On Sunday, an explosion ripped through a Russian cafe. Killing a well-known military blogger and outspoken supporter of the Ukrainian conflict. According to some accounts, a bomb was planted in a bust of the blogger that was presented to him as a gift.
According to Russian authorities, Vladlen Tatarsky was killed while leading a debate at a cafe on the Neva River’s bank in the historic heart of St. Petersburg. The blast injured 30 individuals, according to Russia’s Health Ministry.
Russian media and military bloggers said, Tatarsky was meeting with members of the public. While a lady presented him with a box containing a blown-up bust of him. The gathering was organised by a patriotic Russian group. Which said it took security precautions but admitted they were “insufficient.”
A witness stated on video that a woman identified as Nastya asked questions and traded remarks with Tatarsky during the discussion.
Alisa Smotrova, a witness, cited Nastya as saying she had made a bust of the blogger. But that guards asked her to leave it at the door because they suspected it was a bomb. Nastya and Tatarsky chuckled and joked. She then went to the entrance, took the bust, and gave it to Tatarsky.
He allegedly placed the bust on a neighboring table, prompting the explosion. Smotrova reported people fleeing in terror. Some of whom were injured by shattered glass and covered in blood.
Darya Tryopova, a woman from St. Petersburg, was detained on suspicion of involvement in the bombing. According to Russia’s Interfax news agency. It stated that she had previously been detained for participating in anti-war protests.
The cafe was shown in a video shared on Russian messaging app channels after the explosion. Blood stained the tables and chairs, and pieces of glass littered the floor.
Russia’s Investigative Committee, the state’s top criminal investigation agency, opened a probe on charges of murder.
No one publicly claimed responsibility. But military bloggers and patriotic commentators immediately pointed a finger at Ukraine. Compared the bombing to the killing last August of Darya Dugina, a nationalist TV commentator. She was killed when a remotely controlled explosive device planted in her SUV blew up. As she was driving on the outskirts of Moscow.
Military bloggers have played an increasingly prominent and influential role in the flow of information about Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. They have almost universally championed the goals of the campaign but at times criticize Russian military strategy and tactical decisions.