Boss Wagner Dies in Plane Crash, 'Putin's Rebel Cook'

Dream - The boss of the Wagner Group mercenary group, Yevgeny Prigozhin, reportedly died in a plane crash in the Tver region of Russia on Wednesday, August 24, 2023.

The private jet Embraer Legacy carrying Prigozhin was flying from Moscow to St. Petersburg. However, half an hour after takeoff, the plane was reported to have caught fire due to impact.

Prigozhin's name, who was nicknamed 'Putin's cook,' had actually emerged since the early stages of the Russian invasion of Ukraine. In March 2022, the West assessed that Russia used mercenaries to assist them on the battlefield.

Wagner's forces even became Russia's main spearhead. However, in January 2023, conflicts between Prigozhin and Russia began to emerge.

At that time, Prigozhin claimed victory in Soledar and said that the Russian army had little role. Shortly after, the Russian Ministry of Defense also claimed to have taken control of Soledar.

Prigozhin's conflict with the Kremlin escalated when he criticized Russia's strategy. Prigozhin became more vocal in criticizing the Kremlin, even to President Vladimir Putin, after withdrawing all Wagner troops from Ukraine.

The withdrawal of Wagner troops took place last June after the Wagner and Russia contracts expired. In one interview, Prigozhin said that the Russian army was not capable enough to fight against Ukrainian forces.

"For now, in my view, and according to the military assessment in the field, they are not capable enough to fight the enemy," he said in mid-June, as quoted by Newsweek.

In the last week of June, Prigozhin claimed that Russian forces attacked the Wagner camp, killing a number of personnel. However, the Russian Ministry of Defense denied these allegations.

In response to the attack, he declared war and was ready to invade Moscow.

Then on June 24, Prigozhin claimed to have taken control of the military base and airport in Rostov-on-Don.

According to him, the mercenaries were at the Rostov headquarters since 07:30 local time.

This assault was said to be aimed at overthrowing Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu. Before this incident, some observers believed that Prigozhin wanted a position in the Russian government.

Shortly after the coup, Putin delivered a speech. He called Wagner a traitor and a stab in the back of the Russian people.

He also stated that he would protect the Russian people from all forms of betrayal, both internal and external.

"All types of political adventurers and foreign forces, who divide and tear apart the country, take advantage of their own interests. We will not allow this to happen again," said Putin.

Putin also reportedly contacted his close ally, Belarus President Alexander Lukashenko, and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan during the Wagner rebellion.

In the end, the Wagner rebellion did not reach Moscow and was canceled. Several agreements between Russia and Prigozhin were made through Lukashenko.

Dubbed Putin's Cook

Prigozhin earned the nickname "Putin's Cook" due to his activities as a restaurant and catering entrepreneur.

He then opened a variety store and started networking with luxury restaurants and some partners in St. Petersburg.

Then in 1996, he founded a rapidly growing company, Concord Catering. Prigozhin's catering business received lucrative contracts from the government.

At that time, he provided meals to Russian schools and the military, as well as the opportunity to host state banquets. One of the state banquets was during Putin's inauguration as president. After that, he was dubbed 'Putin's cook' even though he was not actually a chef.

Source: liputan6.com