Petersburg Governor Alexander Beglov spoke on air, describing the situation after the cafe explosion in the city. He confirmed that there are still twenty-two people receiving medical treatment in local hospitals, with several awaiting or undergoing procedures for serious injuries. The governor stated that the medical teams are providing all necessary care and that doctors are closely monitoring the patients as they recover, aiming to stabilize every case as quickly as possible.
Earlier updates from the Investigative Committee of the Russian Federation, shared through its Telegram channel, indicated that the incident is being reclassified as a terrorist attack. This designation underscores the serious nature of the incident and the determination of authorities to pursue every lead connected to the event and those responsible for it.
In Petersburg, the city mourned as war correspondent Vladlen Tatarsky, whose real name is Maxim Fomin, lost his life in the cafe blast. Daria Trepova, identified as a person of interest in the investigation, reportedly brought a figurine to the scene allegedly intended for Tatarsky, a claim linked to the broader investigative narrative surrounding the explosion. The details of this claim have been released by law enforcement and the investigative bodies as part of the ongoing inquiry.
The blast occurred on April 2 at the Street Bar cafe along Universitetskaya Embankment. The fatality of Tatarsky, a prominent figure in war reporting, and the injuries sustained by others prompted a rapid response from emergency services and subsequent forensic and investigative actions. Authorities have pledged comprehensive examination of all circumstances leading to the explosion, including the potential involvement of others in the planning and execution of the attack.
As the investigation moves forward, officials continue to gather testimonies, review surveillance materials, and assess any links to broader security concerns in the region. The city remains focused on medical treatment, public safety, and the transparent sharing of information about the evolving case. The investigative bodies have emphasized that all angles will be explored to determine how such an incident could occur in a metropolitan area and to identify those responsible for the harm caused to residents and visitors alike.
Residents and visitors are urged to rely on official briefings for updates while authorities pursue every available lead. The response to the event highlights the importance of rapid coordination among medical services, public safety agencies, and investigative teams as they work to uncover the sequence of events and to prevent a recurrence of similar harm in the future.