Russia says genetic tests confirm Wagner chief Prigozhin died in plane crash
- DNA tests showed that all 10 passengers and crew listed as having boarded the private jet on August 23 were killed
- Announcement came as speculation over a possible Kremlin-ordered execution of Prigozhin continues to swirl
Russia’s aviation agency had previously published the names of all 10 on board the private jet which crashed in the Tver region northwest of Moscow on Wednesday. They included Prigozhin and Dmitry Utkin, his right-hand man who helped found the Wagner Group.
“As part of the investigation of the plane crash in the Tver region, molecular-genetic examinations have been completed,” Russia’s Investigative Committee said in a statement on the Telegram messaging app.
“According to their results, the identities of all 10 dead were established. They correspond to the list stated in the flight sheet,” it said.
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Yevgeny Prigozhin, Wagner group founder and ex Putin ally, reportedly dies in plane crash in Russia
There had been some speculation, especially on pro-Wagner Telegram channels, about whether Prigozhin – who was known to take various security precautions in anticipation of a possible attempt on his life – had really been on the doomed flight.
