Budanov made a statement about Prigozhin's death

PMC "Wagner" continues to recruit mercenaries and take part in combat operations. The death of the head of the group, Yevhen Prygozhin, has had no practical effect on what Russian mercenaries do within the framework of the military private company. Kirill Budanov, head of Ukraine's Main Intelligence Directorate, told the Financial Times.

'Wagner exists,' Budanov said, dismissing reports that the group had been disbanded.

He also commented on the information about the death of PMC head Yevgeny Prigozhin in a plane crash in August 2023.

About Prigozhin, I would not rush to conclusions," he said.

Budanov drew attention to the fact that the Kremlin denies its involvement and claims that DNA examination proved Prigozhin's death. But his body has never been seen in public.

I'm not saying that he's not dead or that he's dead," Budanov said. I say that there is no evidence that he is dead, - emphasised the head of the GUR.

Recall, on 23 August in the Tver region of Russia crashed the plane, which was at that time the head of the PMC "Wagner" Evgeny Prigozhin. In the plane crash no one survived. Official Kiev said that Putin was behind Prigozhin's death.

At the same time, Western media wrote that Prigozhin's liquidation was organised by FSB director and chairman of the Russian Security Council Nikolai Patrushev. It is reported that a bomb was planted under the wing of the plane in which the leaders of the PMC "Wagner" were flying.