Grenade traces found in bodies of Prigozhin plane crash victims: Putin

President Vladimir Putin said on Thursday that explosive traces were discovered in the remains of Wagner mercenary chief Yevgeny Prigozhin and his crew after their plane crashed over Russia in August.

Prigozhin's plane crashed between Moscow and Saint Petersburg in August, two months after he led a brief mutiny against Russia's top military brass.

Kremlin critics and Western countries have suggested foul play.

Putin's comments were the first significant update on Russia's investigation into the crash.

"The head of the Investigative Committee reported to me a few days ago," Putin said at a meeting of the Valdai Discussion Club.

"Fragments of hand grenades were found in the bodies of the victims of the air disaster. There was no external impact on the plane."

Russian investigators have said they are probing all possible scenarios surrounding the crash, including premeditated murder.

Putin on Thursday criticised investigators for not conducting alcohol and drug tests on Prigozhin and the nine other victims of the crash.

He also alleged that five kilogrammes of cocaine were found at the Wagner offices after the mercenary group's short-lived rebellion.

"A blood test for alcohol was not done," Putin said.