Prigozhin’s plane falling from the sky.
Although Wagner’s men effectively seized control of two major cities in southern Russia, killing at least 13 soldiers as they downed two helicopters and a plane on their march to Moscow, Putin had appeared to forgive his one-time close ally.
The rebellion ended after a deal was struck between Putin and Prigozhin under which Wagner would move its operations to neighbouring Belarus and its leaders would receive immunity.
Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko, who helped broker the agreement, later said that Prigozhin had returned to his hometown of St Petersburg in Russia.
Following news of the crash, Putin was shown on state television taking part in a commemoration to mark the 80th anniversary of the victory of Soviet troops over Hitler’s Germany in the Battle of Kursk. He was pictured smiling and presenting state awards to military personnel who have participated in Russia’s war in Ukraine.
Following the revolt, Russian authorities detained several military leaders suspected of collusion with the mutiny, including the former commander of the war in Ukraine, General Sergei Surovikin.
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State newswire RIA Novosti cited an “informed source” on Wednesday saying Surovikin had been “relieved of his post” and replaced by Viktor Afzalov, the aerospace forces’ chief of staff.
Known as “General Armageddon” for brutal bombardments under his command in Syria, he was the most prominent figure among a number of senior military leaders who had good relations with Prigozhin, but had not been seen in public since he was detained in late June.
On Monday, Prigozhin had posted his first video address since leading a short-lived rebellion in Russia, appearing in a clip – possibly shot in Africa. He was seen in the video standing in a desert area in camouflage and with a rifle in his hands.
The warlord suggested in the clip that he was somewhere in Africa, adding that “the temperature is plus 50 [degrees Celsius].”
He said Wagner was conducting reconnaissance and search operations and “making Russia even greater on all continents, and Africa even more free”.
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