Russia's Putin suggests hand grenade caused Prigozhin plane crash

Russian President Vladimir Putin has stated that the plane crash that resulted in the death of Yevgeny Prigozhin was caused by hand grenades detonating inside the aircraft, suggesting, that the Wagner chief may have been under the influence of drugs at the time of the incident.

As reported by Vedomosti, the president gave his first comments regarding the cause of the crash during a meeting of the Valdai Discussion Club thinktank in Sochi. He disclosed that he was informed a couple of days ago by the investigative authorities of Russia that fragments of hand grenades were discovered in the bodies of those who lost their lives in the crash.

Yevgeny Prigozhin, known for his ties to the private military company Wagner, died in a plane crash on August 23. This event occurred two months after Prigozhin's involvement in an aborted mutiny where his Wagner mercenary troops briefly seized control of the southern city of Rostov and advanced toward Moscow. The plane crash also claimed the lives of two other high-ranking Wagner commanders, Prigozhin's four bodyguards, and a crew of three.