The Kremlin has strongly denied involvement in the killing of Wagner chief Yevgeny Prigozhin, dismissing allegations made by US officials that Russian President Vladimir Putin might have ordered Prigozhin's killing. The circumstances of Prigozhin's death, whether in a plane crash or due to an explosion, are under debate. The Russian government has been slow to confirm Prigozhin's death, but his name was listed on the flight manifest. Putin has acknowledged Prigozhin's contributions to the war in Ukraine, but stated that he had made serious mistakes.

Western politicians and commentators have suggested that Putin may have ordered Prigozhin's killing as punishment for his involvement in a failed mutiny against army chiefs. Russian investigators have opened a probe into the incident, and the Kremlin has stated that it will wait for the results of a comprehensive investigation before making any official statement. The future of the Wagner Group, which Prigozhin led, remains unclear. British military intelligence believes it is highly likely that Prigozhin was killed in the plane crash.