Putin's associate accused of ordering Wagner Group head's assassination, Kremlin dismisses as "pulp fiction"
10:44 AM EST, December 22, 2023
Revealed results of a journalistic investigation by "The Wall Street Journal" suggest that Nikolai Patrushev, the Secretary of the Security Council of the Russian Federation, ordered the assassination of Evgeny Prigozhin. Patrushev reportedly cautioned Vladimir Putin about the Wagner Group's leader, but Putin disregarded these warnings due to the successful operations of Prigozhin on the front lines.
Circumstances changed in October 2022 when Prigozhin began complaining of an ammunition shortage and increased pressure on Moscow. This resulted in escalating conflict that ultimately led to a rebellion and a march on Moscow in June 2023.
According to the "WSJ", Patrushev viewed this as an opportunity to eliminate unruly Prigozhin.
Designing the attack on Prigozhin
Initial steps included negotiations with the Wagner Group, involving Alaksander Lukashenka and the president of Kazakhstan, Kassym-Jomart Tokayev.
Subsequently, the American newspaper, citing intelligence sources, reports that Patrushev started planning the assassination.
On August 23, 2023, while Prigozhin was stationed at Sheremetyevo Airport, a small bomb was planted under the wing of his airplane. The bomb detonated about half an hour after takeoff, leading to the deaths of 10 people.
Response from the Kremlin spokesperson
The American findings were swiftly addressed by Dmitry Peskov, the Kremlin spokesman, who branded the "WSJ" report as "pulp fiction".
