“First of all, I want to express my sincere condolences to the families of all victims. It is always a tragedy,” the Russian president said at a meeting with the acting head of the Donetsk People’s Republic, Denis Pushilin.

Putin added that the first information received indicate that Wagner employees were on the plane that crashed in Russia’s Tver region; specialists are carrying out technical and genetic tests that will take some time.

“The Wagner combatants’ contribution to fighting the neo-Nazi regime in Ukraine will not be forgotten; I want to note that these are the people who significantly contributed to our common cause of Russia. We remember them and will not forget them,” Putin pointed out.

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