Following the mysterious death of Wagner warlord Yevgeny Prigozhin, one man’s cryptic statement stands out—Russian President Vladimir Putin’s reflection on Prigozhin’s life as “a man with a complex destiny, and he made serious mistakes in life.”

Prigozhin, the elusive leader of the Wagner Group, who passed away in a mysterious plane crash, was laid to rest in a private, clandestine funeral at St. Petersburg’s Prokhorov Cemetery. The 40-minute “VIP” ceremony, attended by a select few, underscored the secrecy that had often veiled Prigozhin’s existence.

Once a trusted confidant of Putin, Prigozhin transformed from a businessman into a formidable international paramilitary leader, amassing influence and controversy in equal measure. However, his journey took an unexpected turn, resulting in a contentious falling out with the Kremlin.

The tragic conclusion to Prigozhin’s controversial life was marked by the crash of his private plane on August 23, near Kuzhenkino, north of Moscow. While initial reports suggested an onboard explosion, U.S. officials have hinted at the possibility of foul play. Remarkably, there is no conclusive evidence to support the theory that a surface-to-air missile was responsible for the crash, according to the U.S. Department of Defense.

Prigozhin’s demise unfolded precisely two months after he orchestrated a daylong mutiny against the Russian government. In June, forces from the Wagner Group, previously deployed in Ukraine, suddenly redirected their efforts from their Rostov-on-Don headquarters, a crucial Russian city near the southern border, toward the capital before executing a swift retreat.

The circumstances surrounding Prigozhin’s death have invited international scrutiny and raised profound doubts about its cause. White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre, alluding to Russia’s historical targeting of adversaries, refrained from directly implicating Putin or the Kremlin. In response, the Kremlin dismissed global speculations as “sheer lies,” according to Dmitry Peskov, a Kremlin spokesperson.