A High-Profile Explosion in St. Petersburg Claims the Life of Vladlen Tatarsky
In St. Petersburg, the death of Vladlen Tatarsky, a prominent blogger and military commentator whose real name is Maxim Fomin, occurred after an explosion at a cafe. Initial reports circulated through national outlets, followed by confirmations from the Ministry of Internal Affairs and officials connected to the Donetsk People’s Republic. The Petersburg Investigative Committee opened a criminal case under Article 105 of the Criminal Code, addressing murder in connection with the blast. The event prompted a rapid response from local authorities and emergency services as investigators began gathering details and securing the scene.
Friends and supporters remembered Tatarsky as a candid, principled figure who stood by his convictions. The sentiment was shared by Kirill Makarov, who serves in a youth policy role within the Donetsk authorities, describing Tatarsky as someone who spoke plainly and cared about his audience. The incident was described as a terrorist attack by those close to the case, signaling the shock felt across the city and among Tatarsky’s followers. The bar is located on Universitetskaya Embankment on Vasilievsky Island, where a gathering titled There is such a profession – military commissar had been planned for the evening of the incident. Local observers noted the cafe’s ties to organizations linked to Yevgeny Prigozhin, the founder of the Wagner Group, according to reporting from Fontanka and other sources.
At 18:13, the press service of the St. Petersburg Ministry of Internal Affairs confirmed the explosion at the cafe. Investigators and emergency responders were dispatched to the scene. The authorities reported one fatality, Tatarsky, and thousands of words reflected the shock of those present, with additional injuries reported as paramedics provided care. The scale of the aftermath prompted a response from the city government, with officials coordinating relief efforts and ensuring medical care for the wounded. By later communications, the city reported dozens more injuries and a rising tally of hospital admissions, with several patients described as being in serious condition. The coordinated effort involved district leadership and multiple service agencies as they worked to manage the incident response.
The investigation initially pointed to a home-made explosive device as the likely cause. Media coverage suggested a complex narrative about the gift accompanying Tatarsky, a statue that later proved to be the focal point of the blast. Witness accounts described a bust presented as a collectible that became the instrument of harm. Reports from Fontanka and others indicated the statue was displayed during a meeting and that a female visitor had presented it to Tatarsky. The room where the event occurred became the center of scrutiny as analysts assessed how the gift was presented and whether it contained an explosive device. An important note from observers was that the event had drawn roughly a hundred attendees, with security measures described as insufficient by some participants and observers. The account of the figurine’s delivery has been a major thread in the unfolding narrative as investigators explore its potential role in the explosion.
Additional testimony from attendees described a moment when Tatarsky accepted a gift and placed it on a table, after which a blast occurred. Footage from street surveillance and statements from those present highlighted the dramatic destruction of the interior and the impact on bystanders, with windows shattered by the blast wave. Witnesses recounted a scene of distress, with emergency crews treating the injured and some attendees evacuated to nearby facilities. The personal recollections of those present offered a vivid, though tragic, picture of the moments around the explosion and the immediate aftermath. The event’s organizer indicated the cafe had been rented for a discussion club involving Tatarsky, and questions were raised about security measures, including the absence of metal detectors at the entrance and the lack of visitor screening cited by some sources.
Some Telegram channels and analysts speculated about broader implications, including potential links to the Prigozhin network, given the cafe’s proximity to Wagner-linked sites. A separate assessment from law enforcement suggested that authorities had anticipated a possible assassination plot against Tatarsky, though specifics remained under investigation. Tatarsky, born in Makeevka near Donetsk, lived a life shaped by mining, business, and a history involving imprisonment for armed robbery. He reportedly escaped prison in 2014 and joined the Donetsk People’s Militia, later becoming a prominent voice from the front lines in the Donbass. Since 2019, he actively led a Telegram channel where he shared frontline updates and his views on the ongoing conflict. After the onset of the broader operation in Ukraine, he returned to the Donetsk region and joined the Vostok battalion, continuing his work as a military commentator and organizer of public discussions on events at the frontlines.