WAGNER leader Yevgeny Priogozhin has died after his private jet crashed in Russia.
The news comes just minutes after photos emerged of the boss's jet erupting into flames.
The vessel plunged out of the sky and crashed, Telegram channels are claiming.
Eight bodies have been recovered so far, but it is believed that all 10 people on board have died.
Follow our Yevgeny Prigozhin live blog for news and updates…
- By Amanda Castro
BREAKING: More bodies found on site
According to the Russian state news agency RIA, rescue responders discovered eight dead at the scene of the jet accident, per Sky News.
According to Russian police, Wagner CEO Yevgeny Prigozhin was on the flight's passenger list, although it is unclear if he was on board.
Unconfirmed rumors on Telegram channels indicate the plane was shot down by Russian air defenses, but this cannot be verified.
- By Amanda Castro
Wagner troops ‘ready to die’
Yevgeny Prigozhin said in June that his Wagner forces who launched the armed rebellion against Russia were “ready to die,” in a message posted on Telegram at the time.
Prigozhin vowed to achieve the collapse of Russia’s military leadership in a string of audio messages.
He said: “All of us are ready to die. All 25,000, and then another 25,000. We are dying for the Russian people.”
- By Amanda Castro
Russia is facing ‘the toughest battle for its future’
Putin said in June that Russia was fighting “the toughest battle for its future” as he called Wagner’s “armed mutiny” a “stab in the back.”
The Russian President added that troops “have been given the necessary orders” and that “decisive action” will be taken to stabilise the situation.
He added: “I will do everything possible to defend my country … And those who have organised an armed rebellion will be held accountable. Those who have been drawn into this, I call on you to stop your criminal actions.
“Personal interests have led to the betrayal of our country and the cause that our armed forces are fighting.”
- By Amanda Castro
More on the deal struck
Part of Prigozhin's deal with the Russian leader forced Wagner recruits to choose between signing contacts with the Russian defence ministry or going home to their families.
And yet, Wagner was actively still seeking recruits at the time using advertisements on Telegram – undermining the paid-killer group's truce with the Kremlin.
- By Amanda Castro
Putin and Prigozhin struck a deal
The steaming rebellion was blown out after Prigozhin struck a bitter deal with Vladimir Putin putting an end to an astonishing 36 hours that saw Wagner forces reach within 125 miles of Moscow back in June.
In the message, Putin's enemy number one also cryptically added: “In the near future, I am sure that you will see our next victories at the front."
- By Amanda Castro
Prigozhin asked for support
This followed with a call for the Russian public to stand up for his ruthless mercenary army as he pleaded: "We need your support more than ever."
Putin's former lapdog staged an armed insurrection on June 23 with the stated aim to oust Russia's military leaders as he turned on the top brass in Moscow.
- By Amanda Castro
Yevgeny Prigozhin spoke out after fleeing
WAGNER chief Yevgeny Prigozhin spoke out after he fled to Belarus following his failed uprising.
The Russian warlord was remarkably silent since calling off his armed rebellion but has now come back fighting to thank his supporters and defend his mutinous actions.
In his first statement since being shipped to Belarus and breaking a week-long silence, Prigozhin defended his violent mutiny as a "march to justice".
He boldly claimed that his mission was to "fight the traitors and mobilise society".
- By Amanda Castro
Kremlin criticised Putin over charges dropped against coup plotters
Kremlin hawks, meanwhile, criticised Putin after he dropped charges against the coup plotters who fired on Russian aircraft. "
Igor Girkin, a former FSB intelligence officer who led Russian-backed forces in eastern Ukraine, branded Putin’s response "pitiful."
Former military commander Andrey Gurulyov raged: “Who gave the command? Who launched the rocket? Traitors have to be destroyed!”
- By Amanda Castro
'That would show what his mindset is'
Asked about Prigozhin’s whereabouts in June, Senator Mark Walker, chairman of the US Senate Intelligence Committee, said there were reports he was in a hotel with no windows.
He said: “That would show what his mindset is.”
He went on: “There have been a number of Russian entity individuals who have run afoul of Putin over the last year and a half, who have mysteriously fallen out of fifth, sixth or seventh floor windows.”
- By Amanda Castro
Wagner holed up in windowless hotel
Yevgeny Prigozhin, 62, was holed up in a windowless hotel to escape being pushed to his death like other past enemies of vengeful Putin, a US intelligence expert said.
The Wagner Group chief is in Minsk, capital of Russian puppet state Belarus, where he was allowed to relocate after calling off his army’s march on Moscow.
His fighters, who killed 15 Russian airmen during the aborted coup, were given the choice of following him, enlisting in the regular Russian army or going home.
He has been branded a “traitor” by Putin, a number of whose former enemies have fallen from windows in apparent Kremlin hits dressed up as accidents.
- By Amanda Castro
Four bodies found
Telegram channels claimed it was the Russian rebel leader's jet had mysteriously plunged out of the sky and crashed.
It has likely killed all 10 believed to be on board.
According to the "Base", the crashed plane of Yevgeny Prigozhin flew from the Moscow region.
It is being reported the bodies of four people have been found at the crash site.
- By Amanda Castro
Yevgeny Prigozhin dead
Wagner boss Yevgeny Prigozhin has died after his private jet crashed into flames.
Footage showed the aircraft smashing into the ground soon after takeoff in Russia.
Source: Read Full Article