Russian Military Blogger Killed In St Petersburg Cafe Bombing

Listen to this article Russian Military Blogger Killed In St Petersburg Cafe Bombing

Introduction

A bomb explosion in the Street Food Bar No 1 in St. Petersburg has killed a prominent Russian military blogger, Vladlen Tatarsky, also known as Maxim Fomin. The Interior Ministry of Russia has confirmed the incident, which left at least 25 people injured. Tatarsky was a guest speaker at an event held by the cafe when the bomb exploded. The attack has caused shock and condemnation from both inside and outside Russia.

Details of the Incident

The bomb blast was captured in videos posted on social media, which also showed injured people on the street. It remains unclear who is responsible for the attack. Tatarsky was a vocal supporter of Russia’s war in Ukraine, unlike many other military bloggers and state media journalists who stayed behind the front line. He had reported from the Ukraine front line, and last year he gained particular notoriety after posting a video filmed inside the Kremlin, in which he threatened to defeat, kill and rob everyone as necessary.

The Cafe Targeted in the Attack

St. Petersburg news site Fontanka reported that Yevgeny Prigozhin, the head of Russia’s notorious Wagner mercenary group, used to own the cafe that the bombing targeted. Russian state media sources claim that Tatarsky received a statue containing a bomb. “Russia’s information troops” on Telegram, also known as Cyber Front Z, hired the cafe for the evening. The group has taken responsibility for the attack, stating that they had taken certain security measures, but they were not enough.

Tatarsky’s Role in the War in Ukraine

Tatarsky had more than 500,000 followers on Telegram, where he and other military bloggers criticized aspects of Russia’s campaign in Ukraine. He took up arms in combat operations, reporting from the front line, and claimed to have helped launch combat drones and build fortifications. When Russia launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, Tatarsky returned to combat and continued to comment on the war on social media and Russian state media.

Reaction to the Attack

The attack in Russia shocked many, including Ukraine’s President’s advisor Mykhailo Podolyak, who tweeted about infighting and domestic terrorism in Russia. Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova praised Tatarsky and bloggers like him as “defenders of the truth” and accused the Kyiv regime of threatening Russian journalists. Podolyak had previously dismissed Russian allegations of Ukrainian involvement in the assassination of Darya Dugina.

Conclusion

The death of Vladlen Tatarsky in the St. Petersburg cafe bombing has once again highlighted the violent and dangerous nature of the ongoing conflict in Ukraine. The attack has also raised questions about the role of military bloggers and journalists in the conflict and the threats they face from both sides. The incident is a tragic reminder that innocent civilians continue to suffer the consequences of the conflict, which shows no signs of abating anytime soon.

CDC Team Studying Ohio Derailment Fell Sick