Prilepin, 47, is one of the best known fiction authors in contemporary Russia, and is also a renowned journalist and aspiring politician. He has actively engaged in reporting and commenting on the crisis in the Donbass since 2014.
The car of Russian author, journalist and politician Zakhar Prilepin was blown up on a highway in Nizhny Novgorod region about 450 km east of Moscow. The driver was killed and Prilepin has been injured, a law enforcement source told Sputnik.
"The explosion took place on the highway in Bor District. The emergency services, police, and the Investigative Committee are heading to the scene of the tragedy," the source said.
The Ministry of Internal Affairs confirmed the destruction of a vehicle in Nizhny Novgorod region, saying one person was killed, and that Prilepin was injured. Later in the day, police announced that they had detained an individual suspected of possible involvement in the incident.
Prilepin's press service indicated that the author is alive, and that "it hasn't been established what exactly happened."
Nizhny Novgorod Governor Gleb Nikitin confirmed that Prilepin "is fine," and said law enforcement is continuing its investigation into the circumstances of the incident.
Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova suspected a foreign trace in Saturday's incident.
"Washington and NATO have bred another international terrorist cell - the Kiev regime. Bin Laden, ISIS (Daesh)*, now Zelensky and his thugs. This is the direct responsibility of the United States and Britain," the spokeswoman wrote on her Telegram channel. "We're praying for Zakhar," she added.
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters that he was aware of the reports regarding the destruction of Prilepin's car, but reserved judgement in attributing blame until more information becomes available.
Who is Zakhar Prilepin?
Zakhar Prilepin is one of the best-known fiction writers of contemporary Russia, penning bestsellers including 'The Monestary', 'Sin' and 'Sankya', and winning a host of prestigious literary awards for his work, which is known for its politically-engaging style and revolutionary overtones, and the display of strong emotions.
He is also politically active, mixing support for Russia against the West with criticism of some of the government's domestic policies. He founded the Za Pravdu ('For Truth') party - a national patriotic, socially conservative, economically left, anti-liberal party in 2020. The party merged with A Just Russia, a major Russian socially conservative, economically social democratic party, in 2021.
Prilepin served as a military correspondent in the Donbass starting in 2014, with his work appearing in major Russian publications. He also engaged in fundraising drives, collecting millions of rubles to purchase humanitarian aid for the civilian population, as well as money for ammunition for the Donbass militias.
He was recruited to serve as a deputy commander of a Donbass special forces battalion between 2016 and 2018. Ukraine's Security Service opened criminal proceedings against him, charging him with "participating in the activities of a terrorist organization" and the "financing of terrorism." Prilepin retired from the Donbass in 2018, but continued to speak and write about the conflict extensively.
If Kiev's involvement in Saturday's incident is confirmed, it will be the latest instance of an attack on a Russian national engaged in journalistic activities, with previous incidents including a car bombing which killed journalist Daria Dugina, the daughter of Russian philosopher Alexander Dugin, and the bombing of a cafe in St. Petersburg last month which killed war correspondent Vladlen Tatarsky.
Russian authorities have accused Ukraine's intelligence services and military of systematically targeting journalists, civilians and officials in the Donbass, civilians in other Russian regions bordering Ukraine, and infrastructure ranging from nuclear power plants to the Kremlin. Investigators have opened thousands of criminal cases against authorities in Kiev.
Earlier Saturday, Russian Investigative Committee head Alexander Bastrykin reported that over 126,000 residents of the Donbass have been recognized as victims of the conflict since it began in 2014.
FACTBOX: What is known about explosion of Zakhar Prilepin's car
On May 6, the car of writer and politician Zakhar Prilepin exploded on Saturday in the Nizhny Novgorod region. According to the latest information, the driver died, the writer was injured. Prilepin was also known as the leader of the political party For Truth until it merged into A Just Russia party in February 2021.
TASS collected the main facts about the attack, which are available for the moment.
Circumstances of the incident
- Prilepin's car was blown up in the Nizhny Novgorod region. According to preliminary data, the explosive device was planted under the bottom of the car, the emergency services told TASS.
- As a result of the explosion, Prilepin was wounded, his driver was killed, law enforcement officials said.
- The Russian Interior Ministry later confirmed the death of the driver. According to the ministry, there are no other victims.
Writer's condition
- As the writer’s press service reported, Prilepin is "all right" after the explosion. This information was confirmed by the governor of the Nizhny Novgorod region Gleb Nikitin.
- Earlier, TASS law enforcement agencies reported that the writer was wounded and was conscious. Later, the medical services clarified that Prilepin was taken to hospital with injuries to both legs.
Reaction
- Russia’s Investigative Committee reported that its employees had left for the scene.
- Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov did not comment on the incident, noting that "first you need to get information from law enforcement agencies."
- "Washington and NATO have fed another international terrorist cell - the Kiev regime," said Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova, commenting on the incident. There is no official information about the involvement of the Ukrainian authorities in the explosion yet.
Other assassination attempts on Russians
- This is not the first attempt on patriotic figures in Russia in recent months.
- On April 2, 2023, military commander Vladlen Tatarsky (real name Maxim Fomin) died as a result of an explosion in St. Petersburg. According to investigators, the organizers of the assassination attempt were "the special services of Ukraine and their agents, including those from among the Russian opposition hiding abroad." On their instructions, 26-year-old Daria Trepova handed over a statuette with explosives to the military commissar.
- On March 6, 2023, the FSB announced the prevention of an attempt on the life of a Russian businessman, chairman of the board of directors of the Tsargrad group, Konstantin Malofeyev. According to FSB, the crime was prepared by the Ukrainian special services.
- On August 20, 2022, the car of journalist Darya Dugina was blown up in the Moscow region, she died. According to the FSB, Ukrainian citizen Natalya Vovk and her daughter Sofia Shaban, who left Russia after the explosion, were involved in the crime.
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