EU spokesperson Peter Stano said that the bloc had been "unable to authenticate" the reports and was therefore "refraining from making any comments" on them.

Stano also said that the EU "aspired for the cessation of the detrimental impact" of the Wagner Group's activities. He declined to speculate on whether Prigozhin's death would lead to any changes in the group's operations.

Russian authorities have confirmed that Prigozhin was among the passengers on a plane that crashed near Moscow on Wednesday. All 10 people on board were killed.

Russian President Vladimir Putin offered his condolences to the victims' families and described Prigozhin as a "person of talent" who had faced a "challenging destiny." He said that Russia would investigate the cause of the crash.

The Wagner Group is a private military company that has been accused of human rights abuses in a number of countries, including Syria, Libya, and Ukraine. The EU has imposed sanctions on the group, and the United States has designated it a terrorist organization.

The reports of Prigozhin's death have been met with mixed reactions. Some have expressed relief that he is no longer able to harm others, while others have questioned the circumstances of the crash.

The investigation into the crash is ongoing. (ILKHA)