Vladimir Putin breaks silence over plane crash Russia claims ‘killed’ Wagner’s Prigozhin - BBC News

TL;DR

Vladimir Putin broke his silence by offering condolences to the families of those killed in the plane crash presumed to have killed Wagner founder Yevgeny Prigozhin. He said he had known Prigozhin since the 1990s and that the investigation would take time. The report examines competing missile and onboard-device theories, Russia’s role in the investigation, and the verified flight evidence. Read on to understand what was confirmed and what remained speculation.

Transcript

some breaking news to bring you President Putin appears to have broken his silence on the apparent death of pregosian and the plane crash because we are hearing from Reuters that Putin sends his condolences to uh pragosian the founder of Russia's Wagner group census condolences to pragosian's family just to caveat that by saying this is what we're ... Read More

Key Insights

• 💔 Russian President Vladimir Putin has expressed his condolences to the family of Evgeny Prigozhin, the founder of Russia's Wagner group, after the plane crash. This is the first mention of the crash by Putin. (Emphasis on Putin's condolences and first mention)
• 🚀 The suggestion that the plane was hit by a missile comes from an unnamed U.S. official, but British defense sources think it was more likely due to a device on board. There is uncertainty surrounding the cause of the crash. (Emphasis on missile theory and uncertainty)
• 🔍 The investigation into the crash will be conducted by Russia itself, raising doubts about its neutrality and independence. There is no definitive proof that the crash was an act of assassination. (Emphasis on Russian investigation and lack of proof)
• 💣 There are various theories about what caused the plane to crash, including the possibility of a bomb being on board or an explosion during flight. These theories are still being investigated and lack substantial evidence. (Emphasis on bomb or explosion theories and ongoing investigation)
• 📡 Russia's powerful air defenses make it unlikely that a missile could have brought down the plane without causing more destruction. This supports the theory that an onboard device or bomb may be more plausible. (Emphasis on air defenses and plausibility of onboard device or bomb)
• 💼 Evgeny Prigozhin, who was presumed to be on board the crashed plane, has not been confirmed dead, but Russia claims he was definitely a passenger. There is no visible proof of his death yet. (Emphasis on Prigozhin's status and lack of proof)
• 📚 Social media speculation surrounding the crash has been rampant, with rumors suggesting that Prigozhin may have been on another plane at the time. Flight data and eyewitness accounts support the crash of the plane Prigozhin was supposed to be on. (Emphasis on social media speculation and confirmation of the crash)
• 💥 The cause of the crash is still undetermined, with possibilities ranging from a missile strike to an onboard bomb or explosion. Visual evidence to support these theories is lacking, and the investigation is ongoing. (Emphasis on undetermined cause and lack of visual evidence)

Questions & Answers

Q: What did Vladimir Putin say about the plane crash presumed to have killed Wagner’s Yevgeny Prigozhin?

Putin expressed condolences to the families of everyone killed and described Prigozhin as a talented person and businessman. He said he had known Prigozhin since the 1990s and that establishing what happened through the investigation would take time.

Q: Was this Putin’s first public mention of Prigozhin and the plane crash?

Yes, the report described these remarks as Putin’s first apparent public comments on the crash and Prigozhin. A few hours earlier, he had addressed a summit by video link without mentioning either.

Q: What explanations were suggested for the plane crash?

The report discussed two principal possibilities: the plane was struck by a missile, or a device exploded aboard it. An unnamed U.S. official reportedly supported the missile explanation, while British defense sources considered an onboard device more likely.

Q: Why did Frank Gardner question the missile theory?

Gardner said a surface-to-air missile would likely have blown the plane apart or caused it to disintegrate high in the air. Verified video instead showed the aircraft still intact as it spiraled downward trailing smoke, although the report did not establish the cause.

Q: Who was responsible for investigating the crash?

Russia was conducting the investigation because the crash occurred on Russian soil. Gardner noted that it was not a neutral, independent inquiry by outside investigators and said there was no proof that the crash was an assassination.

Q: What evidence confirmed the aircraft’s flight and crash?

FlightRadar tracking data showed the plane taking off northwest of Moscow toward Saint Petersburg before disappearing over the Tver region, about 300 kilometers northwest of Moscow. At around 15:19 GMT, the data recorded a sudden loss of altitude, corroborated by verified eyewitness video showing the plane falling rapidly.

Q: Was Yevgeny Prigozhin confirmed to have been aboard the crashed plane?

Russia’s aviation agency said Prigozhin and Wagner co-founder Dmitry Utkin were on the passenger list, and Russian authorities said Prigozhin was definitely aboard. At the time of the report, however, Russia had not produced visible proof of his death.

Q: What did witnesses report before the plane began falling?

Eyewitnesses said they heard an explosion before the aircraft started falling. That account fueled speculation about a missile strike or an onboard explosion, but the report said the available evidence did not establish either explanation.

Summary & Key Takeaways

• President Putin expresses condolences to the family of Evgeny Pragosian, founder of Russia's Wagner Group, after a plane crash.

• There is speculation about the cause of the crash, with some suggesting it was shot down by a missile or that there was an explosion on board.

• The investigation is being conducted by Russia, raising concerns about independence and neutrality.