this is bbc news, live from london and we are on air with breaking news. russian federal agency for air transport says the wagner boss yevgeny prigozhin was on board an aircraft which has crashed in russia. the aircraft came down and that of air region, the ministry said that chet was flying from moscow, st. petersburg and that ten people, including three people were on board. the statement says everyone was killed. with me now is daniel sandford. daniel, ithink it's worth laying out first of all what we can independent we confirm and what we are hearing from the russian agencies. 50 and what we are hearing from the russian agencies.— russian agencies. 50 there was a craft flying _ russian agencies. 50 there was a craft flying from _ russian agencies. 50 there was a craft flying from moscow - russian agencies. so there was a craft flying from moscow to - russian agencies. so there was a craft flying from moscow to st. . craft flying from moscow to st. petersburg, and if you look at the air traffic websites, you can see

that itjust air traffic websites, you can see that it just stops. air traffic websites, you can see that itjust stops. there is videos of him locally around the village in the tiber region which appear to show a plane on the ground and flames. what the federal agency for air transport has said is that ten people on board, three crew members, seven passengers have all died. what they've also said is that on the passenger list was yevgeny prigozhin. they've not specifically said he definitely boarded the plane, i think that'll take more time to establish, but he was definitely on the passenger list. so if he did indeed board the plane, than those sequence of facts would suggest he would defend killed in the crash, but i think we will have to hold back a tiny bit and be up to a sure he didn't board that plane. of course it produced a huge amount of speculation and when i was in moscow ten years ago, prigozhin was just coming to the fore, he was operating in africa and starting to

dip his toe into the waters of eastern ukraine as that conflict brewed up in 2014. he became an incredibly important figure particularly last year, as it was the wagner mercenary group doing the most fighting last year, and then there came that moment injune when he challenged the russian military authorities to march on moscow, and was effectively banished to belarus, with the agreement being he was allowed free but he had to go to belarus. two days ago he reappeared on video saying he would make africa more free, saying it was 50 celsius and it looked as if he was in a desert environment. but it now looks as if he was on the passenger list of this plane flying from moscow to st. petersburg, and if he did turn out to be on that plane, than the speculation will begin as to whether this plane didn't crash as a result

of accident or whether somebody had deliberately made sure that the plane carrying him was brought down. and will be on many people's mind is the inflection point, to put it mildly, when there was that mutiny in moscow, and the question now is, what does the future now look like for yevgeny prigozhin? what we know about what he's done since that very important moment? he about what he's done since that very important moment?— about what he's done since that very important moment? he had effectively vanished until — important moment? he had effectively vanished until he _ important moment? he had effectively vanished until he released _ important moment? he had effectively vanished until he released this - vanished until he released this video two days ago. it looked like he had gone straight to belarus, that it wasn't clear, but there hadn't really been any public statements about where he was or what he was doing. but it was clear that he had at least, in visible terms, not been held to account for that mutiny and march on moscow, it looked as if he had been allowed to restart his wegner mercenary group operations, --

restart his wegner mercenary group operations, —— wagner gfoup operations, —— wagner group operations. somebody who challenged the russian authorities said democrats severely is thatjust walking away, it wouldn't be as easy as that. 0bviously walking away, it wouldn't be as easy as that. obviously there are other excellent nations for what happened, if he didn't turn out to be on the plane but on the list, then people will ask who else was on the list and who else was expected to travel with him, and if this plane, when it's properly examined, doesn't get put down as an accident, then what could be the cause of that? i think at the moment we should be working on the fact that it's more likely than not that he was on the passenger list, that he was on the plane, and certainly that's where the russian media are going, and some of the pro—wagner mercenary group channels are starting to ask questions about whether or not the plane was brought down, so you can see where the information and disinformation narratives are all are starting up around this incredibly significant death if he was indeed on that passenger list.

talk to us about the significance of his death, if indeed that is the case, because as you mentioned, you've seen his rise and rise as it were, he's become a hugely influentialfigure in russia, clearly vladimir putin was looking for a way to deal with his popularity, the impact and the fallout of his march on moscow. just talk us through how significant this moment is. , talk us through how significant this moment is-— moment is. yevgeny prigozhin had this slightly _ moment is. yevgeny prigozhin had this slightly unique _ moment is. yevgeny prigozhin had this slightly unique position - moment is. yevgeny prigozhin had this slightly unique position for- moment is. yevgeny prigozhin had this slightly unique position for a l this slightly unique position for a while. the russian military tend to operate by all —— almost bureaucratic rules, they are almost a faceless organisation at times, they speak in very formal ways, every russian military press conference or statement is always expressed in very formal language. prigozhin was the exact opposite of all that, he was the swashbuckling character. and for a while, that

suited the kremlin that they had this very larger—than—life character as it were leading the fight in eastern ukraine, particularly around bock mood, he appeared in videos very close to the front line of the fighting and that was a very useful part of their propaganda within the war. but then he started becoming this big figure himself and, through president putin's entire time with the presidency, anyone who's gotten too big and too close to the president has somehow been pushed aside. prigozhin started complaining about the supplies he was getting from the russian military, that he wasn't getting the weaponry that he needed. there was this a very public challenge, at least of the russian military authorities, not directly to president putin but close enough. and there was this apparent deal which looked as if, to everyone's

surprise to a degree, that prigozhin was able to walk away from such a defiant position which is not normally acceptable to the current russian political establishment. and that's why the fact that if he is on this plane and he has died in the crash, lots of people say that you don't challenge the kremlin and walk away as easily as that.— away as easily as that. daniel, there's a _ away as easily as that. daniel, there's a lot _ away as easily as that. daniel, there's a lot to _ away as easily as that. daniel, there's a lot to wade - away as easily as that. daniel, there's a lot to wade through i away as easily as that. daniel, l there's a lot to wade through as away as easily as that. daniel, - there's a lot to wade through as we process this breaking news, stay with us, daniel sanford correspondent there. you're watching bbc news, live from london as we cover that breaking news about yevgeny prigozhin. the boss of the wegner paramilitary group. the russian military group says he was killed and that plane crash and nine others were on board. we are looking for confirmation of those details, we can confirm that his name was on

the passenger list. let's talk through these developments, joining us from washington, andrewjanuary, assistant director at the atlantic council's eurasia centre. great to have you on the programme, thanks forjoining us. it's shocking news forjoining us. it's shocking news for many, what's your reaction? thank you for having me, it's shocking news with which the speed we are seeing this information come in. i think roughly two months ago, when prigozhin led his mutiny against the russian military leadership and was stopped short of moscow, and there was disagreement between him and lukashenko, the director of belarus, and vladimir putin, the dictator in russia, everything seemed to go quietly into the ether, and for a while we've been waiting for the other shoe to drop, and if reports are to be believed and confirmed, this is that other shoe. and if prigozhin is dead, that's a major development in today's russia.

dead, that's a ma'or development in today-s russia.— today's russia. obviously there was seculation today's russia. obviously there was speculation about _ today's russia. obviously there was speculation about what _ today's russia. obviously there was speculation about what yevgeny - speculation about what yevgeny prigozhin would or could go on to do next, it's often said that you don't challenge vladimir putin in that way and live to tell the tale. just explain to us why there was a lot of concern about what would happen to the prigozhin after he states that march on moscow. it’s the prigozhin after he states that march on moscow. it's absolutely correct that _ march on moscow. it's absolutely correct that prigozhin's _ march on moscow. it's absolutely correct that prigozhin's mutiny i march on moscow. it's absolutely. correct that prigozhin's mutiny and marched towards moscow was the largest example of dissent in bruton's russia, certainly in recent years as we've seen kremlin aggression approaching totalitarian levels. and to see prigozhin, who leads essentially a criminal and sponsor to —— sponsored a private military which had been fighting in

ukraine, than africa to turn against vladimir putin and lead this mutiny against his military commanders was massive, and sent shock waves around the world, so beaton is very quiet dashboard report and is very quiet. if we have more information that comes out and shows that russian authorities were behind us, it would be correct to say vladimir putin as may be trying to take someone else off the chessboard, that person being prigozhin, a major threat to the prudent�*s power. == being prigozhin, a ma'or threat to the prudent's power._ the prudent's power. -- vladimir putin's power- — the prudent's power. -- vladimir putin's power. having _ the prudent's power. -- vladimir putin's power. having seen - the prudent's power. -- vladimirj putin's power. having seen much the prudent's power. -- vladimir i putin's power. having seen much of prigozhin, there was that video which appeared a couple days ago, it looked like it had been taken in africa —— we haven't seen much of prigozhin. but it was unclear as to his actual whereabouts. absolutely, even if we think _

his actual whereabouts. absolutely, even if we think back _ his actual whereabouts. absolutely, even if we think back to _ his actual whereabouts. absolutely, even if we think back to the - his actual whereabouts. absolutely, even if we think back to the mutiny| even if we think back to the mutiny two months ago, prigozhin, as he was leading this march, was sending voice messages and updates their telegram, we didn't know where he was, then after the agreement and mutiny ended, we didn't know where he was. maybe he was in moscow or st. petersburg, then he apparently showed up and belarus if you weeks ago, than reportedly in africa. so it's been difficult keeping up with the prigozhin's as it were, and i think it's interesting looking at the location of where we saw this flight that was reportedly shot down not far from moscow, flight that was reportedly shot down not farfrom moscow, i think flight that was reportedly shot down not far from moscow, i think when we see more details come out in the next few days, as to where prigozhin actually was, and so on and so forth. so lots left to confirm, certainly. forth. so lots left to confirm, certainly-— forth. so lots left to confirm, certainl . �* ., ~ , certainly. andrew, thank you very much, certainly. andrew, thank you very much. joining _ certainly. andrew, thank you very much. joining us _ certainly. andrew, thank you very

much, joining us from _ certainly. andrew, thank you very much, joining us from the - certainly. andrew, thank you very much, joining us from the eurasia council's centre. you're watching bbc news. we are live with the breaking news that the paramilitary leader of the wagner group has been killed in a crash, we are confirming those details. steve rosenberg joins us. we are getting these reports of russian media, reporting that prigozhin was among the people on this plane, we can confirm he was on the passenger list, we can't confirm he was on the plane, just talk us through that. he was on the plane, 'ust talk us through that he was on the plane, 'ust talk us through math through that. that's right, and that's important _ through that. that's right, and that's important to _ through that. that's right, and| that's important to emphasise, through that. that's right, and - that's important to emphasise, there is still a lot we don't know about what happened. the circumstances of this crash, we know according to the russian aviation agency, we know that mr prigozhin was on the list of passengers for this flight. we know no more than that. we don't know the

circumstances of the crash, but interestingly this happened two months to the day since the start of the wagner mutiny. if you go back to june and the remarkable events, where we saw the paramilitary group led by prigozhin, beginning when he called the march ofjustice to remove the military leadership of the russian federation, they marched into the city of rostov and basically took over the city, or the major military installations in that city. and they marched on, and the following day it seemed as if they were heading to moscow. and this was a huge challenge laid down by mr prigozhin and the wegner commanders

—— wagner commanders. they didn't get to moscow because by the end of the day, a deal had been done by president putin and mr prigozhin, and the mutiny was over within a day. and that left a lot of people scratching their heads, and there was a deal done, and even though a number of russian servicemen were killed in this mutiny, mr prigozhin was allowed to go scott free. according to this deal, he had to leave russia and move to belarus, taking with him those wegner fighters who remained loyal to him. and that cause a lot of unease, even amongst the russian newspapers which are very heavily controlled by the state, the questions were asked like how come someone mr prigozhin dost someone like mr prigozhin could go free and charges were dropped

against him? those questions have been asked over the last two months, and people have been talking openly about whether there would be an attempt on his life, whether we would see the return of mr prigozhin, even though he appeared in belarus and africa, would he return to the russian scene? if it's true that he was set democrat on board the plane that has crashed, then that is the end of the prigozhin story. it's the remarkable story of someone who started out as a hot dog seller in st. petersburg in the 1990s and became the kind of go to man for the kremlin, the fix—it man for the kremlin when they didn't want people to know about things they were doing, they would go to mr prigozhin, whether it was internet related, internet troll farms, whether it was paramilitary groups active in syria or, more

recently, in ukraine, he was the man who president putin went to to get things done on the quiet. but in the recent months, we saw a democrat mr prigozhin become publicly critical particularly of the military leadership of russia, publicly quarrelling with the defence minister, the chief of the general staff, becoming more confident in his outbursts, his audio messages posted online, his videos posted online critical of russia's war in ukraine, and leading to those events of two months ago, the mutiny. find of two months ago, the mutiny. and steve, of two months ago, the mutiny. and steve. you — of two months ago, the mutiny. and steve. you know _ of two months ago, the mutiny. and steve, you know the story inside out, i believe you were in moscow when yevgeny prigozhin made that audacious move. what first came to your mind when you heard this news, that there was a possibility he had

died in a plane crash? $5 that there was a possibility he had died in a plane crash?— died in a plane crash? as i say, theole died in a plane crash? as i say, people have — died in a plane crash? as i say, people have been _ died in a plane crash? as i say, people have been discussing i died in a plane crash? as i say, | people have been discussing for weeks now whether this tussle between different forces in and around the kremlin would end with mr prigozhin's death. as i say, we don't know the full circumstances of this particular crash, we cannot even confirm at the moment that he was on board. he was on the list of passengers, yes, as the russian authorities claim. but there'll be people russia who are not surprised but this news, that's for sure. in in terms of the implications, how would this be viewed in russia, for instance? i would this be viewed in russia, for instance? ~ ., , ., ., , instance? i think as far as the russian public _ instance? i think as far as the russian public goes, - instance? i think as far as the russian public goes, the - instance? i think as far as the russian public goes, the vast | russian public goes, the vast majority of russians are more concerned, to be honest, with hunkering down and getting through life. life is getting more difficult for russians, in terms of the

economy and standard of living. and although this will be playing on russian television, i think the biggest concern for russians is getting through life at the moment, which is becoming harder. ohtnd getting through life at the moment, which is becoming harder.— which is becoming harder. and what about the group _ which is becoming harder. and what about the group that _ which is becoming harder. and what about the group that he _ which is becoming harder. and what about the group that he led, - which is becoming harder. and what about the group that he led, the - about the group that he led, the wachter military group? what does that look like without yevgeny prigozhin —— wagner military group? yevgeny prigozhin was very much at the creation of wagner, but it was the creation of wagner, but it was the wagner the creation of wagner, but it was the wagne— the creation of wagner, but it was the wane ., , ., , the creation of wagner, but it was the wane .., ., , ., , ., the wagner commanders who played a ke role. if the wagner commanders who played a key role- if he — the wagner commanders who played a key role. if he has _ the wagner commanders who played a key role. if he has been _ the wagner commanders who played a key role. if he has been killed - the wagner commanders who played a key role. if he has been killed in - key role. if he has been killed in this crash, then what invocations does that have for wagner? will continue to exist as a group, will it not exist? as far as russian authorities are concerned, wagner

played a important role in african countries regarding its political regimes, which were quite profitable for the kremlin, so will that continue? you think the kremlin would be keen to insured does continue. ., ., , ., continue. how do we understand the link between — continue. how do we understand the link between yevgeny _ continue. how do we understand the link between yevgeny prigozhin - continue. how do we understand the link between yevgeny prigozhin and | link between yevgeny prigozhin and vladimir putin? it's been confusing for casual observers, we've seen videos of prigozhin making strong demands when this was the time of the war in ukraine and the wagner soldiers were making significant gains but not getting the equipment they wanted, and we know from his history, he's been a very key, important part of vladimir�*s ambitions. how did that relationship progressed to a point where we saw the mutiny, now this? fit, progressed to a point where we saw the mutiny, now this? fit. bit the mutiny, now this? a bit confusing — the mutiny, now this? a bit confusing is _ the mutiny, now this? a bit confusing is an _ the mutiny, now this? 3 t confusing is an understatement, very confusing is an understatement, very confusing — that sums russia up i

think. there's a lot we don't know, there's a lot we don't understand about what's going on in the background. what we do know is that prigozhin over the last few months had been publicly critical, but not directly of vladimir putin. his criticisms were directed almost completely at the military leadership of russia. so the defence minister and the chief of the general staff. minister and the chief of the generalstaff. he minister and the chief of the general staff. he blamed these figures for russia doing badly on the battlefield, and he accused them of holding back ammunition from wagner. so he grew increasingly critical, he was very vocal in his criticisms. but he avoided criticising vladimir putin directly. but when you organise a mutiny... so sorry, steve, jumping in to show

viewers these images coming into us, these are from flight rater 24 not calm, they show the out of the plane as it headed from moscow to st. petersburg. this shows the progress of the flight path, russia's emergencies ministry said, according to perimeter information, all ten people on board died. the private jet, which is reportedly owned by mr prigozhin, came down and you'll remember that mr prigozhin led a brief mutiny of wagner troops in june. as the plane flies away from moscow, the screen then goes blank as the plane disappears from radar. so we are trying to piece the picture together, and of course cooperate what we've been hearing from the russian authorities. sorry

to but in there, steve. interestingly, looking at that man, what occurs to me as mr prigozhin, according to the deal that was done with the kremlin, was supposed to leave russia and move to belarus. that was one of the conditions that was laid down by the kremlin. patently he didn't do that because we know that he's been popping up regularly in russia since then. yes, he has been seen in belarus, there were reports of him being seen in africa, but we know that he has been travelling back and forwards to russia. and during the recent russia— africa summit in st. petersburg, while vladimir putin was hosting african leaders, at the same time mr prigozhin was leaked democrat meeting african officials too, photos appeared of him smiling

and meeting african officials. so clearly, the conditions of that deal that was done with the kremlin were not met in full.— not met in full. it's an extraordinarily - not met in full. it's an extraordinarily murky| not met in full. it's an - extraordinarily murky picture, not met in full. it's an _ extraordinarily murky picture, as you say, and i think it's also worth reminding us why it's so important to be careful with the details, to take time to verify the details. because the picture isn't always clear, is it? because the picture isn't always clear. is it?— because the picture isn't always clear, is it? , ., , . clear, is it? very often the picture in russia is _ clear, is it? very often the picture in russia is murky, _ clear, is it? very often the picture in russia is murky, especially - clear, is it? very often the picture| in russia is murky, especially right after breaking news. we don't have all the details and i think it's important at the moment to say, to stress that yes, russian officials are saying that mr prigozhin was on the list of passengers on that plane — and that's all we know. that plane crashed. - and that's all we know. that plane crashed. �* . - and that's all we know. that plane crashed. �* , ,., , - and that's all we know. that plane crashed. �* , , _, crashed. and 'ust some lines coming in here, crashed. and just some lines coming in here. none — crashed. and just some lines coming in here, none of— crashed. and just some lines coming in here, none of the _ crashed. and just some lines coming in here, none of the social _ crashed. and just some lines coming in here, none of the social media - in here, none of the social media accounts believed to be linked to

upper goshen have so far made any claims as to whether he's dead or alive. some are saying that another business jet owned by him was also in the air at the time of the crash, also having to whether he's dead or alive. some are saying that another business jet owned by him was also in the air at the time of the crash, also having departed moscow. wagner linked channel is saying his second jet has turned around and is flying back to moscow. so if you details there, but they don't necessarily tell us very much about what's actually happened.— tell us very much about what's actually happened. know, and in the world of news _ actually happened. know, and in the world of news you _ actually happened. know, and in the world of news you want _ actually happened. know, and in the world of news you want things - actually happened. know, and in the world of news you want things to - actually happened. know, and in the world of news you want things to be | world of news you want things to be clear. it's the nature of the news business. very often in russia, things are not clear, not clear for some time. so we will see how things develop, what other information comes in. but if it is the case that mr bogosian was on the plane that crashed, if he has been killed, then thatis crashed, if he has been killed, then that is a significant development and there will be a lot of speculation about how the plane

crashed, what happened to the plane. but as i say, all we know at the moment is he was on the list of passengers according to the russian authorities. find passengers according to the russian authorities. �* ., . . ., ., authorities. and according to reuters, this _ authorities. and according to reuters, this line _ authorities. and according to reuters, this line coming - authorities. and according to reuters, this line coming inl authorities. and according to - reuters, this line coming in says russian emergency services say that eight bodies have been found on the site of the private jet crash. no we did report earlier that there were ten people on board, so we arejust getting this line saying eight bodies have been found on the site of the private plane crash. but we need to keep putting the pieces of information in the context. speaking of context, when we think about how important mr bogosian was to russia's ambitions, just talk to us about the impact of his military group in part of his character, his personality and what he's achieved —— mr prigozhin, and how would vladimir putin be planning to keep the best of what he offered without

him? indie the best of what he offered without him? ~ ., �* ~ ., the best of what he offered without him? . ., �* ~ ., ., , ., him? we don't know the answer to the second art him? we don't know the answer to the second part of — him? we don't know the answer to the second part of the _ him? we don't know the answer to the second part of the question. _ him? we don't know the answer to the second part of the question. as - him? we don't know the answer to the second part of the question. as far - second part of the question. as far as the first part of the question goes, the organisation that he founded, or he was there at the creation of wagner became an important fighting force for the russian authorities. when russia launched its full—scale operation of ukraine, things did not go well for the russians, things did not go according to plan. and very soon, the russian authorities had to think outside the box — find other fighting forces to help them, because the russian army wasn't making progress the kremlin wanted to stop so wagner was called upon. and just before we get to that, i'm getting some information that we have some video we can show you, and this is coming from reuters — this is the first footage we have of the

plane that has been reported as crashing, that private plane that yevgeny prigozhin was reportedly on. so that's the first footage we are getting of this, and that is coming in from the reuters news agency. so of course, we are following that news that the russian military chief yevgeny prigozhin was listed on board the private plane that crashed this evening, looking out the bits of footage we are getting of that event, reportedly that yevgeny prigozhin was on that private jet which crashed north of moscow, and the russian authorities have said there were no survivors of this crash. now we have been able to confirm that mr prigozhin's name was on the passenger list, but we are unable to confirm that he certainly was on board physically. reuters have also said that he was on that aircraft, we have obtained footage

of that crash which happened north of that crash which happened north of moscow. we've also heard from russia's aviation agency saying an investigation has been launched into that plane crash that occurred, and according to the passenger list, the name and surname of yevgeny prigozhin is among the people who were on board. now russia's emergency situations ministry has said in a statement that they've confirmed that the aircraft travelling from moscow to st. petersburg had crashed near the village in the to their region, is also said that ten people were on board. just briefly, steve, we have about a minute for this, i'd just like you to recap why this matters. this matters because yevgeny prigozhin did something that no one

else really has done in recent years. he organised a mutiny, he got his man, his armed mercenaries to take over a town, a big town and marched on moscow with demands that the military leadership of russia should be changed, a direct challenge to vladimir putin, even though he didn't criticise the russian president directly, his actions were a challenge to vladimir putin. a deal was done, the mutiny was ended, but that remains quite humiliating for the kremlin. stetgre humiliating for the kremlin. steve rosenberg. _ humiliating for the kremlin. steve rosenberg. it's — humiliating for the kremlin. steve rosenberg, it's great _ humiliating for the kremlin. steve rosenberg, it's great to _ humiliating for the kremlin. steve rosenberg, it's great to have - humiliating for the kremlin. steve rosenberg, it's great to have you in the studio as we process this breaking news. we've got much more for you on that news that russian mercenary chief yevgeny prigozhin was listed as a passenger on the private jet that has crashed north of moscow. stay with us here on bbc news, we will bring you all the latest and have all the reaction,

and everything that we can verify for you here on bbc news. live from london. this is bbc news reports from russia — the leader of the wagner mercenary group yevgeny prigozhin is killed in a plane crash — two months after his forces launched a mutiny against the russian military. the bbc can confirm that the wagner boss was listed as a passenger on a private plane which crashed north of moscow en route to saint petersburg. emergency services say all 10 people on board were killed. this radar recording shows the plane travelling north west — before disappearing from radar. hello, i'm nancy kacungira, welcome to the daily global, where we'll bring you the top stories from around the world. a stories from around the world. big breaking storyt

the russian federal agency for air transport says the wagner