a blogger known for defending the military offensive in Ukraine was killed in an explosion in Saint Petersburg

A famous Russian military blogger, a fervent defender of the offensive in Ukraine, was killed on Sunday April 2 by “an explosive device” in Saint Petersburg, in the northwest of Russia. “Today a device of unknown nature exploded in a cafe in the center of St. Petersburg”announced the Russian Investigation Committee, responsible for the main investigations in Russia. “One person died and 25 were injured, 19 of whom are hospitalized”said on Telegram the governor of Saint Petersburg, Alexander Beglov.

According to the investigators, who opened “a criminal investigation” For “murder by dangerous means”the victim is “the military blogger known under the pseudonym of Vladlen Tatarsky”.

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The surroundings of the building were cordoned off, with around twenty police cars, six ambulances and fire trucks, noted an AFP journalist. “A girl” To “presumably” brought the explosive device, according to a source cited by the Ria Novosti news agency. “There was a figurine in the box: a gift for Mr. Tatarsky”added this source. “She gave it to him”Then later, “Suddenly there was an explosion”told AFP Alissa Smotrova, a woman present at the scene.

Aged 40 and born in Donbass, in eastern Ukraine, Vladlen Tatarskiï, whose real name is Maxime Fomin, was followed by more than half a million subscribers on his Telegram channel. He had developed his community there, in particular by publishing, since the start of the Russian military offensive in Ukraine in February 2022, videos of analysis of the situation on the ground and advice for those mobilized, according to the Russian press agency. Cup. He said he supported Russia’s intervention in its Ukrainian neighbor.