President Putin Says There Was A Grenade On Wagner Boss Prigozhin's Plane, Reveals 5 Kg Of Cocaine Findings

A wreath in front of PMC Wagner Center headquarters, St. Petersburg, Russia. (Wikimedia Commons/FITY CC)

JAKARTA - Russian President Vladimir Putin quoted the state investigation team as saying the plane carrying the founder of the Wagner Group mercenaries Yevgeny Prigozhin did not experience an external impact before it crashed, in an accident that killed the entire crew and passengers.

"I know, maybe there are questions you want to ask about what happened to the company leadership. We know about the plane crash. The Head of the Investigative Committee gave me an explanation a few days ago," President Putin explained, launching TASS October 6.

"The hand grenades were found on the bodies of those who died in the crash. There was no external impact on the aircraft, and this is a fact that has been tested, the results of an examination conducted by the Russian Investigative Committee," President Putin said.

He further explained that the bodies unfortunately did not undergo alcohol and drug tests, although the tests should have been carried out.

"Investigations are ongoing, but, unfortunately, no tests have been carried out to determine whether alcohol or drugs are in the blood of the victims," said President Putin.

"However, we all know, after what you know, the FSB ( Federal Security Service) found five kilograms of cocaine at the company's ( Wagner Group) office in St. Peterburg, along with ten billion rubles," said President Putin.

"In my opinion, this kind of test should have been done, but it wasn't," he added.

President putin said he had communicated with the chairman of the Russian Investigative Committee, ensuring he had permission for these various informations in public.

It is known that Embraer's private jet, which Prigozhin was traveling on to St. Petersburg, crashed north of Moscow on August 23. Ten people on board were killed, including Prigozhin, two Wagner officials, four Prigozhin bodyguards and three crew members, as quoted by Reuters.