An uncertain future looms for the Wagner Group after the leader Yevgeny Prigozhin's death.

The 62-year-old was one of ten people killed in a plane crash north of Moscow, on a private plane en route to Saint Petersburg.

Russian authorities say its commander and co-founder Dmitry Utkin was also among the casualties.

Australian National University defence expert Matthew Sussex it leaves a big void for Russia to fill in its African allies.

"Russia's gone on a kind of spree of constructing new private military companies, and it may well be that one of the existing ones will now step into the breach that Wagner's left."

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An uncertain future looms for the Wagner Group after the leader Yevgeny Prigozhin's death.
The 62-year-old was one of ten people killed in a plane crash north of Moscow, on a private plane en route to Saint Petersburg.
Russian authorities say its commander and co-founder Dmitry Utkin was also among the casualties.
Australian National University defence expert Matthew Sussex it leaves a big void for Russia to fill in its African allies.
"Russia's gone on a kind of spree of constructing new private military companies, and it may well be that one of the existing ones will now step into the breach that Wagner's left."
LISTEN ABOVE

With a straight down the middle approach, Heather du Plessis-Allan Drive on Newstalk ZB delivers the very latest news and views to New Zealanders as they wrap up their day.

Heather du Plessis-Allan Drive

Matthew Sussex: Australian National University defence expert warns Yevgeny Prigozhin death leaves 'big void' for Russia to fill in their African allies