In a decisive move, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky categorically affirmed that Kyiv played no role in the death of Yevgeny Prigozhin, the head of the Wagner Group, a known private military organization.
Addressing the media, Zelensky stated unequivocally, “We had no interference,” further emphasizing, as reported by the Ukrainian Interfax news agency, that “everyone understands who is involved.”
Late Wednesday, the Russian military website “Redovka” confirmed the demise of Wagner Group founder Yevgeny Prigozhin in a private plane crash en route to St. Petersburg. The Russian platform highlighted an ongoing meeting among Wagner’s top brass, hinting at an imminent statement about their future. The website also assured that internal protocols exist within the Wagner Group to ensure its continuity, even in the unfortunate event of the demise of any of its military leaders.
Concurrently, Vladimir Rogov, the governor of the Zaporozhye region appointed by Russia, confirmed the death of not just Prigozhin but also its commander, Dmitry Utkin, in the same tragic incident. It’s worth noting that the plane crash just north of the Russian capital, Moscow, claimed ten lives, as detailed by Russia Today. Furthermore, the news outlet confirmed the presence of Wagner Group commander Yevgeny Prigozhin on board the ill-fated aircraft.
In the backdrop, the Russian Ministry of Defense announced last July 13th that the Wagner Group had handed over thousands of tons of weapons and ammunition to the Russian army. This move was seen as Moscow’s endeavor to bring the rebel mercenary force under its control. The ministry detailed a procurement of over 2,000 pieces of equipment, including hundreds of tanks and more than 2,500 tons of ammunition.
Adding to the intrigue, Dmitry Peskov, the spokesperson for the Russian presidency or “Kremlin,” denied any knowledge on July 7th about whether Wagner Group’s leader, Yevgeny Prigozhin, was present in Russia at the time.
As international speculations continue, it’s clear that the incident and its surrounding circumstances hold geopolitical implications. The Ukrainian president’s swift response underscores the delicacy and sensitivity of the matter on the world stage.
