Putin: "Grenade Fragments Found in Wreckage of Prigozhin's Private Plane"

Intention to Dismiss Removal Theory... Suggesting Possibility of Alcohol and Drugs

Russian President Vladimir Putin revealed that grenade fragments were found in the bodies of the victims of the private plane crash involving Yevgeny Prigozhin, the head of the private military company Wagner Group. This suggests that an explosion occurred inside the plane, possibly causing the crash.

According to foreign media including the Associated Press, President Putin spoke about the investigation results of Prigozhin's private plane crash during the main session of the international Russian experts meeting, the "Valdai International Discussion Club," held on the 5th (local time) in Sochi, southern Russia.

On the 5th (local time), Vladimir Putin, President of Russia, is delivering a speech at the Valdai International Discussion Club meeting.
[Photo by TASS Yonhap News]

President Putin stated, "I recently received a report from the head of the investigation committee regarding the incident," adding, "grenade fragments were found in the bodies of those who died in the plane crash." He also emphasized, "There was no external impact on the plane," confirming this as a fact verified by the Russian investigation committee. This was a veiled denial of the Western countries' claims, including the United States, that the Russian government shot down the private plane.

President Putin also hinted at the possibility that the passengers on the plane might have been intoxicated by alcohol or drugs at the time of the accident. He said, "The investigation is ongoing, but unfortunately, no tests have been conducted to determine whether the blood of the deceased contained alcohol or drugs," adding, "However, we all know that after the incident (the armed rebellion), the Federal Security Service (FSB) found 10 billion rubles and 5 kg of cocaine at the Wagner Group headquarters in Saint Petersburg."

Regarding President Putin's remarks, a foreign media outlet interpreted that "the warlord (Prigozhin) inadvertently caused his own death," suggesting that while Putin denied being behind the private plane crash, he pointed out the moral issues of Prigozhin and his associates.

Prigozhin, once one of Putin's close aides, led Wagner Group mercenaries in an armed rebellion in June. They advanced to a point 200 km from Moscow but withdrew their forces within a day following mediation by Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko. Afterward, predictions arose that President Putin would purge Prigozhin, accompanied by rumors of Prigozhin's disappearance and missing status. However, these rumors subsided when Prigozhin reappeared in Saint Petersburg in July.

However, on August 23, the private plane carrying Prigozhin and senior executives of the Wagner Group crashed while traveling from Moscow to Saint Petersburg, killing all on board. The plane had a total of 10 people on board, including 3 crew members.

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