A distinctive black Wagner flag featuring a white skull, flanked by the words “PMC Wagner Group”, has been hoisted at the desolate site of a plane crash that claimed the life of Russia’s most influential mercenary leader, Yevgeny Prigozhin, and nine others.

This mysterious act has added another layer of intrigue to the already puzzling incident.*

On August 23, 2023, tragedy struck when the private jet carrying Prigozhin, who was en route from Moscow to St. Petersburg, crashed, killing all 10 occupants aboard. Among the victims were two other high-ranking Wagner figures, Prigozhin’s four bodyguards, and a three-member crew. As of now, the exact cause of the crash remains shrouded in uncertainty.

However, recent footage obtained by Reuters from the crash site near the village of Kuzhenkino in Russia’s Tver region reveals an eerie scene devoid of any aircraft debris. Instead, a simple stone memorial consisting of four large boulders has been erected to honor the fallen mercenary chief. The memorial is adorned with vivid red carnations, and the Wagner flag waves atop a pole fashioned from a tree branch.

Skull symbol

This unsettling symbol of the Wagner private mercenary group has captured the attention of onlookers and investigators alike. The flag, prominently featuring the distinctive white skull, sends an ominous message, further deepening the mystery surrounding the crash.

Since the crash, local villagers have reported hearing a loud bang before witnessing the jet’s rapid descent to the ground. This eyewitness account adds to the intrigue surrounding the incident, as authorities continue their efforts to determine what caused the tragic crash.