Despite his unfortunate end along with his close associates, Prigozhin was honored posthumously for his courage displayed in times of conflict. He was renowned for leading a daring advance towards Moscow during his lifetime, and he also had a reputation for courting media attention.
Guy Faulconbridge, a correspondent for Reuters, reported observing a person clad in Wagner mercenary uniform and a cap emblazoned with the Russian flag, paying homage at a gravestone labelled “Prigozhin, Yevgeny Viktorovich 1961 – 2023.” The tombstone was beautified with red roses, carnations, and an Orthodox cross. A tribute message alongside the flowers read, “To be a warrior is to live forever.” Reflecting on Prigozhin’s death, Sergei Abeltsev, a former Russian parliamentarian, remarked that the profound impact of the loss will likely be felt later, as the full realization of such a loss often comes after the initial shock.
Private jet crash results in the death of Prigozhin, top Wagner commanders, his bodyguards, and three crew members. The incident took place on Aug. 23, as the jet travelled from Moscow to St Petersburg. The cause of the crash remains unknown. This incident happened two months after Prigozhin gained control of Rostov, marking the beginning of a rebellion in President Putin’s Russia.
Prigozhin boasted about being among the most feared mercenaries worldwide with an unbeatable force. However, his opponents, including the United States, viewed him as a ruthless commander who pillaged African nations and ruthlessly punished those who defied him. Although he secured a significant victory for Putin in the Ukraine war by seizing Bakhmut, Prigozhin condemned Putin’s military’s perceived betrayals and cautioned that Russia is at risk of losing the entire war.
Prigozhin, after months of scorn towards Putin’s leadership, marched towards Moscow to confront Defence Minister Sergei Shoigu and Chief of the General Staff Valery Gerasimov, but stopped 200km from the city. Putin initially labelled Prigozhin a traitor who could incite civil war, then made a deal with him to ease the tension. Following an unspecified crash, Putin, who claims a long friendship with Prigozhin dating back to the 90s, expressed condolences to the victims’ families.
Before the mutiny, Prigozhin, also known as “Putin’s chef”, suggested his nickname should have been “Putin’s butcher”. He maintained loyalty to Putin and criticized Shoigu for incompetence. Shoigu has yet to respond publicly to these insults. Allegations by some Western politicians that Putin ordered Prigozhin’s murder have been denied by the Kremlin. U.S. President Biden implied Putin’s involvement in most Russian affairs. After Prigozhin’s death, Putin commanded Wagner fighters to pledge allegiance to the Russian state, which Prigozhin had argued against due to frustrations with the defence ministry regarding the Ukraine war.
[sourcelink link=”https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/grave-russias-prigozhin-followers-hail-warrior-2023-08-30/”]
