Prigozhin's Presumed Private Plane Crash... US Biden "Not Surprised" (Comprehensive)

Yevgeny Prigozhin, the head of the Russian private military company Wagner Group that had staged an armed rebellion, is believed to have died in a plane crash on the 23rd (local time), according to Russian state media TASS and others. U.S. President Joe Biden, who received related reports, did not confirm the facts but responded that it was "not surprising" and a predictable event.

[Image source=AFP Yonhap News]

Russian disaster authorities announced that "an Embraer Legacy jet flying from Moscow to Saint Petersburg crashed near Kuzhenkino in the Tver region" and "initial investigations estimate that all 10 people on board, including 3 crew members, have died." The Russian aviation authority Rosaviatsia confirmed that "Prigozhin's name is included on the passenger list." TASS reported that "Prigozhin appears to be a victim of this accident."

The Russian aviation authorities immediately launched an investigation into the crash. So far, rescue teams have recovered 8 bodies, according to the Russian state news agency RIA. However, authorities have not disclosed whether Prigozhin was actually on board the plane or his death status. Major Western media outlets, including The Washington Post (WP), have focused on the fact that Russian President Vladimir Putin has eliminated political opponents who opposed him in various ways in the past, giving weight to the possibility that Prigozhin, who led the armed rebellion, was eliminated.

The Telegram channel Grey Zone, operated by the Wagner Group, claimed that the Embraer Legacy jet registered under their ownership was shot down by the Russian air defense system. The Associated Press (AP) cited flight tracking data reporting that the jet, known to be owned by Prigozhin, lost its signal just minutes after taking off from Moscow that evening.

President Biden, who is currently in Nevada on vacation, also received related reports that day. Meeting with reporters, Biden said, "You may remember what I said when I was asked this question before. I said, 'If I were Prigozhin, I would be careful about what I get on,'" adding, "I don't know exactly what happened, but I'm not surprised." When asked if President Putin was behind the incident, he replied, "Not much happens in Russia without Putin being behind it. But I don't know enough to answer definitively."

Adrian Watson, spokesperson for the White House National Security Council (NSC), also stated on Twitter, "Even if confirmed, no one should be surprised." U.S. officials, including CIA Director William Burns, have publicly warned that President Putin could retaliate against Prigozhin in some way soon. President Biden had also mentioned in July, "If I were him (Prigozhin), I would be careful about what I eat."

On social media and elsewhere, videos of a falling object presumed to be the crashed plane have been confirmed. The Wall Street Journal (WSJ) reported, "Currently, major Russian TV news outlets are not mentioning Prigozhin or the plane crash," adding, "Coverage is focused on President Putin's speech on the Battle of Kursk, his participation via video in the BRICS summit in South Africa, and updates on what is happening on the front lines of the Ukraine war."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.