• Russian President Vladimir Putin addresses a meeting of the Russian Defense Ministry Board in Moscow Russia on December 21, 2021. (AP)

Wagner contributed significantly to the fight against Nazism in Ukraine, Russian President Vladimir Putin said Thursday. 

During a meeting with Donetsk People's Republic chief Denis Pushilin, Putin said: "I would like to note that these are people who have made a significant contribution to our common cause of fighting the neo-Nazi regime in Ukraine," something he stated Russia "will not forget" about the group's members.

The Federal Air Transport Agency Rosaviatsia confirmed Wagner Group private military company (PMC) leader Yevgeny Prigozhin was aboard the private jet that crashed on Wednesday.

Russia’s Ministry of Emergency Situations confirmed that a private plane on its way from Moscow to St. Petersburg crashed in the Tver Region on Wednesday, announcing that the incident killed all 10 people aboard.

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Putin extended his condolences to the families of those deceased and described Prigozhin as someone talented who made "serious mistakes in life."

"He worked not only in our country and worked with results, but also abroad, in Africa in particular," the President noted. 

"Everyone understands who is involved," Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky stated, on Thursday, as he alleged that Kiev had nothing to do with the accident in Russia's Tver area of a jet carrying Wagner Group private military company (PMC) head Yevgeny Prigozhin.

Zelensky told reporters "We have nothing to do with this. Everyone understands who is involved," according to UNIAN news agency.

Putin revealed yesterday that Russian Investigative Committee director Alexander Bastrykin would begin an inquiry into the incident, and committed to see it through.

Putin revealed there was "no doubt" that the investigation would be carried out in full.