Russian pro-war blogger Vladlen Tatarsky, whose real name is Maxim Fomin, was killed in an explosion in a St. Petersburg café on Sunday. Video footage reportedly shows the moment an explosive device was carried into the venue. The pro-Putin journalist was killed as he attended an event hosted by pro-invasion organization Cyber Front Z.
The explosion injured at least 32 people. Soon after the incident, investigators announced the opening of a murder investigation.
Moment blast hit St. Petersburg cafe killing Russian military blogger Vladen Tatarsky and injuring 16 others #StPetersburg #Russiapic.twitter.com/uv0j1agCxC
— Danny Armstrong (@DannyWArmstrong) April 2, 2023
Video footage shared online shows the moment the blast occurred. The video, which appears to have been recorded by a security camera, shows the windows and doors to the building being blown out into the street. A fireball can be seen through some of the windows.
Daria Trepova seen carrying the explosive-packed bust into St Petersburg cafe used to kill Vladlen Tatarsky #Russia pic.twitter.com/PjI2aJxSXR
— Danny Armstrong (@DannyWArmstrong) April 2, 2023
Anti-War Activist Arrested
The Russian Interior Ministry confirmed on Monday that a woman named Daria Trepova was identified as the suspect in the case and later arrested.
Reports suggest the bomb was hidden inside a bust or figurine that was presented to Tatarsky as a gift, and one video clip shared online appears to show Trepova walking into the venue holding a cardboard box.
Russian outlet Ria Novosti quoted a witness who described Trepova sitting at their table and holding a box. According to this account, the woman took the figurine out of the case, showed it to the crowd, and then gave it to Tatarsky to hold. Tatarsky then reportedly put the figurine back in the box just moments before the explosion occurred.
Additional footage recorded from a cell phone shows Tatarsky receiving the box in the café while addressing the audience.
Tatarsky receiving the bust in the cafe.
Minutes later the blast from the explosives will kill him and injure more than 30 present #Russia pic.twitter.com/y55gvipO3Z
— Danny Armstrong (@DannyWArmstrong) April 3, 2023
Trepova has been described by Russian officials as an active supporter of the Anti-Corruption Foundation led by jailed anti-Putin activist and politician Alexei Navalny.
Russian counterterrorism authorities further allege that the incident was orchestrated by Ukrainian special services with the support of activists within Navalny’s foundation.
According to Trepova’s husband, however, his wife would never kill anyone and may have been set up.
“Together with Daria we really do not support the war in Ukraine, but we believe that such actions are unacceptable,” Dmitry Rylov told Russian news website SVTV News.
“I believe my wife was framed,” he said, adding, “I am 100% sure that she would never have agreed to this if she had known.”
How Wagner Responded
Tatarsky gained notoriety in the wake of the Russian invasion of Ukraine, becoming one of the most public and staunch proponents of the conflict. The Russian blogger was known for his online commentary about the conflict, using a Telegram channel he established in 2019. Tatarsky, the author of several books, fought for the Russian Armed Forces in the Donbas in 2014.
Upon the announcement of Putin’s euphemistically labeled “special military operation” in Ukraine, Tatarsky returned to the Donbas, where he joined the Vostok battalion.
His death prompted a response from Yevgeny Prigozhin, the leader of the private mercenary group Wagner.
In one video, Prigozhin raises a Russian flag in Bakhmut, claiming that his forces have “legally taken Bakhmut,” even though fighting continues in the region. Prigozhin’s announcement was entirely symbolic.
‘We have legally taken Bakhmut’
Wagner PMC Evgeny Progozhin hoists Russian flag in Bakhmut in honor of Vladlen Tatarsky, killed today in a bomb blast in #StPetersburg
Progizhin declares town under control of his men despite fighting continuing #Russia #Ukraine pic.twitter.com/tcQyjL3LvD
— Danny Armstrong (@DannyWArmstrong) April 2, 2023
In a photograph, Prigozhin was seen holding a Russian flag with the words “Vladlen Tatarsky. Forever remembered. From all of Russia,” written in marker pen.
The response from Wagner reflects not only Prigozhin’s support of the operation in Ukraine, but also his very public disagreements with the Kremlin regarding the supply issues bedeviling Russian soldiers and private fighters. On his Telegram channel, Tatarsky often shared Prigozhin’s frustrations over how Russian military leaders have managed the invasion.
Speaking to U.S. media last year, Tatarsky said that he remained supportive of the war despite taking issue with “individual episodes” in the conflict.
Jack Buckby is 19FortyFive’s Breaking News Editor. He is a British author, counter-extremism researcher, and journalist based in New York. Reporting on the U.K., Europe, and the U.S., he works to analyze and understand left-wing and right-wing radicalization, and reports on Western governments’ approaches to the pressing issues of today. His books and research papers explore these themes and propose pragmatic solutions to our increasingly polarized society.
