Prigozhin Dies Three Days After Enlistment... Did Putin Fear a Resumption of the Rebellion?

Recruitment Resumes from the 21st, Prigozhin Dead
Wagner Group "Russian Air Defense Shot Down"

Yevgeny Prigozhin, the head of the Russian mercenary company Wagner Group, died in a private plane crash. His sudden death, exactly two months after he led a failed military rebellion in June, has sparked various conspiracy theories. Some speculate that Prigozhin was eliminated under the orders of Russian President Vladimir Putin after attempting to recruit mercenaries completely independently from the Putin regime.

[Image source=Reuters Yonhap News]

According to TASS news agency on the 23rd (local time), Russian disaster management authorities announced that the private plane carrying Prigozhin crashed in the Tver region west of Moscow. Russian authorities stated, "An Embraer Legacy jet flying from Moscow to Saint Petersburg crashed near Kuzhenkino in Tver Oblast," adding, "Prigozhin and Dmitry Utkin were on board. All 10 passengers died." Utkin was one of Prigozhin’s closest aides and a co-founder of the Wagner Group.

Earlier, on June 23, Prigozhin led the Wagner Group mercenary forces in a military rebellion, advancing to a point 200 km from Moscow before withdrawing, drawing attention both inside and outside Russia. Reports followed that assassination orders had been issued against him under President Putin’s directive. Especially since his death occurred exactly two months after the rebellion, there is widespread speculation that Russian authorities took action.

The Wagner Group also claims that Prigozhin was shot down by Russian air defense systems and that his death was not a simple crash accident. The Wagner Group’s Telegram channel, Grayzone, stated, "Two Wagner Group private planes were flying simultaneously, and when one crashed, the other returned to Moscow Ostafyevo Airport," asserting, "The Russian military’s air defense system shot down Wagner Group’s private plane."

In the West, the theory that Prigozhin was eliminated by Russian authorities under President Putin’s orders is gaining traction. According to Voice of America (VOA), U.S. President Joe Biden said at a press conference on the day, "I don’t know exactly what happened, but I’m not surprised," and added, "There is almost nothing in Russia that happens without Putin being behind it," implying that Putin was behind Prigozhin’s death.

After moving to Belarus immediately following the rebellion and recently hinting at resuming activities in Africa, various conspiracy theories have emerged regarding the cause of his death. Some analysts suggest he was eliminated because he attempted independent mercenary recruitment. The Wagner Group, which had stopped recruiting new soldiers from the end of last month due to Russian authorities’ restrictions, resumed recruitment on the 21st, and Prigozhin died just three days later.

The U.S. Institute for the Study of War (ISW) analyzed, "On the 21st, the Wagner Group announced new recruitment, offering monthly salaries of 150,000 rubles (about 2.12 million KRW) for Middle East deployments and 195,000 to 250,000 rubles for Africa, which is less than the previous flat rate of 240,000 rubles regardless of region," adding, "Despite financial difficulties caused by Russian authorities’ financial sanctions, they sought to recruit new soldiers to secure independent status."

With Prigozhin’s death, the Wagner Group, having lost its central figure, faces the possibility of disbandment. The British Guardian reported, "More than three-quarters of the 5,000 Wagner mercenaries who moved to Belarus following the rebellion have left Belarus," and added, "The organizations remaining in Africa are also expected to be significantly weakened."

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