St.Petersburg - A preliminary assessment from US intelligence has concluded that the plane crash, which is believed to have resulted in the death of a prominent mercenary leader, was intentionally caused by an explosion. The incident garnered attention as Russian President Vladimir Putin extended his condolences for the death of the mercenary leader, Yevgeny Prigozhin. Concurrently, suspicions began to grow, hinting at Putin's potential involvement in masterminding the assassination.

A US and Western official, who shared insights on the initial assessment anonymously due to a lack of authorization, conveyed that there is a high likelihood that Yevgeny Prigozhin was the intended target of the explosion. This act of sabotage aligned with Putin's track record of quelling opposition.

Notably, these officials refrained from providing specific details about the explosion's cause, which was widely speculated to be a retaliatory strike for a mutiny in June that posed a significant challenge to Putin's rule spanning 23 years. Several key members of Prigozhin's organization were also presumed dead in the incident.

Contrary to reports suggesting the involvement of a surface-to-air missile, Pentagon spokesman Gen. Pat Ryder clarified that such claims were inaccurate. However, he declined to confirm whether the US suspected an explosive device or an assassination plot behind the crash.

As insights from the intelligence assessment surfaced, Putin offered his condolences to the families of those purportedly on board the plane and mentioned Prigozhin's "serious mistakes." The plane, carrying the founder of the Wagner military company along with six other passengers, crashed after taking off from Moscow. Rescuers discovered ten bodies, and sources in the Wagner group, speaking anonymously, indicated Prigozhin's demise, although no official confirmation followed.

President Joe Biden, speaking to reporters, expressed his belief that Putin played a role in the crash, yet he acknowledged the lack of verifiable information to support his assertion. He highlighted that events in Russia often appear linked to Putin's actions.

The passenger list included Prigozhin's second-in-command, who used a pseudonym for the group, along with Wagner's logistics chief and a fighter previously wounded by US airstrikes in Syria. It remained unclear why several high-ranking Wagner members, including those usually vigilant about security, were all on the same flight. The purpose of their joint trip to St. Petersburg remained unknown.

At Wagner's headquarters in St. Petersburg, a makeshift memorial was erected by Prigozhin's supporters, featuring red and white flowers, company flags, and candles arranged to form a large cross. Putin acknowledged the passengers' significant contribution to conflicts like Ukraine.

While offering condolences, Putin reminisced about his acquaintance with Prigozhin since the 1990s, describing him as a talented businessman who had made both personal and collective contributions, despite serious life mistakes.

Russian state media primarily focused on Putin's participation in the BRICS summit and the Russia-Ukraine conflict, rather than extensively covering the crash. Unverified reports circulated on Russian social media platforms, suggesting that bodies were badly disfigured and would require DNA identification. However, independent confirmation of these reports was lacking.

Supporters of Prigozhin claimed on pro-Wagner channels that the plane was deliberately downed. Sergei Mironov, leader of the pro-Kremlin Fair Russia party, suggested that Prigozhin's extensive conflicts had led to an accumulation of enemies, potentially culminating in this outcome.

Russian authorities maintained that the crash's cause remained under investigation. Witnesses recounted the incident, with Anastasia Bukharova describing how the plane seemed to tear apart in the air before crashing into a field.

Given the history of opponents and critics facing mysterious deaths or attempts on their lives, many had anticipated Putin's targeting of Prigozhin, despite prior deals to end the June 23-24 mutiny.

German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock noted the recurring pattern of unexplained deaths and suicides in Putin's Russia, acknowledging the ambiguity surrounding the situation.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy implied external involvement, stating, "We have nothing to do with this. Everyone understands who does."

Initial reports on social media and news outlets pointed to the plane belonging to Wagner. Subsequent confirmation cited Prigozhin's name on the manifest.

Prigozhin had been openly critical of Russian generals' conduct in the Ukraine conflict. His mercenaries had played a crucial role in the conflict, prompting speculation about Putin's tolerance for internal disputes. However, Prigozhin's mutiny, which involved capturing military headquarters and downing aircraft, escalated the situation. Putin's response was to arrange amnesty for Prigozhin and his fighters in exchange for ending the mutiny.

Now, the prevailing sentiment is that consequences have caught up with Prigozhin. The Institute for the Study of War suggested that Russian authorities aimed to eliminate Wagner as an independent entity by targeting Prigozhin and his associates.

Political consultant Abbas Gallyamov highlighted Prigozhin's act of defiance as a challenge to Putin, necessitating a response to prevent further rebellions.

Videos circulated on the pro-Wagner Telegram channel depicted a plane plummeting amid a cloud of smoke, suggestive of midflight explosion due to severe damage.