Former UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson has expressed speculation and criticism regarding the death of Yevgeny Prigozhin, the alleged boss of the Wagner private military group, and Russian President Vladimir Putin's actions. In a Daily Mail op-ed, Johnson alleged that Putin "must have killed" Prigozhin and argued against the possibility of negotiating peace with Putin over Ukraine.
Johnson pondered about Prigozhin's last moments after a plane believed to be carrying him crashed in Russia. While the cause of the crash remains unclear, US and Western intelligence officials suggested it might have been deliberate.
In Johnson's op-ed, he wrote, "He knew whose hidden hand was sending him 28,000 ft down, to be immolated with the rest of his Wagner group companions in a fireball." Johnson suggested that Prigozhin's final thought might have been "Putin!" He further criticized Prigozhin for his alleged role in previous incidents, such as poisonings in the UK.
The plane crash occurred two months after Prigozhin led a short-lived rebellion in Russia. Experts have questioned whether the Wagner group can survive without him.
The Kremlin denied any involvement in the crash and stated that necessary examinations were being conducted to confirm Prigozhin's death.
Johnson characterized the event as a historic act of violence carried out on television by a sitting head of state, implying that Putin was behind the deaths of his enemies. He criticized Putin's actions and likened them to those of a gangster.
Overall, Johnson's op-ed reflects his strong criticism of Putin's leadership and actions, suggesting that the inciden