Dmitry Utkin was a key member of the Russian private military organization, Wagner, which operates in Syria and Africa. Utkin died in a missile strike in Syria on August 28, 2020 – allegedly killed by US forces during a counter-terrorism mission. Utkin was thought to be a close associate of Yevgeny Prigozhin, the Russian financier who is suspected of bankrolling Wagner. Utkin’s death marks a significant moment for the organization, as it is likely that he was instrumental in its operations.