"There is nothing to comment on," Zelensky says on the plane crash that purportedly killed Prigozhin
From CNN's Yulia Kesaieva and Radina Gigova
Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelensky gives a press conference following his meeting with his Norwegian counterpart in Kyiv, Ukraine, on August 24, 2023. Sergei Chuzakov/AFP/Getty Images
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said Thursday that he has no comments regarding the fate of Wagner chief Yevgeny Prigozhin.
"The Russian government, including Prigozhin and his mercenaries, have brought us so many deaths that I can't say anything good about these non-humans, to be honest," Zelensky said during a joint news conference with Norway's Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre in Kyiv.
"It's either a trial in The Hague or God's trial. You see, Russia has an alternative (to) President Putin. That's the decision. There is nothing to comment on," he said.
2:04 p.m. ET, August 24, 2023
US intelligence is still in early stages of assessing cause of plane crash that apparently killed Prigozhin
From Oren Liebermann, Jim Sciutto, Katie Bo Lillis and Alex Marquardt
The US has not seen indications that a missile downed the airplane Russian authorities say was carrying Wagner founder Yevgheny Prigozhin, according to three US officials.
The US intelligence community is still in the early stages of assessing what may have caused the private jet to crash outside Moscow on Wednesday.
Another source familiar with the Western intelligence echoed the US officials, saying there was no indication a missile was launched.
Officials said the US had not seen any information to indicate that the Embraer Legacy 600 aircraft was struck by either a surface-to-air missile, which would have been launched from a Russian aerial defense system, or an air-to-air missile from a Russian fighter jet.
The officials cautioned that it’s too early to draw any conclusions about the cause, but a number of possibilities are being evaluated, including an on-board explosive device causing the crash.
At the same time, people familiar with the intelligence do believe that the downing of the plane was deliberate and that the goal was to kill Prigozhin. How soon Putin might try to kill the Wagner chief was hotly debated in the days and weeks following the June 24 rebellion, considered more a question of "when" than "if."
CNN's Kylie Atwood and Pete Muntean contributed to this report
3:03 p.m. ET, August 24, 2023
US imposes sanctions on Russians involved in the forcible transfer and deportation of Ukrainian children
From CNN's Kylie Atwood
The US State Department rolled out new sanctions on Thursday targeting more than a dozen individuals and entities involved in the forcible transfer and deportation of Ukrainian children.
The US has already sanctioned President Vladimir Putin’s children's commissioner, Maria Lvova-Belova, for being involved in the deportation of Ukranian children. However, Thursday's action shows an expansion of US targets to include the broader network of people and entities involved in the practice.
Here's who is included, according to the State Department:
Five local Russian politicians who are “involved in facilitation of the deportation" of children and "their adoption by Russian families.” This includes Galina Anatolevna Pyatykh, the adviser to the governor of Belgorod and children's commissioner for the region
Five individuals who are involved in the transfer of the Ukrainian children to Russia, including the youth camps in Russia and in Russia-occupied areas of Ukraine
Artek, a Russian government-owned "'summer camp,” which runs extensive “patriotic” re-education programs.
Last month, Lvova-Belova said 700,000 Ukrainian children have been taken to Russia since the beginning of the war. She is one of the two Russians that the International Criminal Court in the Hague issued a warrant against in March, alleging their responsibility for the war crime of unlawful deportation and transfer of children during the Russian invasion of Ukraine. Russian President Vladimir Putin was also charged.
1:38 p.m. ET, August 24, 2023
Putin makes first remarks on Prigozhin since plane crash, calling Wagner boss "a man of difficult fate"
From CNN's Anna Chernova, Katharina Krebs and Radina Gigova
A screen in the media center shows Russian President Vladimir Putin delivering remarks via video-link during the 2023 BRICS Summit at the Sandton Convention Centre in Johannesburg, South Africa, on August 24, 2023. Michele Spatari/AFP/Getty Images
“I knew Prigozhin for a very long time, since the early 90s," said Putin, who referred to the Wagner chief in the past tense throughout his remarks at the Kremlin, where he was meeting with the head of the self-proclaimed Donetsk People's Republic.
"He was a man of difficult fate, and he made serious mistakes in life," the president said, though he added that Prigozhin had "achieved the results needed" both for his own interests and "for a common cause" at Putin's request.
"He was a talented man, a talented businessman. He worked not only in our country, but also abroad, in Africa," the Russian president said.
Putin said the Wagner chief had, as far as he knew, recently returned from Africa before the crash Wednesday. The Wagner Group has had various engagements on the continent.
Putin said that, based on preliminary information, "Wagner Group employees were also on board" the plane when it went down. He said he sends his condolences to "the families of all the victims; this is always a tragedy."
Wagner fighters have “made a significant contribution” to the war effort in Ukraine, Putin said.
He also said Russia's Investigative Committee is probing the crash.
"There is no doubt here. Let's see what the investigators say in the near future. And now examinations — technical examinations and genetic ones — are being carried out. This will take some time," Putin added.
1:31 p.m. ET, August 24, 2023
Norway joins Denmark and Netherlands in donating F-16 fighter jets to Ukraine
From CNN’s James Frater, Catherine Nicholls and Li-Lian Ahlskog Hou in London
Press conference of Norwegian Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre and Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky on August 24, 2023 in Kyiv, Ukraine. Alexey Furman/Getty Images
Norway will be donating F-16 fighter jets to Ukraine, the country’s prime minister announced on Thursday.
“We are planning to donate Norwegian F-16 fighter jets to Ukraine, and will provide further details about the donation, numbers and time frame for delivery in due course,” Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre said.
Norway is the third country in Europe, along with Denmark and the Netherlands, to pledge to provide Ukraine with the fighter jets. Norway announced its plans to support the training of Ukrainian personnel on F-16 fighter jets in May.
“Norway is supporting Ukraine in its efforts to build a modern air defense system. This is both important and necessary,” Støre said.
Norway also announced on Thursday that it will be donating anti-aircraft missiles and de-mining sets to Ukraine, as well as 1.5 billion NOK ($140.5 million) to secure gas and electricity supply in the country.
This brings the total value of Norway’s support over five years to 75 billion NOK (more than $7 billion), a statement on Norway’s government website said.
11:37 a.m. ET, August 24, 2023
Wall Street Journal denounces the extension of journalist's pre-trial detention in Russia
From CNN’s Katharina Krebs and Xiaofei Xu
Wall Street Journal reporter Evan Gershkovich stands in a glass cage in a courtroom in Moscow on April 18. Alexander Zemlianichenko/AP
“Today, our colleague and distinguished journalist Evan Gershkovich appeared for a pre-trial hearing where his improper detention was extended yet again,” the newspaper said in a statement. “We are deeply disappointed he continues to be arbitrarily and wrongfully detained for doing his job as a journalist."
Gershkovich’s lawyers will appeal the court’s decision, according to WSJ Editor-in-Chief Emma Tucker and publisher Almar Latour.
“It’s also a reminder of the fight we’re in as Evan has now been wrongfully detained for five months—a horrific and sobering milestone in our efforts to free him,” they said, according to the statement.
Some background: Gershkovich has been detained in Russia since March following his arrest on charges that he, the WSJ and the US government vehemently deny.
His arrest was the first detention of an American reporter in Russia on allegations of spying since the Cold War, rattling White House officials and further straining ties between Moscow and Washington.
The detention of Gershkovich and other Americans during Russia's war in Ukraine have raised concerns that Moscow could use the detainees as pawns in the broader geopolitics surrounding the conflict.
US President Joe Biden has said he is "serious" about exploring a potential prisoner exchange to free the journalist.
CNN's Sarah Dean and Anna Chernova contributed to this report.
11:23 a.m. ET, August 24, 2023
What some Russians are saying about the plane crash
From CNN Staff
Nearly 24 hours after the plane crash that is believed to have killed Wagner chief Yevgeny Prigozhin, some Russians are unsure of what to make of the news.
CNN spoke to several individuals about the crash. All agreed to be identified only by their first name so they could speak freely without fear of retribution.
No one CNN spoke to believed Ukraine was responsible for the crash. Many openly speculated about its cause, including whether Russian President Vladimir Putin brought down the jet as retribution for Prigozhin's failed mutiny in June.
"He was killed by Putin, who does not forgive betrayal. The first video shot shows a clear trace of a missile. Putin was behind it or it could have been his Politburo but Putin knew and approved," said Alexey from Moscow.
No evidence has been presented that points to the Kremlin's or Russian security services' involvement in the crash. The cause of the incident is unknown and Russian authorities have launched a criminal investigation.
Despite the lack of proof,Evgeniy from St. Petersburg also believes the Putin regime was behind the incident, but he does not think that the plane was shot out of the sky.
"It was definitely Putin. But it wasn’t a missile. Explosives were planted on board," he said
Others, like Dimitry from Moscow, believed the longtime mercenary group leader had faked his own death.
"He had doubles. And it fits his creative personality to orchestrate such an exit. He’s probably happily enjoying a gin and tonic somewhere in Cabo Verde," said Dimitry.
11:35 a.m. ET, August 24, 2023
UN allocates more than $14 million to finance 120 organizations in Ukraine to support women
From CNN's Hande Atay Alam
Rosemary Anne DiCarlo, the United Nations Under-Secretary-General for Political and Peacebuilding Affairs, speaks during a meeting of the United Nations Security Council in New York on August 24. John Minchillo/AP
The United Nations Entity for Gender Equality and the Empowerment of Women (UN Women) announced it has allocated $14.6 million to support women in Ukraine.
"UN Women has allocated through its peace and humanitarian fund, over 14.6 million US dollars to finance our 120 civil society organizations that support women and girls inside Ukraine and those displaced in Moldova," United Nations Under-Secretary-General for Political and Peacebuilding Affairs Rosemary Anne DiCarlo said during the UN Security Council briefing on Thursday.
According to DiCarlo, the United Nations has verified "173 cases of conflict-related sexual violence against 112 Men, 57 women, and four girls."
"The numbers alone tell a horrific story," DiCarlo said, adding that since the Russian Federation launched its full-scale invasion 18 months ago, "OHCHR has confirmed at least 9,444 civilians, including 545 children, killed nearly 17,000 others; among them, 1,156 children have been injured."
DiCarlo also said that the real figures are likely much higher.
More context: Since the Russian invasion began, Ukrainian officials have repeatedly accused Moscow’s forces of sexually abusing women and children, claiming they are using rape and other sexual acts as weapons of war.
Nearly half of Ukrainians held in detention centers in Kherson by Russian forces were subjected to widespread torture including sexual violence, according to a report published earlier this month.
10:49 a.m. ET, August 24, 2023
Here's what witnesses told Russian media after Wednesday's plane crash
From CNN's Katharina Krebs and Lauren Said-Moorhouse in London
Several residents who lived near the crash site have been speaking to Russian media about what they saw.
One man told RIA Novosti he heard two bangs in the sky before the plane started to fall. A woman from the village of Kuzhenkino in the Tver region told RIA Novosti that around 7 p.m. on Wednesday, she heard the sound of an airplane near her house, which is located 300 meters (984 feet) from the place where the tail part of the Embraer is now lying.
“Then came something like a bang, like a shot. Then suddenly an explosion, I look up and heard a sound above me - it was like pops, like several explosions,” she said. “The plane started to swerve. Then a plume of smoke emerged and the plane began to descend, to dive."
Lyudmila Osypova, another Kuzhenkino resident, said she did not see the moment the plane hit the ground, but saw the black cloud of smoke after being told of the incident by her neighbor.
Osypova said her neighbor called the ordeal "terrifying."
"There was a loud bang, then she (Osypova's neighbor) turned her head to look and the whole plane was in sparkles of fire, it was all lit up. Said they saw it caught fire and began to fall,” Osypova said her neighbor recounted.
