Before yesterday's debate (see below), the news was reporting the apparent death of Yevgeny Prigozhin, in a plane crash not far from Moscow. I write "apparent death" as Prigozhin's death was reported once before in plane crash in the Republic of the Congo, which claim later proved false.
Prigozhin is or was head of the Wagner mercenary group, originally based in Russia. It later moved to Belarus. Wagner hires out to various African governments, and has been fighting in Ukraine as well.
Powerful people in Russian who have crossed Putin tend to die from other than natural causes, there have been more than a few. Russia is a mafia state and Russian President is The Godfather in fact, if not by title.
Recently Prigozhin had a rather public disagreement with Putin. There were reports the plane was intentionally shot down by a surface to air missile.The plane's three crew and 7 passengers all died.
