'Prigozhin made serious mistakes' - Putin; US now says it doesn't think missile shot down plane
Vladimir Putin has finally broken his silence over a horrific plane crash that is believed to have killed Wagner chief Yevgeny Prigozhin and his co-founder Dmirty Utkin, along with eight other people.
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Until now the Kremlin has remained silent on the issue, despite mounting speculation that the deaths were caused as part of a Kremlin-assassination ploy.
But tonight, in an eerie television address, the Russian president said Prigozhin had 'made serious mistakes' as he offered supposed 'condolences' to the families of the ten victims who died in the Tver region, around 60 miles north of the capital.
In a chilling address tonight, the Russian president alluded to Wagner's failed cop in June, ominously stating Prigozhin 'was a person with a complicated fate'.
The despot went on to add that his former chef turned number one enemy was a 'talented businessman' and that the Kremlin would be launching a 'preliminary investigation' into the incident.
The address comes after US officials suggested the crash had been caused by a surface-to-air missile, contrasting Russian outlets who argued the explosion was caused by a bomb placed on board.
Throughout the chilling tribute, he alluded to Wagner's failed military coup in June - ominously stating that Prigozhin 'was a person with a difficult fate'.
The despot went on to add that his former-chef-turned-number-one-enemy was a 'talented businessman' and that the Kremlin would be launching a 'preliminary investigation' into the tragedy.
While he spoke in the past tense, and paid tribute to the 62-year-old warlord, he fell short of officially confirming Prigozhin's death.
Meanwhile, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy was quick to point out his country was no way involved in the crash before cryptically adding, 'everyone understands who is involved'.
It still remains unclear exactly what happened to the jet that fell from the sky and burst into flames yesterday afternoon but anonymous US officials reportedly believe it had been caused by a surface-to-air missile.
A preliminary Washington intelligence assessment found that the plane crash was initially caused by an explosion.
While officials did not give any further details about what set off the detonation, one highlighted the explosion fell in line with Putin's 'long history of trying to silence his critics'.
Their assessment contradicts that of several independent Russian outlets, who argued the explosion was likely caused by a bomb placed on board.
Putin has now allegedly ordered a probe by the country's Investigative Committee, who have been reporting to him following the smash.
He said that the team had begun a 'preliminary investigation of this incident, and it will be conducted fully and completed' shortly.
The Kremlin remained silent on the tragedy for almost 24 hours, other than a notification from the Russian aviation authority, who claimed Prigozhin and his co-founder had been passengers on board the flight.
Finally speaking out over the aircraft crash, Putin said this afternoon: 'What concerns this air crash, first of all, I want to express sincere condolences to the families of all those who died.
'It is always a tragedy. Indeed, if they were there and, according to the initial information, Wagner Company employees were on board, I want to note that those people made a significant contribution to our common cause of fighting the Nazi regime in Ukraine.
'We remember this, we know this and we will not forget this.'
Putin has often made claims of the presence of neo-Nazis in Ukraine as a way to justify his horrendous war - but these theories have been debunked.
In his address he added: 'I had known Prigozhin for a very long time, since the start of the '90s.
'He was a man with a difficult fate, and he made serious mistakes in life. And he strove for the results he needed for himself, and when I asked him about it, for the common cause, as in these last months.
For much of the day, it appeared as though Putin would once again turn a blind eye to Prigozhins death.
This morning, while addressing leaders at the BRICS summit, he avoided the matter.
Instead the Russian leader spent time congratulating South African president Cyril Ramaphosa on the announcement that six countries - including Iran and Saudi Arabia - will join the economic alliance next year.
Similarly, as news broke last night, there was no mention of the fatalities.
Instead he soaked up adulation at a concert celebrating the 80th anniversary of the Soviet Union's Second World War victory at the Battle of Kursk.
A clip showed the moment the despot greeted a raucous crowd who screamed 'we are with you, we love you', before a woman dressed in a pink jacket cried: 'Vladimir Vladimirovich [Putin], my favourite,' and planted an enthusiastic kiss on his face.
A day has now passed since the incident but questions still remain over what truly happened to the flight fell from the sky into a field in the Bologovsky district in the Tver region, 60 miles north of Moscow, before bursting into flames.
In the capital, Russians have been seen making makeshift memorials to the Wagner mercenary leader, placing flowers and paying their respects in front of framed photos.
