Yevgeny Prigozhin, the head of the Wagner Group mercenaries who staged a coup against Russian President Vladimir Putin two months ago, has been killed in a plane crash along with Dmitry Utkin, the Wagner military commander. The plane crashed some 30 miles from Putin's Valdai residence, leading to speculation that it was shot down or a bomb exploded onboard. Putin himself had recently returned to Russia from Africa and was at his residence during the crash. It is unclear whether Prigozhin was scheduled to meet with Putin or just with Nikolai Patrushev, the secretary of the Security Council.

The circumstances surrounding the crash raise several questions. Prigozhin and Utkin, who usually flew separately, were on the same plane. Prigozhin also usually used two different planes, but on this day he used two planes, with the second plane's fate unknown. Additionally, Putin's choice to visit an obscure village on the same day as the crash is seen by some as an alibi to distance himself from any involvement.

With Prigozhin's death, the question arises: who will be the next target? Prigozhin's enemies within rival businesses and the Russian government may now feel freer to settle scores. It is possible that Kremlin advisors took the initiative against Prigozhin without explicit orders from Putin, given the recent perception of his aloofness and indecisiveness. Overall, the circumstances of Prigozhin's death and the potential implications for Putin's circle raise concerns about safety and the dynamics of power within Russia.