Vladimir Putin says he has sent his condolences to the family of Yevgeny Prigozhin after the Wagner Group leader was presumed killed in a plane crash.

The Russian president said Prigozhin was a talented businessman who he had known since the 1990s.

This is the first time Mr Putin has commented on the plane crash, which happened north of Moscow yesterday and killed all 10 people on board.

Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player

If confirmed, Prigozhin’s death would leave Mr Putin stronger in the short term – removing a powerful figure who had played an instrumental role in the invasion of Ukraine, and criticised Russia’s top military officials.

The mercenary chief had led a brief rebellion in June – demanding the ousting of defence minister Sergei Shoigu as he marched his fighters towards Moscow before calling off their advance.

Prigozhin’s right-hand man Dmitry Utkin was also believed to be on board, alongside his security chief Valeriy Chekalov – three senior members of the Wagner Group.

In televised comments, Mr Putin said they had made “a significant contribution” during the Ukraine war that will not be forgotten.

Four key things the Prigozhin plane footage tells us – from a former UK military pilot

Who else was on the Russian private jet that crashed with ‘Wagner chief Prigozhin on board’?

Ukraine latest: Putin makes first comments since Prigozhin ‘death’; photos emerge of ‘crash victims’

The president described Prigozhin as “a person with a complicated background who made serious mistakes in his life” – but noted that he was also a successful entrepreneur.

Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player

According to Mr Putin, Prigozhin had returned from Africa only yesterday – and had then gone on to meet Russian officials in Moscow.

A preliminary investigation into the crash has now begun, with Mr Putin expecting that further details will emerge “soon”.

The Russian president has been widely accused of having involvement in the crash – with some Western experts believing Mr Putin may have ordered Prigozhin’s assassination. This cannot be verified.

Two US officials, speaking on the condition of anonymity, have said they believe a surface-to-air missile originating from inside Russia likely shot the aircraft down.

Related posts:

Anti-fraud probe as EU nations are offered 900 million ‘ghost’ COVID jabs for €12.7bn Thousands flock to edge of spectacular volcanic eruption in Iceland Taliban fire into air at anti-Pakistan protest as UN warns basic services on verge of collapse Reporter who interviewed Peng Shuai says she may not have been able to speak freely Where is Kaliningrad – Russia’s exclave in Europe – and how will Lithuanian sanctions affect Western relations? Russia ‘violates Estonia’s airspace for first time by helicopter’ in highly provocative move Strikes on port of Odesa ‘spit in the face’ from Russia after grain deal Leonardo da Vinci was the son of a slave and half-Italian, expert claims Turkish president ‘backs Sweden’s entry to NATO’ Football fan dies after being hit in neck by bottle of beer outside stadium ‘I love them’: Woman denies murdering ex in-laws after serving them poisonous mushrooms Thousands of Scouts evacuated from World Jamboree site due to storm threat