Russia blames Ukraine for bomb that killed blogger

A man lays flowers near the site of the explosion at the Street Bar cafe in St. Petersburg, Russia, Monday. Pic/AP

Russia's top counterterrorism body on Monday blamed Ukrainian intelligence agencies for the bombing attack that killed a well-known Russian military blogger who fervently supported Moscow's war in Ukraine.

Russian officials said Vladlen Tatarsky, 40, was killed Sunday as he was leading a discussion at a cafe on the banks of the Neva River in the historic heart of St. Petersburg. Over 30 people were wounded by the blast, and 10 of them remain in grave condition, according to the authorities.

The National Anti-Terrorist Committee, a state structure that coordinates counterterrorism operations, said that the "terrorist act" against Tatarsky was "planned by Ukrainian special services" with the involvement of people who have cooperated with an anti-corruption foundation created by jailed Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny. It noted that the arrested suspect was an "active supporter" of Navalny's group.

Also read: Russia-Ukraine war: Will there be a spring counteroffensive?

Shortly before the announcement, Russia's Investigative Committee, the top state criminal investigation agency, reported the arrest of Darya Tryopova, a 26-year-old St. Petersburg resident suspected of involvement in the attack. Tryopova had been previously detained for taking part in anti-war rallies.

‘Finland to join NATO this week'

NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg said Finland will become the 31st member of the military alliance on Tuesday. "From tomorrow, Finland will be a full member of the alliance," Stoltenberg told reporters in Brussels. A flag raising ceremony to add the Finnish flag to those of the other members will take place at NATO headquarters on Tuesday afternoon.

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