester City

Captain Tom's Daughter Hannah Ingram-Moore

Behaviour at Captain Tom charity left ex-boss 'gobsmacked'

Armed robbers attempted to break into the star's Sunderland home.

Masked machete-wielding robbers break into Charlotte Crosby's home while she is upstairs with two-year-old daughter

Police have released new CCTV of Harshita Brella and her husband

Chilling CCTV released of Harshita Brella and prime murder suspect husband on night she was killed