Once Putin's trusted confidant, former Wagner militia leader Yevgeny Prigozhin lived among Russia's upper echelons. However, following the militia group's failed coup this summer, the Kremlin branded him public enemy number one. Now, in the wake of reports of Prigozhin's mysterious death in an unexplained plane crash, questions are swirling as to who Putin's late foe really was. Click or scroll on to find out more about Prigozhin, his St Petersburg mansion and his lavish lifestyle before he got on Putin's bad side...
On the evening of 23 August, a private jet crashed in a rural spot in Russia's Tver region. According to Russia's Federal Agency for Air Transport, all 10 people onboard perished. Among the victims was Yevgeny Prigozhin, the former mercenary chief who had come to be known as Putin's foe. Prigozhin's right-hand man, Dmitry Utkin, was also reportedly killed. Pictured here are rescue personnel at work at the crash site. The plane was reportedly en route from Moscow to St Petersburg, and while the cause of the crash is not yet clear, some Russian villagers reported seeing explosions as the jet descended. President Biden suggested that the Kremlin could be behind the crash: "There’s not much that happens in Russia that Putin’s not behind," he told reporters on the day of the tragedy. But who exactly was Prigozhin, and how did he end up crossing the Kremlin?
Yevgeny Prigozhin, who was often referred to as 'Putin's chef', gained notoriety as a close ally of the Russian president. Somewhat surprisingly, Prigozhin's rise to prominence began in the world of catering, providing hospitality services to the Kremlin. This led to other, more nefarious ventures including becoming the figurehead of the now-dissolved Wagner Group. The organisation started as a private military contractor known for its involvement in conflicts abroad, including the Russian invasion of Ukraine. The group's presence in the ongoing war made global news headlines in June 2023, when Prigozhin accused the Russian government of attacking his soldiers.
The mercenary company embarked on a chaotic uprising against the Kremlin and even attempted a march on Moscow, but their efforts were ultimately thwarted, placing Prigozhin firmly in Putin's crosshairs. However, in a surprise move, the Kremlin dropped criminal charges against the Wagner boss. In return, Prigozhin was supposed to relocate to neighbouring Belarus, though it's not clear where he was living prior to his death. Following the failed coup, the Russian Federal Security Service (FSB) reportedly raided Prigozhin's lavish St Petersburg mansion on 24 June 2023 and the extraordinary footage was published by pro-Kremlin media outlet Izvestia. It's clear from the estate's sprawling, manicured grounds that Prigozhin was living the high life before he landed in Putin's bad books.
The home's interior is equally as grand as its exterior, judging from this image of one of the palatial vestibules. Marble chequerboard floors, a sweeping staircase and silk brocade wallpaper paint a lavish picture of Prigozhin's former life here. The scale of grandeur is certainly a contrast to the late militia leader's reportedly modest upbringing in one of St Petersburg's tougher neighbourhoods – a childhood that draws parallels with Putin's humble beginnings.
While Prigozhin chose to settle in the city where he grew up, his situation was certainly vastly changed. According to CNN, during his early life, Prigozhin served nine years behind bars for fraud and robbery, before making waves with his catering business and establishing the for-hire militia company that would be his legacy. From the ornate silk couches to the Persian rug, gilded glass cabinets and priceless antiques, Prigozhin's former home is a lavish display of the ill-gotten spoils of his work.
The Wagner Group's services evidently came at quite some cost to their war-hungry clients. In fact, some sources measured Prigozhin's net worth at a staggering $1 billion (£762m) just before his death. It's no wonder his former mansion is filled with extravagant fixtures and amenities. Here, in the same expansive living space, is a vast flat-screen TV mounted on the wall.
The kitchen, while not quite as elaborate as the main reception room, features the same decadent touches. Ornately carved columns frame the kitchen island, while an extravagant chandelier hangs over a casual dining table. It's certainly a fitting space for the man who was once known as 'Putin's chef'.
As well as the usual gilded trappings that tend to typify oligarch palaces, Prigozhin's mansion holds more than a few unusual and bizarre surprises. In what looks like an opulent entry space or hallway, resplendent with polished marble floors, brocade wallpaper and wood panelling, what appears to be an alligator sits on the console table.
Moving upstairs, the intricate wrought-iron detailing across the staircase's balustrades is brought into focus. Another surprising discovery is the striking ebony grand piano tucked away in this alcove, which could hint at the Prigozhin family's musical inclinations perhaps. The late Wagner leader is thought to have lived in the mansion with his wife, Lyudmila, while the couple's three grown children may have been regular visitors.
Ascending to the mansion's upper level, the remarkable classical details of the building's architecture become clear. A vaulted glass roof allows daylight to pour down into the open entertaining spaces below, while botanical friezes encircle the aperture. Prigozhin was evidently a fan of grand, Grecian-inspired architecture.
The sprawling estate has no shortage of accommodation. This image from the raid reveals an especially regal bedroom. Enveloped in dark wooden panels, the space features cream silk curtains, a gold-inlaid mirror and a large bed complete with a silk-upholstered headboard. Whoever slumbered here clearly had expensive tastes.
However, the bedroom holds some less conventional items too. The FSB's photos reveal a cache of assault weapons and ammunition laid out on a tarp on the floor, as though the late Wagner boss was preparing for a mercenary job, or perhaps taking stock of his inventory. If you look closely, there's also a number of mysterious boxes and bags...
Inside, the FSB allegedly discovered a number of solid gold bars, as well as thick wads of US dollars and passports. Yet something even more incredulous was lurking nearby. One of the wardrobes concealed Prigozhin's extensive wig and beard collection, thought to have been used as disguises during his militia work.
Souvenirs from Prigozhin's nefarious career are scattered across the office. Most notably, they include an oversized novelty sledgehammer in the home's study that reads "For use in important negotiations" in Russian. Distressing framed photographs were also reportedly uncovered during the search, which are said to depict the Wagner leader's deceased enemies.
In another corner of the office, Prigozhin's prized uniform adorned with medals is proudly on display. According to Anton Gerashchenko, advisor to Ukraine's Minister of Internal Affairs, a Hero of Russia award was also discovered in the room. The accolade was reportedly presented to Prigozhin on 20 June 2022.
In stark contrast to the mementos of war, the mansion has what looks to be its own prayer room. The space features walls of iconography and gilded fixtures typical of the Russian Orthodox Church. On the ceiling, an elaborate mural depicts blue and yellow sunbeams – now a banned colour combination in Russia since the start of the war in Ukraine.
The property offers a large indoor swimming pool too, complete with a Jacuzzi and what looks to be a children's slide. A massage table is poised on the side of the pool, suggesting that the Wagner leader or perhaps members of his family subscribed to Putin's rumoured fondness for pampering.
According to the video footage, the home also has a sophisticated medical room kitted out with state-of-the-art equipment. Investigative website Proekt alleged that Prigozhin had been undergoing treatment for stomach cancer for a while, but was thought to have been in remission prior to his death. What will become of the mansion now is unknown, and only time will tell if the truth behind the militia leader's untimely death will ever come to light...
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