Prigozhin’s body double reportedly killed in Ukrainian southern front

One of the alleged doubles of Wagner Group leader Yevgeny Prigozhin, Ruslan Yunusov, reportedly died at the end of January in the war against Ukraine, the Telegram channel Agency.News reported on March 7.

Ruslan Yunusov, who changed his name to Yevgeny Viktorovich Prigozhin several years ago, died at the end of January in the war in Ukraine.  His personal information appeared on the list of killed near the village of Robotyne paratroopers from the Pskov 76th Guards Air Assault Division. The wife of his brother confirmed Yunusov’s (Prigozhin’s) death to the “Agency”.

Read also: Prigozhin’s alleged death ‘deliberate terrorist act,’ Ukrainian intelligence believes

A list containing 296 names, including Yunusov’s, was published by the one of the Russian propagandist Telegram channels.

“Yevgeny Viktorovich Prigozhin, listed under number 195, turned out to be the only one with a second surname, name, and patronymic indicated — Yunusov Ruslan Fetikhovich,” the message stated.

Terengulsk regional authority in Russia’s Ulyanovsk Oblast reported Yunusov’s death in February. According to his brother’s wife, Yunusov served in the Pskov Airborne Division and joined the occupation forces voluntarily.

Yunusov changed his name, surname, and patronymic in 2018 to match Prigozhin’s fully, according to Russian media outlet Fontanka. Before his arrest for robbery in 2019, he explained the surname change due to his “line of work” as a security guard.

Read also: Prigozhin likely killed over control of Wagner’s Africa business — Bellingcat

In 2020, Yunusov was sentenced to eight years in prison for robbery and was still serving his sentence as of August 2023. The BBC’s Russian service mentioned him as one of the “three most famous Prigozhin doubles.”

Prigozhin used doubles to conceal his movements, The New York Times reported on July 7, 2023, citing an anonymous Pentagon official.

During a search at the Trezzini hotel in Saint Petersburg, believed to be Prigozhin’s office, fake passports with his photos were found, Russian media reported on June 25.

On June 24, the Wagnerites, led by Prigozhin, halted their one-day mutiny after discussions with the self-proclaimed president of Belarus, Alexander Lukashenko. Following the talks, Putin presented the Wagnerites with three options, one of which was exile to Belarus.

Recently, an insider at the Pentagon, cited by U.S. newspaper the New York Times, stated that it was uncertain if Prigozhin had actually been to Belarus, as he might be using doubles to conceal his movements.

Read also: Prigozhin among passengers of crashed plane — Russian state media

We’re bringing the voice of Ukraine to the world. Support us with a one-time donation, or become a Patron!

Read the original article on The New Voice of Ukraine