Violeta Prigozhina

Violeta Prigozhina, 85, is the mother of Yevgeny Prigozhin, the founder of the Wagner Group, a private military company known for its involvement in various conflicts worldwide. Following her son's controversial actions, including a short-lived rebellion against the Russian military leadership in the summer of 2023, she revealed that he seemed 'doomed' just days before his death in a plane crash, which many believe was ordered by Vladimir Putin as retribution. Violeta continues to honor her son's memory through exhibitions in St. Petersburg that feature war-themed artworks, including a portrait of him related to the Ukraine conflict. Despite a recent legal victory that lifted EU sanctions against her, she has faced difficulties, such as being denied a visa for medical treatment in Germany.