This live blog is now closed. Thank you for joining us. These were the updates from Wednesday, August 23, following a plane crash in Russia believed to have resulted in the death of former Wagner boss Yevgeny Prigozhin:
- Prigozhin, head of the Russian mercenary force Wagner, was listed among the passengers of a private jet that crashed north of Moscow, Russian authorities say. All 10 people aboard were killed.
- Authorities are investigating the cause of the crash, with speculation about potential foul play buzzing after Prigozhin led a short-lived uprising against Russian military leadership in June.
- Experts have raised questions about the future of the Wagner Group, a key part of Russia’s military structure.
- Russian President Vladimir Putin tells counterparts at the BRICS Summit that Moscow wants to end the war in Ukraine that was “unleashed by the West and its satellites”.