Vladlen Tatarsky, born in Ukraine’s Donbas area, was a Russian military blogger who gained notoriety for his ardent pro-war commentary and occasional criticism of Moscow’s battlefield failures. He was killed in a cafe explosion in St. Petersburg in what authorities believe to be a suspected murder.

Early Years and Rise to Prominence

Tatarsky began his military career by joining Russian-backed separatist forces in 2014 before moving to Moscow. After the invasion of Ukraine, he returned to the Donbas to rejoin separatist efforts. During this time, he became a prominent figure in the ultranationalist movement, amassing over 500,000 subscribers to his Telegram channel.

Controversial Views and Criticism About Vladlen Tatarsky

Tatarsky’s hardline views in support of the war were unremittingly hostile towards Ukraine and made little distinction between civilian and military targets. He became known for making controversial remarks, such as “We will defeat everyone, we will kill everyone, we will rob everyone we need.”

Despite his unwavering support of the Russian invasion, Tatarsky was also among a small but influential group of military bloggers critical of the way the campaign was conducted. He condemned the commander in charge of a disastrous attempt to cross a river in the Donetsk region and called for broad reforms in all areas of the military.

Vladlen Tatarsky Death and Legacy

Tatarsky died at age 40 when a blast tore through the cafe where he was appearing as a guest of a pro-war group. The attack is suspected to be a murder. His death marked the second such attack inside Russia following the car bomb that killed Darya Dugina, the daughter of influential ultra-nationalist philosopher Alexander Dugin in August 2022.

While controversial, Tatarsky was a significant figure in the Russian military blogging community, and his death is a loss to the movement. He will be remembered for his unwavering support of the war and his occasional criticism of Moscow’s battlefield failures.

FAQs:

Q: Who was Vladlen Tatarsky?
A: Vladlen Tatarsky was a Russian ultranationalist military blogger known for his support of the war in Ukraine and his criticism of Moscow’s battlefield failures.

Q: Where was Tatarsky born?
A: Tatarsky was born in the town of Makiivka in Ukraine’s Donbas area.

Q: When did Tatarsky join Russian-backed separatist forces?
A: Tatarsky joined Russian-backed separatist forces in 2014.

Q: What was Tatarsky’s real name?
A: Tatarsky’s real name was Maxim Fomin.

Q: What was Tatarsky’s view on the war in Ukraine?
A: Tatarsky was an enthusiastic supporter of the Russian invasion and believed that Russia would ultimately achieve its goals in Ukraine.

Q: How did Tatarsky die?
A: Tatarsky died in an explosion at a cafe in St. Petersburg.

Q: Was Tatarsky critical of Moscow’s handling of the war in Ukraine?
A: While Tatarsky was critical of individual episodes in the war, he believed that Russia would ultimately achieve its goals in Ukraine.

Q: Who was Darya Dugina?
A: Darya Dugina was the daughter of philosopher Alexander Dugin and an influential ultra-nationalist figure in Russia. She was killed in a car bomb attack in August 2022.

Conclusion:

The death of Vladlen Tatarsky, a Russian ultranationalist military blogger, has sparked speculation about the potential motives behind his murder. Tatarsky, born in Ukraine, became known for his fervent support of the war in Ukraine and his harsh criticism of Moscow’s failures on the battlefield. While he was critical of individual episodes in the war, he believed that Russia would ultimately achieve its goals in Ukraine. His death is the second such attack on an influential ultra-nationalist figure in Russia, following the killing of Darya Dugina, the daughter of philosopher Alexander Dugin, in August 2022.