Two Theories Surrounding Wagner Boss Prigozhin Death
The Wagner boss Yevgeny Prigozhin was listed among the 10 people on board the private jet that crashed in Russia this week. There was no survivor in the craft. Wagner is a military mercenary that fights for Russia in Africa and in Ukraine though for money.
Mr. Prigozhin, now late, was an ally of the Russian president Vladimir Putin until late June when the former led his forces to take over the Russian military base in Rostov and to a mutiny against the Russian defence. His forces were going to Moscow as part of the mutiny when the Belarusian President intervened.
That’s not the genesis of the crisis, but it’s the peak. At that time Putin called the mutiny a betrayal and vowed that the person (of course, Prigozhin) behind it would pay for it and so it came to pass. It’s the biggest threat to the leadership of the Russian leader, spanning decades. It made him look weak.
Mr. Prigozhin initially went to Belarus as part of the agreement reached with the Russian authority. Later on, he moved to Russia and continued his business even in Africa as if nothing had happened. Mr. Vladimir Putin wouldn’t look away and forgive his ally who deemed it good to take him (Putin) on.
Analysts have put the blame on Putin for downing the jet. A report says the hey was hit with missile. The report can’t be independently verified. But it may not be that far from the truth.
While reacting to the death of his “ally” Prigozhin, Putin said the Wagner founder and boss made serious mistakes. The Russian president didn’t say he had forgiven the mutineer. That means he may have a hand in the killing of the mercenary leader or he is directly involved.
Putin has also asked the Wagner forces to sign an oath of allegiance following the death of their leader. Little time is left to mourn Prigozhin, now considered a traitor. His forces have been taken over through the order to sign the allegiance. Yet all these pieces of evidence may not be totally enough to ascribe the death to the Kremlin.
Ukraine could be complicit in the downing of the private jet. Kyiv has stepped up its attacks on Russia through drones and missiles. Belgrood, Rostov, Moscow have come under attacks of the Ukrainian drones. Russia has scrambled to intercept the drones and missiles. Meanwhile, Prigozhin and others were travelling from Moscow to St. Petersburg when the jet crashed thirty minutes after its takeoff.
It’s most likely one of the missiles or drones hit the jet. However, no matter how the Kremlin views Prigozhin, it won’t take it lightly for Ukraine to go away with such an attack. There would have been reactions from the Kremlin over the downing of the jet.
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