Hand grenade fragments were found in the bodies of victims of a plane crash that killed former Wagner boss Yevgeny Prigozhin, Russian President Vladimir Putin has said.

Prigozhin was reportedly in a plane crash north of Moscow on 23 August, two months to the day after he led a failed mutiny against top Russian officials.

The aborted rebellion, during which he demanded the ousting of defence minister Sergei Shoigu, was the biggest challenge to President Putin’s rule since he rose to power in 1999.

Russia said it confirmed his death in the crash following genetic tests, but did not reveal the cause.

He was buried privately in a “farewell ceremony” in a St Petersburg cemetery last month, according to his press team.

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