Yevgeny Prigozhin, the Russian mercenary leader, was laid to rest in a private ceremony at a cemetery on the outskirts of St. Petersburg on Tuesday. His burial occurred six days after his death in an unexplained plane crash.
In stark contrast to Prigozhin’s notorious reputation for self-promotion and ruthless ambition, the funeral was conducted away from the media’s attention. Images shared on social media depicted Prigozhin’s dark granite tombstone surrounded by a profusion of flowers, primarily red roses, in the cemetery located on the northeast outskirts of his hometown.
Funeral arrangements for the Wagner mercenary boss were shrouded in secrecy, preventing any large-scale public display of support for Prigozhin, a figure known for his brutality. Despite this, some individuals in Russia admired him for deploying his fighters in intense battles during the Ukraine conflict and for openly discussing the shortcomings of the Russian military and its leadership.
In the days leading up to the funeral, admirers had left flowers at impromptu memorials to Prigozhin in Moscow, St. Petersburg, and other locations.
The Kremlin has vehemently denied claims that President Vladimir Putin ordered Prigozhin’s death in retaliation for the June mutiny staged by Prigozhin. Earlier on Tuesday, the Kremlin stated that President Putin would not be in attendance at the funeral.
In the tragic plane crash that claimed Prigozhin’s life, two other high-ranking Wagner figures, four of his bodyguards, and three crew members also lost their lives. The cause of the crash remains unclear, though nearby villagers reported hearing an explosion followed by the jet’s descent to the ground.
