and the fissures within the power establishment that putin himself leads. reports from russia tonight that the leader of the matter to mercenary group yevgeny prigozhin is dead. his private plane en route from moscow to st. petersburg was shot down killing all passengers and crew. we know he was on the passenger list but was the onboard? we will bring you all the reaction. good evening. ten people have been killed in a privatejet that was flying from moscow to st petersburg this afternoon with official reports from moscow telling us that wagner chief yevgeny prigozhin was on the manifest. the flight was carrying seven passengers and three crew. it is said to have crashed in the tver region, north west of moscow. there are multiple videos on social media that appear to show this jet crashing. tracking data on flightradar21i does not show where the plane departed from. it appears near moscow, where it climbed to an altitude of nearly 29,000 feet before the data shows it suddenly dropping, ending up at 0ft. eyewitnesses said they heard two loud bangs shortly beforehand. and while the cause of this crash is not instantly clear, quite clearly prigozhin�*s longstanding feud with the kremlin and the generals would give the russian state ample motive for revenge. media channels linked to wagner have tonight suggested that russian air defence missiles brought the plane down. these are pictures from the ground which show the wreckage on fire. the private plane is an embraer business jet. it is the one he often travelled in, its tail number ra—02795 would be extremely familiar to the russian authorities — as indeed it is to the international media. but flight radar tonight reporting there was another plane perhaps a decoy plane that later landed in moscow. suffice to say we should be careful what we believe. it is a story shrouded in the usual kremlin intrigue. since the coup he led injune, prigozhin has been largely out of sight. but he released a video earlier this week, in which he claimed to be in africa, where his mercenaries have relocated. it was unclear when that video was taken and if he had returned to russia since it was shot. 0ur correspondent james waterhouse joins us now from kyiv. talk to me if you would about their reaction they are and the role that wagner has played in ukraine. we haven't wagner has played in ukraine. - haven't had any reaction through official channels. but standing here in kyiv, we were in a restaurant earlier, you can get a sense of the intrigue in this story. we are talking about the leader of a mercenary group that has undertaken some of the most brutal fighting in ukraine. notably around the eastern city of bakhmut. 0ne ukraine. notably around the eastern city of bakhmut. one of the many ways out for ukraine in this war as the country sees it is a collapse of the country sees it is a collapse of the regime in russia where vladimir putin is somehow toppled. now hopes temporarily really were raised in june at the sight of yevgeny prigozhin making his way away from the ukrainian front line towards moscow before thinking better of it. and so many here see that is the beginning of the end for vladimir putin and his inc. increasingly fragile and frustrations with the war, the huge losses russia is suffering along with the ukraine, along with the more recent status globally, notably with the main partner china. there is a fragility there, which is being welcomed here in ukraine. you just talked about the list of unknowns so far. i think until anyone hears confirmation from one of yevgeny prigozhin�*s wagner channels or himself, someone who isn't shy at putting out a video dead and i don't think people will believe it fully. but there's a lot of willing here in ukraine, let's put it like that. the of willing here in ukraine, let's put it like that. the spokesman for the british government _ put it like that. the spokesman for the british government set - put it like that. the spokesman for the british government set in - put it like that. the spokesman for the british government set in the i the british government set in the few minutes we are monitoring the situation closely. 0ne few minutes we are monitoring the situation closely. one of the reports from moscow was the plane fell out of the sky with one of the wings missing. clearly, given yevgeny prigozhin profile and how he was wanted one will presume that the pentagon is all over this. we know the pentagon can detect burns from the pentagon can detect burns from the ground. they can detect heat signatures from missiles. you would presume the intelligence agencies are looking very closely to ensure this isn't some sort of russian false flag operation. absolutely. this is something _ false flag operation. absolutely. this is something that _ false flag operation. absolutely. this is something that russia i false flag operation. absolutely. this is something that russia is | false flag operation. absolutely. i this is something that russia is no stranger to. where we might see something presented to us but it might be something the kremlin is constructing to justify a future action down the line. there are questions raised when a country like russia where you can speak ill of the invasion of ukraine efface 25 years in prison and yet yevgeny prigozhin could balance an arm rebellion, fail and be alarm dues aloud seem to roam free. he was seen briefly in st. petersburg a few weeks ago. we saw him in an apparent video in africa. we weren't able to locate the location. he certainly been able to adopt less of a profile for the week after week we would see yevgeny prigozhin nara front line position where he would be critical of the russian defence ministry over how it was conducting this invasion. and from here it was strange and understandable hard to understand how that chimed with vladimir putin himself. where you had this infighting. i stress again, for ukraine where in out right victory in the republican of russian forces is increasingly in the balance, and implosion inside russian borders is seen as a hopeful alternative to bat. we see increased drone strikes inside russian territory. the increasing criticisms we saw from prigozhin and followed by that extraordinary two day arms rebellion two months ago, followed by the scenes, the images we are seeing today, it seeds those subconscious hopes in ukraine that vladimir putin is regime could fall. it is clear in the history lessons gone by that it is almost impossible to wage a war on foreign soil if you are having a domestic crisis in terms of the countries leadership. i don't think people will believe it until there is confirmation but there is a definite hope here. it is extraordinary. we've seen what happened in the past of vladimir putin as opponents. we seem to be seeing it again but the difference is that vladimir putin is positioned is that vladimir putin is positioned is without doubt more fragile given the external forces he is facing and the external forces he is facing and the uncertainty around the outcome is in invasion of ukraine.— is in invasion of ukraine. common sense would _ is in invasion of ukraine. common sense would tell _ is in invasion of ukraine. common sense would tell you _ is in invasion of ukraine. common sense would tell you that - is in invasion of ukraine. common sense would tell you that in - is in invasion of ukraine. common sense would tell you that in this i sense would tell you that in this particular case the kremlin has no desire to protect or hide prigozhin. they would hardly put out official statements if they weren't sure they were he was dead already, would they? he's already undermined putin his authority as you say. i they? he's already undermined putin his authority as you say.— his authority as you say. i think that's a fair _ his authority as you say. i think that's a fair point. _ his authority as you say. i think that's a fair point. if— his authority as you say. i think that's a fair point. if we - his authority as you say. i thinkl that's a fair point. if we take the hypothetical death of yevgeny prigozhin yevgeny prigozhin, both and the kremlin had something to gain from that. there is no doubt he would have been looking over his shoulder. i can't stand here and tell you for sure what made him stop on his drive to moscow when he was seemingly would go to make a direct threat to vladimir putin is power. we need to be bright eyed to the idea that he would not turn his back on the invasion of ukraine had that very short conversation with russian generals before driving north to moscow without some kind of buy—in. without some of the proud in russia saying you need to do this. i think given the fact he pulled out of that he might not have had the buy—in necessary to mount the coup in the complete sense that many hoped for here in ukraine. it's very difficult to see why vladimir putin allowed him to seemingly carry on as normal in complete contradiction to the harsh sentences he is imposing on those critics closer to home. today might be a statement if you look at the dramatic images of prigozhin, a privatejet falling from the dramatic images of prigozhin, a private jet falling from the sky when you have the history as discussed it seems outwardly that a statement is being made. i've learned in the 18 months of this full—scale invasion to not take things on face value straightaway. we may well learn the facts in due course. if channels have not confirmed or denied coming out of the kremlin, theyjust accused moscow of an attack on his life. but what we are seeing is dramatic. but sadly for ukraine, it does little to affect the attritional nature of the front line. of course it will be a psychological element here where if you are a russian soldier on the front line in your seeing the scales are back home, that will affect morale if you trying to push forward and very hostile circumstances put up and very hostile circumstances put up to date even with a failed coup of last month russia is pushing forward in some areas and retaining a grip on what it has seized in ukraine so far.— a grip on what it has seized in ukraine so far. ., , ., ,., ., ukraine so far. that is an important oint. we ukraine so far. that is an important point- we will— ukraine so far. that is an important point. we will look— ukraine so far. that is an important point. we will look a _ ukraine so far. that is an important point. we will look a bit _ ukraine so far. that is an important point. we will look a bit closer - ukraine so far. that is an important point. we will look a bit closer at i point. we will look a bit closer at that through the course of the programme tonight. james, we will come back to you if you get any other news in kyiv. it is two months to the day that prigozhin announce he was marching on moscow. we know that vladimir putin likes anniversaries and he does not like traders. lucy fisher is whitehall editor for the financial times and has the story. the british government is looking at prescribing the wagner group as a terrorist organisation akin to al-qaeda and islamic state. what do you think the future of the wagner group would be without prigozhin? is a very good question. he was the founder of what was a long time regarded as a private military company in the face of kremlin denials that it was in agency of the russian state. in the wake of the coup that prigozhin led two months ago today as you mentioned, vladimir putin has come out and said in fact the wagner group was always completely funded by the state. and certainly the state backing being something suspected. 0n certainly the state backing being something suspected. on that basis you can imagine that the continuation of wagner will go on. we know that some of the private mercenaries who were loyal to prigozhin opted to take the offer made by putin in the wake of the coup to go to belarus to stop the leader of belarus alexander lukashenko being a key player in negotiating the truce that ended that aborted coup. however, others have been draughted to the ministry of defence in russia. already the organisation is a bit different. we know that prigozhin was in africa on monday, which has been the main theatre in which wagner group has been operating, conducting fighting, destabilising operations sense of essentially withdrawing from ukraine. .., ., essentially withdrawing from ukraine. ., , ukraine. the common affairs committee — ukraine. the common affairs committee here _ ukraine. the common affairs committee here said - ukraine. the common affairs committee here said a - ukraine. the common affairs committee here said a few. ukraine. the common affairs - committee here said a few weeks ago that the government had underplayed and underestimated wagner for almost and underestimated wagner for almost a decade. are you suggesting they would be alive to the possibility that even with medical one out of the way this group, whether it's under —— prigozhin. would continue to operate in countries like niger? i think it's likely they would. the uk government it must be said has already unveiled a raft of sanctions against wagner's senior officials, including in places in africa, mali, central african republic where senior commanders of the group have been accused of torture and executions. also in places like south sudan where the uk government has accused its commanders of sticking instability behind propaganda, undermining the authorities locally. these are well—established operations across africa that whaen would expect to continue. i think certainly the uk government has been accused by mps of not having done enough to prevent wagner using the city of london's financial institutions to raise money and to move their funds around, which is one reason why my understanding is from government sources that suella braverman, the home secretary was just poised in the next few weeks to announce this move stepping up sanctions against the group and insignia figures such as prigozhin to a prescription as a terrorist organisation, which essentially would ban it as a group under uk law. essentially would ban it as a group under uk law— essentially would ban it as a group under uk law. thank you for that. i not to let under uk law. thank you for that. i got to let you _ under uk law. thank you for that. i got to let you go- _ dr patrick bury is a defence and security expert at the university of bath and a former nato analyst. also with us tonight samantha de bendern, russia erasure expert and we will bring her in shortly. patrick, let me start with you. what we know about the plane falling out of the sky. the pictures we see, it appears to be missing a wing, that is what we are hearing from the news agency in russia. is what we are hearing from the news agency in russia-— agency in russia. what does that su: est to agency in russia. what does that suggest to you? _ agency in russia. what does that suggest to you? it _ agency in russia. what does that suggest to you? it suggests - agency in russia. what does that suggest to you? it suggests that | suggest to you? it suggests that what we can see is it's either a catastrophic failure, as you are mentioning on the sky tracker 29,000 feet, mid air, and not in aircraft under two engineer but my understanding is mid air catastrophic failure are fairly unusual. and they would be more likely to happen at take—off or landing. the other thing, it's either something like that or a shoot down, which a lot of these surface—to—air missiles work by getting close enough to the engines and then releasing and basic lee a shrapnel to pepper them and the blast as well. there is potentially bad. ifi blast as well. there is potentially bad. if i was a betting man i would say it was probably that at this stage. looking at the height and potentially the intent behind it. given all that you've mentioned in terms of the anniversary and the rest of the general today, the relief command of the fact that in the last couple of months igor gerkin has been rounded up. if indeed prigozhin is, where does that leave wagner group? from the unverified footage it is a bit of a finger in the wind. i did towards it being shut down for what i can say. before we come to who was on board. that's an interesting element. what you are suggesting is that if it was a heat—seeking missile that would tend to focus on the hottest part of the plane which is the engine, which would take the wing off. it the plane which is the engine, which would take the wing off.— would take the wing off. it really de-ends would take the wing off. it really depends on _ would take the wing off. it really depends on what _ would take the wing off. it really depends on what missile - would take the wing off. it really depends on what missile is - would take the wing off. it really depends on what missile is used i would take the wing off. it really - depends on what missile is used and what its homing system exactly is. if you're thinking about the nh 17 crash it was essentially the missile getting very close to the engine but not actually hit and explode in a diameter over peppering the fuselage with shrapnel and causing the break—up of the plane as a result of the damage sustained. it depends. you don't know exactly what missile was used. i’m you don't know exactly what missile was used. �* , , ., ., was used. i'm 'ust trying to imagine the crew on — was used. i'm just trying to imagine the crew on the _ was used. i'm just trying to imagine the crew on the ground. _ was used. i'm just trying to imagine the crew on the ground. we - was used. i'm just trying to imagine the crew on the ground. we do - the crew on the ground. we do know that there are plenty of drones going into russian airspace at the moment. this is a tail wing with a number that everybody knows. 0ne number that everybody knows. one would presume that the russian authorities and those watching these guys knew exactly what this plan was. ., ., , ., , guys knew exactly what this plan was. ., ., , .,, ., was. that would be the “ob of the eo - le was. that would be the “ob of the --eole in was. that would be the “ob of the people in khmer_ was. that would be the “ob of the people in khmer of _ was. that would be the “ob of the people in khmer of the h was. that would be the job of the people in khmer of the air - was. that would be the job of the i people in khmer of the air defence. and of course the pilots of sending their root plans to transport authorities without that's what it was meant to be done and they should know where civilian traffic is. but why even then if it was picking up on military radar and there was a mistake why would they be shooting at something moving away? what would they mistake it for, something moving away? moving away from st. petersburg. exactly. it would be high tensions given the drones in high tensions given the drones in high attacks. the simple traction of it moving away would suggest it's not much of a threat. fin it moving away would suggest it's not much of a threat.— it moving away would suggest it's not much of a threat. on board, we wait and see _ not much of a threat. on board, we wait and see who _ not much of a threat. on board, we wait and see who was _ not much of a threat. on board, we wait and see who was in the - wait and see who was in the manifest but the suggestion is that one of the others was a former special forces in the gru. co—founder of wagner as well. from a kremlin system two perspectives this was christmas all at once with that they were all on board the same plane is its what was the same plane is it's what was led to believe. why would ou have what was led to believe. why would you have these _ what was led to believe. why would you have these two _ what was led to believe. why would you have these two guys _ what was led to believe. why would you have these two guys on - what was led to believe. why would you have these two guys on the - what was led to believe. why would i you have these two guys on the same plane? that's the first thing. you just don't do that. the other flight which had turned back. i seen on social media russian state media confirmed in the last few minutes that prigozhin had been killed as you say, until we hearfrom wagner, they are good have to get people on they are good have to get people on the ground for them you don'tjust pick up the phone to confirm someone is dead. that may take a while. it seems like russian are saying it's happened. if putin is a ball, that will be a bigger blow the wagner especially as lucy was mentioning in terms of the question about it being their operations in west africa, where does that leave them? too early to say. if these do materialise what you've seen in the last few months since the coup is that prigozhin is out, and others i have a critic of the kremlin is detained. quite a heavy response if you stayed in that regard.— you stayed in that regard. thank ou. you stayed in that regard. thank you- let's _ you stayed in that regard. thank you. let's speak— you stayed in that regard. thank you. let's speak to _ you stayed in that regard. thank you. let's speak to a _ you stayed in that regard. thank you. let's speak to a russian . you stayed in that regard. thank - you. let's speak to a russian expert and is with me live. thank you for being with us. it could be an accident but let's be honest, it is standard operating procedure in russia for people to fall out of windows or shoot themselves twice. nobody around the world would really believe it was an accident, woodlake?— believe it was an accident, woodlake? ~ , ., �* woodlake? absolutely not. i'm reminded of — woodlake? absolutely not. i'm reminded of the _ woodlake? absolutely not. i'm reminded of the way _ woodlake? absolutely not. i'm reminded of the way in - woodlake? absolutely not. i'm reminded of the way in which i woodlake? absolutely not. i'm l reminded of the way in which the general 25 years ago who is perhaps the man he shouldn't take it in as president of russia fell to his death in a helicopter crash. at the time it was very convenient for putin. and him as one of your previous contributors said he likes anniversaries. you might bet very strongly that this is basically another kremlin murder. 0ne strongly that this is basically another kremlin murder. one of the dozens and dozens, scores and scores, maybe hundreds we've seen since putin came to power. i also think it doesn't solve putin and his problems itjust changes them. you problems it 'ust changes them. you wouldn't problems itjust changes them. you wouldn't expect a meaningful investigation or outpouring from the kremlin. i investigation or outpouring from the kremlin. ., �* ~' investigation or outpouring from the kremlin. ., �* ,, ,., kremlin. i don't think so. revenge is a dish best _ kremlin. i don't think so. revenge is a dish best served _ kremlin. i don't think so. revenge is a dish best served cold. - kremlin. i don't think so. revenge is a dish best served cold. and - is a dish best served cold. and putin may perhaps even enjoy given prigozhin a sense that bygones or bygones and the wagner group will continue with its enormously lucrative business of political and mercenary activities in africa. and then just as mercenary activities in africa. and thenjust as prigozhin is mercenary activities in africa. and then just as prigozhin is thinking he's got away with it then he falls out of the sky. this could be part of the sort of put in powerplay. the fundamental point is just how weak the russian political system is. the fact that prigozhin was able to watch this coup in the first place was extraordinary in the fact that he got away with it for so many weeks after. the the fact that they couldn't arrest him and put them behind bars, which is what should happen with an armed rebellion against the country. you had this mysterious murder. this all shows that russia's political system is not functioning in the way i would call smooth or legal. it not functioning in the way i would call smooth or legal.— call smooth or legal. it was mysterious _ call smooth or legal. it was mysterious that _ call smooth or legal. it was mysterious that he - call smooth or legal. it was mysterious that he wasn't i call smooth or legal. it was - mysterious that he wasn't arrested forth with. because putin called his actions trader is. first he went to belarus and negotiates his temporary exile. then he's back on show. he appears at the african summit in moscow and there's this mysterious video that appears a few days ago from the african continent. could you hazard to guess what is gone and the interim over the last two months? you as you say, in the last week or so there's been a pattern of cleaning house. i week or so there's been a pattern of cleaning house.— cleaning house. i think the first thin in cleaning house. i think the first thing in any _ cleaning house. i think the first thing in any puzzle _ cleaning house. i think the first thing in any puzzle is _ cleaning house. i think the first thing in any puzzle is always i cleaning house. i think the first - thing in any puzzle is always to ask where's the money in russia. the wagner group activity in africa are enormously lucrative. it may well be that the disposal of prigozhin had to wait until the kremlin had a plan about who is going to get what and who is going to do what in this great swathes of africa up to maybe niger. where the kremlin thumbprints can be found. they are continuing the war in syria where wagner plays a role. maybe that was a consideration. i thought it very odd way in which prigozhin turned up at this african summit. i don't know if you can get the pictures up at the ones i've seen he was wearing jeans, which is a very interesting sign, about contempt for putin. normally you put on your best clothes for the when you are going to an important meeting with the top man for that prigozhin was dressed in a way that look pretty casual. i thought that was quite striking. i think there were a lot of currents going on. prigozhin had a lot of other enemies as well, he wasn'tjust putin he's been fighting a civil war against the general staff and the people there who had many bones to pick with him. he also had other rivals and adversaries as well. i think there will be many people who will be pleased that he's gone even if they don't all agree about who should pick over the carcass. interesting to see what sort of reaction comes from the kremlin in the next few hours. thank you very much for your time. if you are just joining us reports tonight for moscow, ten people have been killed in a private jet that was flying from moscow to st. petersburg this afternoon. 0fficial from moscow to st. petersburg this afternoon. official reports from wagner telling us the wagner chief prigozhin was on the manifest for the plane. the flight was carrying seven passenger and three crew it is said to have crashed just northwest of moscow falling from around 20,000 feetin of moscow falling from around 20,000 feet in a matter of seconds to the ground. this is the plane as it headed to the ground. you can see that it appears to be coming down very quickly, presumably as is third report with one of the wings missing. we will continue our coverage of the course over the next hour. but for our viewers watching in the united states on pbs, thank you very much for watching bbc news. samantha, good to have you with us. james was talking at the top of the programme about the obvious weakness that vladimir putin is in or appears to be n at the moment. weeds are a bit of that today because he was appearing before the brick summit. he is on video unlike the other leaders there. all sorts of questions about prigozhin and why he was still around. then we get this. what do you make of the time in? i think the timing is interesting. just because, it is the anniversary the coup. it's also happening the same day that some kind of official announcement who the head of the air force has officially now been demoted from his functions. and russian news is saying he is imprisoned. he was one of the big mysteries of the coup because he disappeared shortly after the coup. it's also happening during the summit, we know how important prigozhin is for africa and how prigozhin is for africa and how prigozhin is for africa. the video was seeing, weather was actually shot a few days ago or some other time remains to be seen. but suggesting that he will be spearheading russia's new funds in africa. russia's economic and conquest of africa. all of a sudden he's killed. what's really interesting regarding putin and his position however is the reaction of the war blockers. all the row showed social media. these are very influential people who have been some of the support of prigozhin and some of the support of prigozhin and some do not. they are furious that the army, killing prigozhin, recko and his been killed. they think killing prigozhin is completely under mass training that morale of the army. it shows that put his work is worth nothing because putin promised amnesty and a pardon and now he is killed. what they are saying is that this will have catastrophic repercussion in those in the army who work more in favour of prigozhin. in the army who work more in favour of prigozhin-— of prigozhin. that is really interesting. _ of prigozhin. that is really interesting. actually, - of prigozhin. that is really interesting. actually, in i of prigozhin. that is really - interesting. actually, in retrospect the power base that prigozhin has is sustained for that and perhaps putin is a bit weaker in some eyes because of that. , , , ., of that. this is up for debate. there are _ of that. this is up for debate. there are a — of that. this is up for debate. there are a lot _ of that. this is up for debate. there are a lot of— of that. this is up for debate. there are a lot of different i of that. this is up for debate. - there are a lot of different points of view. what is happening in russia right now is becoming more and more opaque. i've been studying russian for the past 30 years. i speak to people who have been studying roger longer and we all feel there's is big on knowing that we are just not able to grasp of it which is how prigozhin got away with it, how long he would survive and what would happen if he disappears. now we go to phase three. what will happen when prigozhin disappears? also very importantly it looks like the real founder of wagner was also on that plane and it is also disappeared. this is unconfirmed for that but wagner related television channels are now saying that prigozhin and he are now saying that prigozhin and he are dead in their bodies have been identified at the sight of the wreckage. also interesting, prigozhin left a set of instruction as what would happen to wagner @ who would take over were he to meet an untimely death. we don't know what those are but the wagner high commander seems is now getting into a post prigozhin from what i'm reading on the telegraph channel. fascinating. stay there. i want to bring in our russian editor at bbc monitoring news also looking at reports on the telegram, which is linked to wagner. let's start with the social media channels. samantha has given us really good information to eights but society and russia. what are you hearing? inaudible to wagner is called grey zone _ inaudible to wagner is called grey zone it's _ inaudible to wagner is called grey zone. it's saying that mr prigozhin has been — zone. it's saying that mr prigozhin has been killed. and as a result of actions _ has been killed. and as a result of actions of— has been killed. and as a result of actions of traders of roger. these social— actions of traders of roger. these social media accounts are a way in which _ social media accounts are a way in which prigozhin communicated very actively _ which prigozhin communicated very actively. especially before the new day in _ actively. especially before the new day in june. actively. especially before the new day injune. this is where his outbursts _ day injune. this is where his outbursts and video clips appeared.