Russian President Vladimir Putin said on Thursday that “fragments of a grenade” were found in the bodies of the victims of the August plane crash of PMK “Wagner” head Yevgeny Prigozhin, which “was not exposed to external influence”, according to AFP.

The remains of the plane that crashed in Russia and in which Yevgeny Prigozhin wasPhoto: AP / AP / Profimedia

“The head of the investigative commission reported to me a few days ago. Fragments of grenades were found in the bodies of the victims of the plane crash. The plane did not suffer any external impacts,” Putin said at the Valdai International Forum in Russia.

The head of PMK “Wagner” died on August 23, when his private plane, which was traveling from Moscow to St. Petersburg, crashed, together with several of his lieutenants.

Russian President Vladimir Putin considered Prigozhin a traitor for organizing the June 23 uprising.

Ukraine and the West suspect retaliation from the Kremlin, Moscow rejects this theory.

Russian investigators have not said whether they are focusing on an assassination, a technical problem or human error, and the only probe so far open is into aviation security violations.

After the Wagner uprising, Putin gave Prigozhin’s soldiers a choice: join the regular army, emigrate to Belarus, or return to civilian life.

According to Putin, “thousands of fighters” of PMK “Wagner” signed contracts with the Ministry of Defense.

Read HERE LIVE all the information about the war in Ukraine – day 589