Eugene Prigozhin Biography: A Close Associate of Vladimir Putin, yevgeny prigozhin net worth, wife, children, Hometown, Video, Death

Yevgeny Prigozhin Details

**************Eugene Viktorovich Prigozhin, born on June 1, 1961, was a well-known Russian entrepreneur with strong ties to Russian President Vladimir Putin. Tragically, on August 23, he lost his life in an airplane accident in the Tver region. He is survived by his wife and three children. Wagner chief Yevgeny Prigozhin was killed Wednesday after a plane he was aboard crashed northwest of Moscow, according to Russian authorities. Prigozhin led a short-lived mutiny attempt against the Kremlin in June.

Leading Companies and Controversial Connections

Prigozhin held control over a network of companies, including the Wagner Group. This private military contractor had links to the Russian state and was implicated in various conflict zones, including Africa, Syria, and Ukraine. Additionally, his companies faced allegations of meddling in the 2016 and 2018 U.S. elections.

Denials and Revelations

While Prigozhin had long denied any involvement with the Wagner Group, a video emerged in September 2022 showing him recruiting inmates for the group, hinting at a more direct role. Later that month, he admitted to establishing the Wagner Group in 2014 to support the Russian army, especially in the Donbas region.

Ties to Russian Defense and GRU

Investigations by Belingcat, The Insider, and Der Spiegel revealed Prigozhin's connections with the Russian Ministry of Defense and its covert branch, GRU. His operations appeared to be closely aligned with these entities.

Notable Title: "Putin's Chef"

At one point, Prigozhin earned the moniker "Putin's chef" due to his catering businesses that organized lavish dinners often attended by President Putin and respected foreign dignitaries.

The Wagner Group's Role

The Wagner Group, a significant aspect of Prigozhin's activities, acted as a private military contractor. It gained attention for its involvement in Syria and Ukraine. In 2018, it launched an attack on American-backed Kurdish forces in Syria's oil field.

Recruitment Efforts and Involvement

During Russia's invasion of Ukraine in 2022, Prigozhin's involvement in directing the Wagner Group's campaign in the Donbas region became evident. Leaked videos also showed his efforts to recruit individuals, even from penal colonies, to bolster the Russian army's advance into Ukraine.

Conflicting Statements and Admission

In a surprising turn, Prigozhin admitted in September 2022 that he was indeed involved in establishing the Wagner Group in 2014. This contradicted his earlier denials. He clarified that its purpose was to support Russian interests in the Donbas region.

In summary, Eugene Prigozhin's life was marked by his role in various enterprises and controversies, particularly his ties to the Wagner Group and connections to Russian defense entities. His journey is a complex tale involving international politics, private military activities, and evolving statements.

Speculations and Aftermath: The Fall of Yevgeny Prigozhin

Ever since the failed coup attempt, there had been growing speculation about the fate of Yevgeny Prigozhin. When the leader of the notorious Wagner Group initiated a historic uprising, causing the most significant crisis in Vladimir Putin's 23-year rule, questions arose about how the Russian leader would react.

During the mutiny, Prigozhin's mercenary group shot down helicopters and killed numerous Russian service personnel, highlighting the vulnerability of what many considered a stable regime. The crash that claimed all 10 lives on board, including Prigozhin's, seemed to carry motives related to his confrontation with the military and his June-led armed rebellion.

Putin, known to deal sternly with betrayal, categorizes opponents into two groups: enemies and traitors. Prigozhin's uprising positioned him firmly in the latter category.

Putin's initial response to the mutiny perplexed many. Despite vowing to "eliminate the traitor" in a televised address, he allowed Prigozhin to strike a deal with Belarus's Alexander Lukashenko and leave Russia for exile.

Curiously, weeks later, Putin had a three-hour meeting with Prigozhin and Wagner group commanders, even after the rebellion. Putin admitted he had sought to replace Prigozhin as the leader of Wagner's fighters in Ukraine, but he failed in his attempt.

Initially in Belarus, Prigozhin began to move freely between Moscow and St. Petersburg, gathering wealth and reportedly maintaining influence from his luxurious mansions. He was even spotted at a Russia-Africa summit, meeting officials at a hotel he owned. 

Prigozhin's audacious actions didn't surprise those who knew him. A former restaurant tycoon turned mercenary leader, he was known for taking risks and wouldn't sit idly in exile as his mercenary forces dissolved.

Experts speculated that Putin's restraint was an attempt to pacify rather than obliterate his former ally, as Putin hadn't faced such dissent from the ultra-nationalist flank before.

However, Prigozhin's brazen behavior raised concerns among some elites about Putin's control over the country, according to Western officials.

Prigozhin was last seen in a video claiming to be in Africa, where his mercenaries relocated after the failed uprising. Yet, it remained uncertain when the video was shot or if he had returned to Russia.

With speculations swirling around Putin's role in the crash, Prigozhin's death will likely raise tensions within the Russian army. While his uprising was criticized by the armed forces, he had garnered support from elements sympathetic to his critiques of the Russian military establishment.

As the dust settles on the tumultuous summer of 2023, it becomes evident that challenging the king comes with its consequences.