Photo: Prigozhin, Utkin, 8 Others Transported For Medical Examination

The bodies of Yevgeny Prigozhin and others involved in the crash were moved for medical examination.

Prigozhin, Dmitry Utkin, and 8 other people who were killed in a plane crash near Kuzhenkino, Russia on Wednesday have been transported to the Tver Regional Bureau of Forensic Medical Examination.

The cause of the crash is still under investigation, but there have been no reports of survivors.

Prigozhin was a Russian businessman and politician who was the alleged head of the Wagner Group, a private military contractor that has been accused of committing war crimes in Ukraine and other countries.

Utkin was the leader of the Wagner Group.

The crash comes at a sensitive time for Russia, as it is mired in a war in Ukraine. The circumstances surrounding the crash are still unclear, but it has led to speculation that it may have been the result of foul play.

The White House National Security Council has said that it is closely monitoring reports of the crash and that "if confirmed, no one should be surprised."

In a statement, Adrienne Watson, a spokesperson for the NSC, said that "the disastrous war in Ukraine led to a private army marching on Moscow, and now — it would seem — to this."

Prigozhin and Utkin were both controversial figures in Russia. Prigozhin was known for his close ties to President Vladimir Putin, while Utkin was a decorated veteran of the Russian military.

The crash is a major development, and it is likely to have a significant impact on the war in Ukraine and the wider geopolitical landscape.