Putin sends condolence to family after alleged Prigozhin death in plane crash 

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.

By Edward Era Barbacena 

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.

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.

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.

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".