NewsPutin's associate accused of ordering Wagner Group head's assassination, Kremlin dismisses as "pulp fiction"

Putin's associate accused of ordering Wagner Group head's assassination, Kremlin dismisses as "pulp fiction"

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.

Eugene Prigozhin, together with Dmitry Utkin and other Wagnerians, died in a helicopter crash.
Eugene Prigozhin, together with Dmitry Utkin and other Wagnerians, died in a helicopter crash.
Images source: © Getty Images | 2023 Anadolu Agency

10:44 AM EST, December 22, 2023

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".

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