Putin sends condolences to family of Wagner boss Prigozhin after plane crash

Putin described Prigozhin as a talented businessman whom he had known since the 1990s and said the investigation into the crash would take time

Russian servicemen inspect a part of a crashed private jet near the village of Kuzhenkino, Tver region,  Picture: AP 

Russian president Vladimir Putin sent his condolences to the family of Yevgeny Prigozhin on Thursday, breaking his silence after the mercenary leader's plane crashed with no survivors two months after he led a mutiny against army chiefs.

Two US officials told Reuters that Washington believed a surface-to-air missile originating from inside Russia likely shot down the plane, though they said the information was preliminary and under review. They spoke on condition of anonymity and offered no evidence.