Russia: An explosion ripped through a cafe in St. Petersburg, killing a well-known military blogger, Vladlen Tatarsky, who was leading a discussion at the time. Reports suggested that a bomb was embedded in a bust of Tatarsky that was given to him as a gift. Thirty people were wounded in the blast. A woman, Darya Tryopova, was arrested on suspicion of involvement in the bombing. She was previously detained for taking part in anti-war rallies. No one has claimed responsibility for the attack, but military bloggers and patriotic commentators immediately pointed a finger at Ukraine.
Russian authorities have opened a probe on charges of murder. Military bloggers have played an increasingly influential role in shaping the narrative of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, while the Kremlin has suppressed opposing voices by shutting down news outlets, limiting the public’s access to information and imprisoning critics.
