Blast on jet may be cause of crash which apparently killed Prigozhin

Leader of Wagner Group , Reportedly Killed in , Plane Crash Over Russia. On August 23, a plane crash in Russia killed all ten passengers on board, including the head of the Wagner mercenary group, Yevgeny Prigozhin. . On August 23, a plane crash in Russia killed all ten passengers on board, including the head of the Wagner mercenary group, Yevgeny Prigozhin. . The Associated Press reports that it remains unclear whether Prigozhin was indeed on board the aircraft, which was en route from Moscow to St. Petersburg. However, CBS reports that Russian emergency officials confirmed that Prigozhin was on the list of passengers. . According to Russian channels, the Embraer business jet crashed somewhere in the Tver region. . AP reports that flight tracking data showed that the jet's transponder signal was lost moments after takeoff. . CBS reports that earlier this week, Prigozhin made his first video appearance since his mutiny against Russian commanders failed in June. In the video, Prigozhin can reportedly be seen in what appears to be a desert landscape, dressed in fatigues and holding a rifle. Wagner states that he was working to advance Russia's interests on all continents, while also making Africa "more free.". CBS reports that the Wagner Group has been active on the African continent, where some nations employ the private army for security and to protect dictatorial regimes. . According to a CBS investigation, Wagner has been plundering the natural resources of the Central African Republic in exchange for preventing a coup. . According to a CBS investigation, Wagner has been plundering the natural resources of the Central African Republic in exchange for preventing a coup.