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Wagner Group Leader Yevgeny Prigozhin Believed to Have Died Following Plane Crash in Russia

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Russian mercenary leader Yevgeny Prigozhin was reportedly among the passengers aboard a Russian jet that crashed, resulting in the deaths of all 10 individuals on board. The crash occurred in the Tver region, northwest of Moscow. Social media linked to the Wagner mercenary group have suggested that Prigozhin’s private plane was shot down by Russian air defenses. The Grey Zone Telegram channel stated that Prigozhin died due to actions by traitors to Russia.

Prigozhin had previously led a failed mutiny against the Russian armed forces in June, though some experts believe the mutiny was staged, and he abandoned his “justice march” on Moscow after direct orders from President Vladimir Putin. The crash coincided with reports of the removal of senior Russian general Sergei Surovikin, who was known to have a connection with Prigozhin. The crashed aircraft, an Embraer-135, was en route from Moscow to St Petersburg with seven passengers and three crew members.

An investigation has been initiated into the crash, and all 10 bodies have been recovered. The Wagner mercenary group, which Prigozhin was associated with, has been involved in various conflicts including those in Ukraine, Syria, and West Africa, and is known for its brutality. Prigozhin’s mutiny had created tensions with Russian military commanders and President Putin.

President Putin’s initial response to Prigozhin’s challenge to Russia’s defense establishment was strongly negative. The circumstances surrounding Prigozhin’s death, if confirmed, have raised speculation, with some eyebrows being raised about the possibility of deliberate targeting. US President Joe Biden expressed that he was “not surprised” by the news of Prigozhin’s potential death.

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Ukraine war: Ship leaves Odesa despite Russia Black Sea attack fears

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A Hong Kong-flagged merchant ship named Joseph Schulte, which had been stuck in the Ukrainian port of Odesa due to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, has departed the port. Despite concerns that Russia might target vessels in the Black Sea, the ship left after Kyiv announced a “humanitarian corridor” for ships in the Black Sea. This corridor was established following the collapse of a previous deal that allowed Ukraine to export grain. The ship’s departure comes after Russian air strikes reportedly damaged grain storage facilities in Reni, a port on the Danube river.

Ukrainian officials released images showing the destruction of storage facilities and crops in Reni. Despite the attacks, the port is said to be operational. Russia has not commented on these latest developments. Previously, Russia withdrew from an agreement that guaranteed safe passage for ships in the Black Sea, suggesting that ships heading to Ukrainian ports could be considered military targets.

Ukraine, a significant exporter of grain and oilseeds, has faced challenges due to the blockade, leading to global increases in food prices. In response to these threats, Ukraine established a humanitarian corridor in the Black Sea to facilitate the departure of ships from its ports. The Joseph Schulte was carrying over 30,000 tonnes of cargo, including food, and was headed to Istanbul, Turkey. The corridor is intended to help evacuate ships that have been trapped in Black Sea ports since the start of Russia’s invasion.

Meanwhile, Ukrainian forces have been conducting a counter-offensive to retake territory from Russian forces in the eastern Donetsk region. Despite receiving military equipment from Western countries, their advances have been limited. Recent clashes have led to the evacuation of many residents in the country’s east. Russia has also reported downing drones near Moscow in a series of attacks on Russian cities.

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Yandex Co-Founder Criticizes Russia’s ‘Brutal’ Conflict in Ukraine

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Arkady Volozh, a co-founder of Yandex and a prominent figure in Russia’s tech industry, has criticized Moscow’s complete military intervention in Ukraine, referring to it as “savage.”

In an official statement, Volozh expressed his distress over the daily bombing of Ukrainian homes and conveyed his opposition to the conflict. Although he resides in Israel and had been criticized for his silence on the matter, he acknowledged his responsibility for his home country’s actions.

Volozh stepped down as Yandex’s CEO in 2022, a move that coincided with personal sanctions imposed by the European Union. The EU cited his role in supporting actions undermining Ukraine’s sovereignty. Yandex, often likened to “Russia’s Google,” is the largest Russian-language internet search engine. Volozh’s condemnation of the invasion stands out among Russia-linked business figures who have openly criticized President Vladimir Putin’s decision to initiate the full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022.

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Repeat Drone Strike Targets Moscow Skyscraper Amid Ongoing Ukraine Conflict

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Moscow’s Mayor Sergei Sobyanin has reported a second drone attack on a skyscraper in the city’s Moskva City complex within two days. Multiple drones were shot down during the overnight incident, but one managed to hit the same tower that was targeted on Sunday. The attack caused damage to the building’s glass facade, but fortunately, no injuries have been reported.

Russia’s defense ministry has attributed the latest attack to Ukraine, although Kyiv has not made any official comments on the matter. The tensions have escalated further, as Russia also claimed that three Ukrainian unmanned boats were destroyed while attempting to attack Russian naval ships in the Black Sea.

The IQ-Quarter Tower 1 building suffered over 150 sq m of destroyed glazing during the drone attack. Additionally, two more Ukrainian drones were reportedly shot down by anti-aircraft systems in other parts of the Moscow region, with Russia’s defense ministry claiming to have thwarted a “terrorist attack” from Ukraine.

This incident adds to the growing accusations by Moscow, alleging that Ukraine has been conducting drone strikes on Russian territory in recent months. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has not claimed responsibility for specific attacks but has expressed that such actions on Russian territory are seen as an “inevitable, natural, and absolutely fair process.”

The conflict between Russia and Ukraine has been ongoing since Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022. In the wake of these recent incidents, there have been casualties and damages on both sides, further escalating the tensions in the region.

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Prigozhin: Wagner Shifts Focus to Africa and Belarus, Pauses Fighter Recruitment

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Head of Wagner Mercenary Group, Yevgeny Prigozhin, announced in an audio message released by a Wagner-linked Telegram account that the group will continue its operations in Africa and Belarus but is currently not actively recruiting new fighters. Prigozhin stated that the majority of Wagner fighters are currently on leave due to a period of intense work. The group is in the process of determining its future objectives, which will be undertaken for the benefit of Russia.

While the group remains operational in Africa and maintains training centers in Belarus, Prigozhin did not provide specific details. Wagner is known for its presence in various African regions and its involvement in training Belarusian territorial defense forces. However, he emphasized that they do not plan to recruit new personnel at present. Nonetheless, if the country requires a new group to safeguard its interests, Wagner will initiate recruitment.

Prigozhin also mentioned that some fighters from the group have opted to transfer to other Russian power structures, a move that the group does not restrict. In June, Wagner fighters participated in a short-lived mutiny against Russia’s military leadership, and in the aftermath of the failed mutiny, President Vladimir Putin invited non-participating Wagner fighters to sign contracts with the Russian defense ministry.

In recent developments, on Monday morning, four people were killed in Kryvyi Rih, Ukraine, following Russian missile strikes. A drone attack was also reported in Russia’s border region of Bryansk, with a police station being hit. Moscow Mayor Sergei Sobyanin accused Ukraine of the drone attack on the Russian capital, resulting in damage to two office blocks. In response, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky warned that war was returning to Russia, and attacks on Russian territory were a natural consequence of the ongoing conflict between the two countries.

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Central Volga Region Storm Claims 10 Lives with High Winds

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A severe storm struck central Russia, resulting in the death of at least 10 people and injuring 76 others, as reported by the Emergencies Ministry. Among the victims were eight individuals, including three children, who were killed when trees fell on their unregistered campsite in the Mari El region.

The storm impacted eight regions, leaving nearly 100,000 people without electricity and causing damage to almost 50 buildings. The Emergencies Ministry advised the public to avoid certain activities like being near trees, unstable structures, countryside walks, and swimming.

The incident occurred near Lake Yalchik, a popular tourist destination in the Mari Chodra national park, situated north of the Volga river and over 600 km east of Moscow. Pictures released by the ministry depicted extensive damage to cars and tents amid fallen trees. The storm caught several hundred people who were camping on the lake’s shores off guard. In response to the incident, Russia’s Investigative Committee has initiated a criminal case.

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Threat to Ships in Ukraine Conflict Causes Soaring Wheat Prices

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Wheat prices on the global markets have experienced a sharp rise following Russia’s declaration that it would consider ships heading to Ukrainian ports as potential military targets. This decision came after Moscow withdrew from a UN agreement that guaranteed safe passage for grain shipments through the Black Sea. In recent nights, Russia has launched attacks on Ukraine’s grain facilities in cities like Odesa. The White House has accused Russia of planning to attack civilian ships and then falsely blaming Ukraine for it. As a result of these developments, European stock exchange wheat prices surged by 8.2% to €253.75 per tonne, with corn prices also rising by 5.4%. US wheat futures recorded their highest daily increase since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, jumping 8.5%. President Vladimir Putin has expressed willingness to return to the international grain agreement if certain demands, including the lifting of sanctions on Russian grain and fertiliser sales, are met.

Amid these escalating tensions, Russian air strikes continued in Black Sea coastal cities for three consecutive nights, leading to civilian casualties. The attacks have targeted grain export infrastructure and raised concerns about the safety of shipping routes for essential food supplies. Ukraine’s options for exporting grain by rail are limited, with rail capacity smaller than shipping volumes, and some EU countries in Eastern Europe blocking Ukrainian grain to protect their own farmers.

Analysts have warned that Russia’s threatened escalation could disrupt waterborne grain shipments from the Black Sea, impacting both Russian and Ukrainian exports. Some Ukrainian officials have called on the UK, US, France, and Turkey to provide military convoys and air defenses to protect grain ships heading to Odesa.

The situation has raised concerns about potential impacts on global food security and inflation, particularly in developing countries, leading to social instability, food shortages, and increased migration. Critics accuse Russia of using food supplies as a political tool in its conflict with Ukraine.

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Lukashenko claims Wagner leader Prigozhin is present in Russia

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Belarusian leader Alexander Lukashenko has stated that Yevgeny Prigozhin, the leader of the Wagner Group and former participant in a brief armed rebellion in Russia, is currently in Russia and not in Belarus. Prigozhin’s whereabouts had been unknown after he was spotted in southern Russia during the mutiny.

However, as part of a negotiated agreement to resolve the situation, charges against Prigozhin were dropped, allowing him and his fighters to potentially relocate to Belarus. Lukashenko, who played a role in brokering the deal, initially claimed that Prigozhin had arrived in Belarus when a private jet associated with him landed in Minsk on June 27.

However, Lukashenko recently informed reporters that Prigozhin is actually in St. Petersburg and not present in Belarus. Despite this, Lukashenko reiterated that the offer for Wagner fighters to station themselves in Belarus, a prospect raising concerns among neighboring NATO countries, remains open.

Lukashenko believes there is no risk to Belarus and does not anticipate Wagner fighters taking up arms against his country. The Wagner Group is a private mercenary army that has fought alongside the Russian military in Ukraine. Prigozhin’s mutiny involved Wagner mercenaries crossing the border into Russia from field camps in Ukraine and seizing control of certain security facilities in the southern city of Rostov-on-Don. They then proceeded toward Moscow, leading to increased security measures implemented by the Kremlin in various regions, including the capital.

While Vladimir Putin accused the group of treason, the mutiny’s resolution resulted in Prigozhin receiving security assurances and the dropping of the Russian criminal case against Wagner. The fighters were given the option to sign regular army contracts, return home, or relocate to Belarus.

Lukashenko had previously stated that Wagner mercenaries were offered an abandoned military base if they chose to join their leader. Recent satellite imagery has shown the potential establishment of tents at a former military base near Minsk, but no concrete evidence of their occupation has been observed yet.

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Wagner Mercenaries in Russian Urban Areas Defy Putin’s Accusations of Rebellion

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Russian Private Military Contractor, Wagner Group’s Leader Yevgeny Prigozhin Claims Control of Military Sites in Rostov-on-Don, Defying President Putin’s Accusations of Betrayal

Yevgeny Prigozhin, the head of the Russian private military contractor Wagner Group, has asserted that his mercenaries have taken over “all military facilities” in the southern city of Rostov-on-Don. Reports suggest that they have also been deployed in Voronezh, located further north, following Prigozhin’s threat to march on Moscow and remove Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu from power.

President Vladimir Putin has condemned these actions, referring to them as a “stab in the back” and vowing to punish those who have “betrayed” Russia. Security measures have been tightened in numerous regions, including Moscow.

The Wagner Group, known for its involvement alongside the regular Russian army in the conflict in Ukraine, has been experiencing increasing tensions with the military leadership over their differing approaches to the war. Prigozhin has been openly criticizing Russia’s military command in recent months.

The situation escalated dramatically after Prigozhin accused the Russian military of targeting his group’s base in Ukraine, a claim that Moscow denies.

Prigozhin insists that this is not a military coup, but rather an attempt to overthrow Russia’s military leadership. However, President Putin, in his address, described the situation as an act of “treason.”

While Prigozhin was not mentioned by name, President Putin warned that those who engaged in betrayal, armed rebellion, blackmail, or terrorist methods would face severe consequences under the law and before the Russian people.

In response, Prigozhin, for the first time directly criticizing the Russian leader, stated that his troops were “patriots of our motherland” and argued that President Putin was “profoundly mistaken” to accuse them of betrayal.

In a video shared on his Telegram channel, Prigozhin claimed that his fighters had entered Rostov-on-Don after crossing the border from Ukraine, asserting that his forces would eliminate anyone obstructing their path. However, the location and veracity of his claim regarding shooting down a Russian military helicopter that allegedly fired upon a civilian convoy remain unverified.

President Putin acknowledged the challenging situation in Rostov-on-Don, where Wagner forces reportedly control military installations. The city of Voronezh, en route to Moscow, is also said to be under their control, prompting the governor to initiate a “counter-terrorism operation.”

Previously, Prigozhin and President Putin had a close relationship. However, this latest challenge, combined with the complications arising from the Russian invasion of Ukraine, has presented a headache for the Russian leader. Consequently, Putin has taken a firm stance, declaring “enough is enough.”

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Three people were killed in a recent missile attack on Kyiv during the Ukraine war

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In a recent nighttime missile attack on Kyiv, three individuals, including an 11-year-old girl, lost their lives, according to regional police. The ongoing conflict between Ukraine and Russia has resulted in frequent missile and drone strikes targeting the Ukrainian capital.

The latest attack occurred in the Desnyanskyi and Dniprovskyi districts, leaving 11 others injured. The victims also included a 33-year-old woman and the girl’s 34-year-old mother. Initial reports suggested two children had died, but the information was later updated.

This marks the fourth attack this week, following a series of 17 strikes on Kyiv throughout May, mostly during nighttime. Photos shared by military authorities revealed rescue teams tending to the wounded and damaged buildings. In the occupied Luhansk region, Russian-backed officials claimed five deaths and 19 injuries from Ukrainian shelling at a poultry farm.

Additionally, the governor of the Russian region of Belgorod, bordering Ukraine, stated that two individuals were injured in an attack on Shebekino, which he attributed to Ukrainian troops.

Russia has been employing kamikaze drones, cruise missiles, and ballistic missiles in recent weeks to target Ukraine, with Kyiv being a primary focus. Analysts believe that Moscow aims to weaken Ukraine’s air defenses ahead of an anticipated counter-offensive planned by the Ukrainian government.

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