Yevgeny Prigozhin, the leader of the Wagner Group, is believed to have died in a plane crash on Friday. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov denied any involvement in the crash, and forensic tests are still needed to confirm Prigozhin's death. An informal memorial has been set up in St. Petersburg, and the cause of the crash is still under investigation.
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A preliminary U.S. intelligence assessment has found that the plane crash presumed to have killed Wagner leader Yevgeny Prigozhin was intentionally caused by an explosion. German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock has commented on the incident, noting the pattern of deaths and dubious suicides in Putin's Russia. President Joe Biden had previously commented on the incident, saying he was not surprised and that there is not much that happens in Russia that Putin is not behind.
Russian General Sergei Surovikin has been dismissed from his post as head of the country’s Aerospace Forces, following speculation about his involvement with the Wagner mercenary rebellion. Colonel General Viktor Afzalov is now temporarily acting as Commander-in-Chief of the Aerospace Forces, as Russia seeks to modernize its armed forces. It is unclear what role, if any, Surovikin will have in the future.
Yevgeny Prigozhin, the owner of the Wagner Group military contractor, has released a video of himself in military fatigues and holding a rifle, hinting at his location in Africa. The video appears to be a recruitment drive for the Wagner Group, and the exact whereabouts of Prigozhin remain unknown. The Wagner Group has been linked to the Kremlin and has been active in Syria, Ukraine, and other countries, and Prigozhin has been sanctioned by the U.S.
The White House has requested emergency funding from Congress for pandemic relief for the child care industry, replenishment of U.S. federal disaster funds, and aid for Ukraine. Sens. Elizabeth Warren and Tina Smith have called on President Biden to address the looming expiration of pandemic relief funds in the package. The Biden administration has requested more than $13 billion in emergency defense aid to Ukraine and an additional $8 billion for humanitarian support.
This article discusses the recent escalation of tensions between Ukraine and Russia, following a Ukrainian drone strike on an ammunition depot in Crimea and a predawn strike on a key bridge linking the peninsula to Russia. Russia has responded by launching missiles and drones against Ukraine's seaports, and the Ukrainian military has confirmed it has launched a drone strike against an oil depot and Russian arms warehouses.
On Monday, a married couple and their daughter were killed and wounded, respectively, after a section of the Kerch Bridge between Russia and the Moscow-annexed Crimean Peninsula was blown up. The incident has caused tension between the two countries, with both accusing each other of being responsible, and has sparked international outrage. The United Nations Security Council is expected to hold an emergency meeting to discuss the incident.
President Joe Biden concluded his five-day European tour in Finland, where he declared that Russian President Vladimir Putin has already lost the war in Ukraine. He also expressed his commitment to pursuing a prisoner exchange for Wall Street Journal reporter Evan Gershkovich, who has been detained in Russia for more than 100 days. Biden also celebrated Finland's new membership and Sweden's likely ascension into NATO.