Outspoken Tycoon Yevgeny Prigozhin Presumed Dead after Plane Crash in Russia
Yevgeny V. Prigozhin, the influential tycoon who established a private paramilitary force known as Wagner to fight on behalf of Russia in Ukraine and Africa, is widely believed to have died in a plane crash. The crash occurred in Russia, and Prigozhin was said to be traveling on the plane. Although his death has not been officially declared, Russian President Vladimir V. Putin spoke of Prigozhin in the past tense and offered condolences to the families of the crash victims.
Prigozhin had a close relationship with the Kremlin, leveraging it to secure lucrative government contracts in construction and catering. He collaborated with Russia’s military intelligence services to build up the Wagner paramilitary force, which was estimated to include 50,000 members. Prigozhin initially kept a low public profile, but after Russia invaded Ukraine in 2022, he embraced a more public persona and admitted to founding and running Wagner.
The tycoon became a harsh critic of Russia’s military leadership and accused them of conducting the war in Ukraine poorly. He even initiated a rebellion against the army, but later called it off and agreed to withdraw under a deal that would drop charges against him. Prigozhin became increasingly influential and used social media, particularly the Telegram messaging platform, to create a personal brand centered around tough talk and the endorsement of extrajudicial killings.
Prigozhin was also known for his involvement in the Internet Research Agency, which sought to influence the 2016 U.S. presidential election. He denied his affiliation with the agency for years but eventually admitted to founding and managing it. In 2018, he was indicted by a U.S. federal grand jury on charges related to election meddling.
Throughout the war in Ukraine, Prigozhin recorded videos near the front lines, praising his troops, criticizing the Russian military leadership, and seeking credit for battlefield victories. He also endorsed ruthless violence against perceived enemies and called for the imposition of martial law in Russia to win the war.
The investigation into the plane crash that is presumed to have taken Prigozhin’s life will be pursued by Russian authorities. However, his death has already left a void in the world of private military contractors and Russia’s war efforts.