Russian President Vladimir Putin provided the first major update in the investigation into the plane crash that killed Yevgeny Prigozhin.
The probe, being carried out by Russia, was launched after a private jet with a total of 10 people aboard including Mr Prigozhin and two other leading figures of the Wagner Group crashed down in the afternoon of August 23.
Speaking at the Valdai Discussion Club in the Black Sea resort of Sochi, the Russian leader claimed to have been told by the head of the investigation committee, Aleksandr Bastrykin, that “fragments of hand grenades” were found in the bodies of those aboard the jet.
While he suggested the plane was blown up from inside, Putin didn’t provide any more details about how grenades could have found their way on board and detonated while the plane was mid-air.
Sharing details about the probe despite investigators having yet to speak publicly about their search, Putin seemingly hit out at Western claims the Kremlin may have played a role in the crash, as he said “no external impact” has been found on the jet.
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