Russian Federal Security Service Accuses Ukrainian Intelligence Behind Death Of Tatarsky War Blogger

War blogger Vladen Tatarsky. (Wikimedia Commons/CzarTalks)

JAKARTA - The murder of military correspondent Vladen Tatarsky (pen name Maxim Fomin) was organized by Ukrainian intelligence and its agents from among Russian opposition activists abroad, the FSB PR Center told TASS on Thursday.

"The Russian Federal Security Service [FSB] together with the Investigative Committee and the police have determined that the April 2, 2023 terror attack in St. Petersburg that killed war correspondent Maxim Fomin (Vladlen Tatarsky) and injured more than 50 people was masterminded by Ukrainian special forces, services and their intelligence agents, including Russian opposition activists hiding abroad," said the FSB, quoted from TASS April 14.

"Thus, since the start of the special military operation, the leaders of the extremist FBK Anti-Corruption Foundation, L. Volkov and I. Zhdanov, have repeatedly emphasized the need to carry out subversive activities in Russia aimed at changing its constitutional order 'by any available means .'

The Investigative Committee of Russia has opened and is investigating a criminal case against (these individuals), in connection with [their] public calls for engaging in terrorist and extremist activities (Articles 205.2 and 280 of the Russian Penal Code), who have been classified as fugitives," the FSB stressed.

"As a result, on April 2, an adherent of the 'Navalny ideology', who had previously signed up for FBK's key 'Smart Voting' project, Russian citizen Darya Trepova, carried out a terrorist attack in St. Petersburg. She is being defended by lawyer Daniil Berman, who also represents L. Chanysheva, Ufa headquarters coordinator A. Navalny; M. Alyokhina, member of the feminist group Pussy Riot; and E. Gershkovich, a US journalist accused of espionage," the statement noted.

The FSB said the plot to kill Fomin was initiated together with Trepova by members of the Ukrainian sabotage and terrorist group, Ukrainian citizen Yury Denisov who used the services of express delivery and intermediaries, handed over the explosive device to her in Moscow, posing as a plaster bust of the blogger.

According to the FSB, in February 2023, on the instructions of the Ukrainian special services, Denisov traveled from Kyiv via Latvia to Moscow, where he gathered information about Tatarsky's lifestyle and the locations he frequented, bought a vehicle, and rented an apartment near the blogger's residence to this purpose.

Following the terror attack, on April 3 Denisov left Russia, flying to Turkey via Armenia. The process of putting him on the international wanted list has begun.

"Investigations into the terrorist attack are continuing. All organizers and accomplices will be held accountable in accordance with the laws of the Russian Federation," the FSB said.

As previously reported, an explosion occurred at Streetfood-Bar No. 1, downtown St. Petersburg on April 2. Apart from killing Tatarsky who was holding an event there, more than 30 people were injured in the explosion.

The killing of war blogger Vladlen Tatarsky was an act of terrorism, with Russian President Vladimir Putin having been informed of the incident, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters.

"This was an act of terrorism, you and I have seen the statements of the National Counterterrorism Committee. Now there is an active phase of the investigation, we are seeing quite energetic steps to detain the suspects," Peskov said.