The Latest Breaking News from Wagner

Britain’s defense ministry said Friday that the presumed death of Russian mercenary leader Yevgeny Prigozhin in a plane crash could destabilize the Wagner Group, whose brutal fighters were feared in Ukraine, Africa and Syria and conducted a brief but shocking mutiny in Russia

Russian President Vladimir Putin has broken his silence on the plane crash that reportedly killed mercenary boss Yevgeny Prigozhin and other senior members of the Wagner paramilitary group on Wednesday.

Options for the mercenary group – in the wake of Yevgeny Prigozhin’s reported demise – include complete dissolution, nationalisation into the conventional Russian army or finding a new leader. Russian President Vladimir Putin is set to hold the key to the future

Vladimir Putin has leant on military contractors to claim victories in Ukraine but his former friend’s attempted mutiny and threats against Russia’s defence establishment have exposed cracks in the president’s authority

Flight recorders also recovered, Russian officials say; Alexander Lukashenko says he warned Wagner bosses to be aware of threats to their lives

In today’s newsletter: Yevgeny Prigozhin is almost certainly dead – but, with the current state of chaos in Russia, could his plane crash be a smokescreen?

As Belarusian president claims he told Wagner chief and his ally Utkin: ‘Lads – you watch out’

An official says reporters indicate Yevgeny Prigozhin was ‘very likely’ targeted and that the explosion falls in line with Vladimir Putin’s ‘long history of trying to silence his critics.’

As the war enters its 548th day, these are the main developments.

Vladimir Putin’s response to plane crash which killed Yevgeny Prigozhin dominates the front of Friday’s newspapers.

Putin says Wagner founder Yevgeny Prigozhin ‘made some serious mistakes in his life’; US will begin training Ukrainian pilots on F-16s in October