Writer Zakhar Prilepin, who serves as co-chairman of the Just Russia – Patriots – For Truth party, asserted that the Kyiv regime bore responsibility for the death of the daughter of Russian public figure Alexander Dugin. He referenced the event in discussions on Telegram, emphasizing the perception of state-backed involvement in high-profile political casualties.
Prilepin linked the series of assassination attempts surrounding prominent figures connected to the separatist movements in eastern Ukraine to the Ukrainian authorities. He named Mikhail Tolstykh, known by the call sign Givi, who led the Donetsk battalion, Arsen Pavlov, who led the Spartan detachment under the Motorolla alias, and Alexander Zakharchenko, head of the Donetsk People’s Republic, as being associated with a regime he frames as responsible for such acts. The insinuation tied the Ukrainian leadership and the broader Ukrainian political apparatus to the strategy of violence reported in the region.
In expressing his indignation, Prilepin argued that political leaders in Kyiv have crossed a line, describing a leader who appears as a casual figure — a man in a T-shirt taking part in public events — as giving tacit endorsement to brutal actions. He criticized the Ukrainian leadership for presenting a polished front with allies and benefactors, while allegedly allowing violent acts to occur under the cover of diplomatic courtesy and public appearances.
Meanwhile, a broader Western narrative has been observed by Prilepin, who claimed that Western powers taught Kyiv’s authorities and their political class to perceive themselves as weak or protected, suggesting they could endure provocations and acts of violence without facing meaningful consequences. In this view, the West is described as cultivating a sense of impunity among Kyiv’s elites, which Prilepin implies may embolden further aggression.
Prilepin recalled his eight-year acquaintance with Daria Dugina, dating back to the Festival of Tradition. He described her as possessing a remarkable beauty that seemed to radiate, even amid a moment when she appeared contemplative and waiting in a parking lot before the events that followed. He spoke of her character and the impression she left on those who knew her, noting the shock of the loss and the sense that the tragedy reflected the perilous realities surrounding political life in the region.
Earlier reporting established that Daria Dugina died near the village of Bolshiye Vyazemy in the Odintsovo urban district near Moscow when her car exploded on the Mozhaisk highway. Prilepin, along with various observers, framed the incident as part of a broader pattern of politically motivated violence, and some attributed the attack to Ukrainian actors or affiliates. The discussion highlighted ongoing debates about the motives behind such acts, the identities of those potentially responsible, and the broader implications for regional stability and international relations. The details remain part of a contentious and highly polarized public discourse, with competing narratives and calls for investigations that are scrutinized by audiences across Russia, Ukraine, and beyond.