Russian military blogger Vladlen Tatarsky, whose real name was Maxim Fomin, was killed on April 2, 2023, in a deadly explosion in St. Petersburg. Tatarsky was attending an event at the Street Food Bar No. 1 cafe, located in the heart of Russia’s second-largest city, when a bomb, reportedly hidden inside a figurine handed to him as a gift, detonated.
The blast resulted in his immediate death and injured over 30 people, marking one of the most high-profile attacks on a pro-war figure in Russia since the country’s invasion of Ukraine in February 2022.
Who Was Vladlen Tatarsky?
Tatarsky was one of the most influential military bloggers, or “milbloggers,” in Russia. With over 500,000 followers on his Telegram channel, he was widely known for his staunch support of Russia’s military efforts in Ukraine and his fierce criticism of both Ukraine and the West. Tatarsky’s online presence made him a crucial figure in Russia’s information campaign, often disseminating pro-Kremlin narratives and providing commentary on the ongoing war in Ukraine.
Born Maxim Fomin in Ukraine’s Donetsk region, Tatarsky initially worked as a miner and later a bank robber, a path that led to his imprisonment. He managed to escape custody during the outbreak of the war in Donbas in 2014, where he then joined pro-Russian separatist forces and transformed into a vocal supporter of Russia’s military campaigns. Over time, Fomin rebranded himself as Vladlen Tatarsky, using his platform to offer military analysis, spread wartime propaganda, and call for aggressive strategies in the conflict.
The Attack in St. Petersburg
On the day of the explosion, Tatarsky was addressing a gathering organized by the Cyber Front Z, a pro-war activist group with ties to Russian paramilitary forces. It was during this event that a woman handed him a small statuette, which reportedly contained the explosive device. Seconds after he received it, the bomb went off, killing him and causing significant damage to the cafe.
The attack sent shockwaves across Russia, particularly because it occurred in the heart of a major city known for its cultural significance. Local authorities quickly launched an investigation, and within days, Russian police arrested Daria Trepova, a 26-year-old woman accused of delivering the bomb. While Trepova confessed to giving Tatarsky the explosive-laden figurine, she claimed she was unaware it contained a bomb. Trepova’s motives, along with the identities of any potential accomplices or organizers of the attack, remain unclear.
Theories Behind the Assassination
Tatarsky’s assassination has prompted a variety of theories and responses, with Russian authorities and commentators presenting different narratives. Some Russian officials, including the Investigative Committee, accused Ukraine and Western intelligence services of orchestrating the attack in an effort to weaken Russia’s internal unity and eliminate pro-war voices. Russia’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs condemned the act as an act of terrorism designed to silence those supporting the Russian military.
On the other hand, some analysts have speculated that the attack may have been part of internal disputes within Russia, possibly involving rival factions or groups with differing views on how to conduct the war. Tatarsky had been critical of certain Russian military leaders for what he saw as poor strategy and execution in Ukraine, leading to speculation that his death may have been linked to domestic power struggles within Russia’s military and political elite.
Impact of Tatarsky’s Death
The assassination of Vladlen Tatarsky marks a significant escalation in the targeting of pro-war figures within Russia. His death comes just months after another high-profile incident—the assassination of Daria Dugina, the daughter of Russian nationalist philosopher Alexander Dugin—who was killed in a car bomb near Moscow in August 2022. Both Tatarsky and Dugina were ardent supporters of Russia’s war in Ukraine, and their killings have raised concerns about the safety of Russia’s propagandists and the potential rise of domestic insurgency or sabotage.
Tatarsky’s death also underscores the increasing danger faced by prominent military bloggers, who have become integral to Russia’s war effort. With traditional media heavily controlled by the state, bloggers like Tatarsky have played a key role in shaping public opinion, spreading pro-war rhetoric, and rallying support for the Kremlin’s actions in Ukraine. His assassination may signal a shift in the nature of the conflict, with violence now reaching deep into Russia’s own borders.
Maxim Fomin, known to millions as Vladlen Tatarsky, was more than just a military blogger. He was a symbol of the growing influence of online platforms in modern warfare and a passionate advocate for Russia’s military campaign in Ukraine. His death highlights the volatile nature of the conflict, not only in Ukraine but also within Russia itself, where pro-Kremlin voices are increasingly becoming targets. As investigations continue, the killing of Vladlen Tatarsky raises serious questions about internal security in Russia and the potential for further violence amid the ongoing war.
Tatarsky’s death will likely further polarize the already tense political environment in Russia, as figures on both sides of the conflict debate the true motivations behind this deadly attack.
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