Yevgeny Prigozhin

Birth Name: Yevgeny Viktorovich Prigozhin

Date of Birth: 1 June, 1961

Place of Birth: Leningrad, Russian SFSR, Soviet Union (now Saint Petersburg, Russia)

Date of Death: 23 August, 2023

Place of Death: Kuzhenkino, Bologovsky District, Tver Oblast, Russia

Ethnicity:
*Ashkenazi Jewish (father)
*Russian (mother)

Yevgeny Prigozhin was a Russian mercenary leader and oligarch. He was co-founder of paramilitary organization and international mercenary battalion the Wagner Group, which was described as his “private army.” He commanded the group from 22 February, 2014 to 23 August, 2023, his death. He was nicknamed “Putin’s chef,” due to his friendship with president Vladimir Putin, and ownership of catering companies and restaurants used by the Kremlin. He was also the founder and manager of the Internet Research Agency, a Russian company which deals in online propaganda and disinformation, among a network of other organizations believed to be tied in with Russia’s defense and intelligence aparatus. He led a brief insurrection in Russia in June 2023.

Yevgeny was the son of Violetta Kirovna, a hospital nurse, and Viktor Yevgenyevich/Evgenievich Prigozhin, a mining engineer. His father died when he was nine. His mother re-married to Samuil Fridmanovich Zharkoi, a ski instructor. His father and stepfather were Jewish. His mother was of Russian descent. Yevgeny initially aspired to be a professional skier.

He was married to Lyubov, and had three children. His son, Pavel Prigozhin, became leader of the Wagner Group in October 2023.

Yevgeny’s paternal grandfather was named Yevgeny/Evgeny Ilyich Prigozhin (the son of Ilyich/Ilya Prigozhin). Yevgeny’s grandfather Yevgeny was born in Oryol, Oryol Oblast, Russia, and was a soldier and engineer. He was a captain in the Red Army during WWII, and was awarded the Red Banner for the Battles of Rzhev. Yevgeny’s great-uncle was scientist Yefim Ilyich Prigozhin. Yevgeny lived with his uncle in the town of Zhovti Vody during his childhood, working in an open-pit uranium mine.

Yevgeny’s maternal grandfather was named Kir Semyonovich Khokhlov (the son of Semyon Khokhlov).

Sources: Genealogy of Yevgeny Prigozhin – https://www.geni.com

Genealogy of Yevgeny Prigozhin (focusing on his father’s side) – https://www.findagrave.com