Conspiracy Theory on Vladimir Putin’s Involvement in Wagner Chief Yevgeny Prigozhin’s Death in Plane Crash Trends

The founder and leader of the Wagner mercenary group, Yevgeny Prigozhin, may have been killed in a plane crash on Wednesday, along with nine other people. The private jet, which belonged to Prigozhin, was flying from Moscow to St Petersburg when it crashed near the village of Kuzhenkino in Tver region. Some conspiracy theorists are convinced that Vladimir Putin intentionally shot down his plane, and they believe the evidence supporting the theory is strong.

How a Grey Zone Comment Fueled the Conspiracy Theory that Vladimir Putin Killed Yevgeny Prigozhin for Revenge

The cause of the crash is still unknown, but some sources have suggested that it was not an accident, but a deliberate attack by someone close to Russian President Vladimir Putin.

Prigozhin, who was also known as “Putin’s chef” for his catering business and close ties to the Russian leader, had challenged Putin’s authority in June, when he led a coup attempt against the Russian armed forces. He had moved his troops from Ukraine, where they had been fighting against the government forces, to the southern Russian city of Rostov on Don, and threatened to march on Moscow.

The rebellion was quelled by a deal that allowed Wagner fighters to join the Russian army or relocate to Belarus. Prigozhin himself agreed to move to Belarus, but he had been seen in public in Russia and other countries since then.

A conspiracy theory has emerged that Putin was behind Prigozhin’s death, as a way of exacting revenge for his betrayal. A Wagner connected Telegram channel called Grey Zone reported that Prigozhin died “as a result of actions of traitors of Russia”, which many people feel hinted that they believe he was targeted by someone close to Putin.

Is it a Coincidence that Gen Sergei Surovikin was Fired on the Same Day Yevgeny Prigozhin Died in a Plane Crash?

The theory gained more credibility after it was reported that Gen Sergei Surovikin, the former air force chief who had good relations with Prigozhin, was fired on the same day as the crash. Putin had previously expressed his anger at Prigozhin’s mutiny, calling it a stab in the back in a video message on 24 June.

Another Senior Wagner Commander Named Dmitry Utkin Also Died in the Plane Crash

Interfax news agency said all 10 bodies had been recovered from the scene. Another business jet owned by Prigozhin landed safely in the Moscow region. Among the other victims of the crash was Dmitry Utkin, a senior Wagner commander who had also participated in the coup attempt.

Is it a coincidence that a flight multiple high ranking members of Wagner were flying on crashed? That’s the big question conspiracy theorists are pondering right now.

On social media the circumstances surrounding the conspiracy theory that Vladimir Putin murdered Yevgeny Prigozhin already has many people assuming that his plane was intentionally shot down by Russian air defenses. Yevgeny Prigozhin’s plane burning on fire in the wreckage aftermath video showed how forceful the impact with the ground must have been.

Based on official reports, at the moment there is allegedly no conclusive evidence that Prigozhin and his associates were deliberately killed. The plane crash could have been an accident, caused by technical failure or human error. Tass news agency said the plane caught fire on hitting the ground, and had been in the air for less than half an hour.

Given the circumstances it seems like even if Russia announces the plane crash was an accident after the investigation, most people are probably still going to assume that Vladimir Putin intentionally shot Yevgeny Prigozhin’s plane down as a retaliation attack.