The Wagner mercenary boss was on board the aircraft when it crashed killing all 10 passengers, authorities have said.
Eight bodies have been recovered after a private jet reportedly containing Yevgeny Prigozhin crashed in the Tver region north of Moscow, Russian agencies have reported.
The Wagner mercenary boss was on board the aircraft when it came down, authorities have said.
Russian media outlet Baza said eight dead bodies were found at the scene, all of them so badly burnt it would take a DNA test to confirm their identities. One of the bodies has a missing head.
According to Russia’s federal air transport agency: “An investigation of the Embraer plane crash that happened in the Tver Region this evening was initiated.
“According to the passenger list, first and last name of Yevgeny Prigozhin was included in this list.”
The flight appears to have been travelling between Moscow and St Petersburg. Wagner-linked Telegram channels have reported that the plane was shot down by Russian air defences.
Mr Prigozhin led an abortive coup against Russia’s military leadership in June, which ended after Wagner fighters were promised amnesty in neighbouring Belarus.
Source: Telegraph