Yevgeny Prigozhin, founder of Russia's paramilitary Wagner Group, is rumored to be dead after a plane crash. Although Western authorities have not confirmed his death, Russian news agency TASS reported that Prigozhin's name was listed among the passengers on the crashed aircraft. If Prigozhin is dead, many will suspect that he was killed by Russian President Vladimir Putin.

Prigozhin led a march of thousands of Wagner fighters in June, which some called a "mutiny" and a "civil war." The fact that Putin was able to swiftly squash the uprising demonstrated the impotence of Wagner as a threat to his rule.

The death of Prigozhin raises important questions about Putin's control over Russia. Prigozhin was the leader of a paramilitary force with thousands of armed men, and he was popular among them. There is the possibility of reprisal attacks against the Russian government.

President Biden has been briefed on the plane crash and suggested that Putin may have been responsible for bringing down the aircraft. The Kremlin has faced accusations of being behind numerous assassination attempts in the past.

The investigation into the crash and the implications for Putin's control over Russia are ongoing.