Russian pro-war novelist and politician Zakhar Prilepin was injured and his driver killed in a car bombing in central Russia as he was returning from Ukraine’s occupied territories, according to media reports.
(Bloomberg) — Russian pro-war novelist and politician Zakhar Prilepin was injured and his driver killed in a car bombing in central Russia as he was returning from Ukraine’s occupied territories, according to media reports.
The attack followed two high-profile bombing deaths of Russian war supporters in recent months. Russia’s investigative committee said it has opened a terrorism probe.
Prilepin, 47, a vocal supporter of Russia’s year-long invasion of Ukraine, was hospitalized with leg injuries after an explosive device detonated in his Audi Q7 SUV, the TASS news agency reported citing emergency services and doctors. His condition is assessed as serious, but not critical, Tass news agency reported, citing medical services.
The writer, who’s co-chairman of the Just Russia – For Truth party and has been sanctioned by the European Union in connection with the war, was traveling back from occupied Ukraine, where he served in one of Russia’s battalions, according to a Kommersant report.
An explosive could have been placed under the hood of his car while Prilepin stopped to eat in a cafe, according to RBC.
The bomb detonated around 11 a.m. local time while the car was in the village of Pionerskoye, west of Nizhny Novgorod. Images released by the Russian committee showed a severely damaged white SUV lying upside down.
Maria Zakharova, spokeswoman for Russia’s Foreign Ministry, blamed Ukraine, the US and Britain for the attack in a Telegram post, without offering evidence.
Sergey Mironov, leader of the Just Russia – For Truth party, called the bombing a “planned and organized terrorist attack” by Ukraine targeting supporters of the war, according to TASS. He also provided no evidence connecting Kyiv to the incident. Ukraine’s government hasn’t commented.
The attack on Prilepin follows the bombing deaths of pro-war blogger Maxim Fomin, or Vladlen Tatarsky, in a Saint Petersburg cafe in April, and Daria Dugina, daughter of a prominent Russian nationalist, in August. Dugina was also killed by a car bomb.
Law enforcement officers have detained a suspect who may have been involved in Saturday’s explosion, Interfax reported, citing Irina Volk, spokeswoman for Russia’s Interior Affairs Ministry.
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