There are unconfirmed reports that Yevgeny Prigozhin, leader of the Wagner Group, a Russian mercenary organization, has been presumed dead after his private jet crashed under mysterious circumstances.

Prigozhin was believed to be on the jet en route from Moscow to St. Petersburg when it mysteriously started diving towards the ground, leaving only a fiery wreck in its wake.

The crash is under investigation by Russian authorities, and the full circumstances of the incident remain unclear.

If confirmed, the death of Prigozhin would be a major blow to Russia's operations in Ukraine, where the Wagner Group has played a significant role.

In the summer of 2022, Yevgeny Prigozhin, leader of the Wagner Group, a private military organization that had been fighting alongside the Russian army in Ukraine, was said to have attempted a coup against the Russian government.

However, the coup was short-lived and Prigozhin was forced into exile in Belarus following a negotiated settlement with the Kremlin.

Despite his exile, Prigozhin's wealth and influence continued to grow, as Wagner Group has been accused of plundering diamonds, gold, oil, and gas from countries in which it operates.