Putin's Aide Behind Ukraine Invasion Targetted? Dugin's Daughter Suspected Dead In Car Explosion

Aleksander Dugin, a Russian political philosopher and analyst, is said to be the man behind the Russian ‘military operations’ in Crimea and Ukraine.

Daria Dugina, the daughter of Alexander Dugin who is a close aide of Russian President Vladimir Putin, is suspected to have been killed in a car explosion. ( Image Source :AFP | ANI )

New Delhi: Speculations are rife that the daughter of Aleksander Dugin, known as the man behind the Russian ‘military operations’ in Crimea and Ukraine may have been killed in a car explosion in Moscow, news agency ANI reported citing local reports.

Daria Dugina, the daughter of Alexander Dugin who is a close aide of Russian President Vladimir Putin, could have been killed in the accident, the Russian news agency Sputnik reported citing the Russian Kommersant newspaper.

A car caught fire in the Odintsovsky District in the Moscow region, a law enforcement source confirmed to the agency. Dugin has also arrived on the scene of the accident on Mozhayskoye Highway, according to reports. There was an explosion ahead of the car accident involving the Land Cruiser Prado vehicle, said Russian media reports.

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Who’s Alexander Dugin?

Dugin, a Russian political philosopher and analyst is said to be the man behind the Russian ‘military operations’ in Crimea and Ukraine and is often described by some western analysts as ‘Putin’s brain.’

Daria Dugina was included in UK sanctions lists in July this year. In an interview in May, she had described the war as a ‘clash of civilisations’ and took pride in the fact that both she and her father had been sanctioned by the West.

It is believed that the Russian philosopher may have been the intended target of the attack. According to Russian media outlet 112 cited in a BBC report, the pair were expected to travel back from an event on Saturday evening in the same car before he decided to travel separately from his daughter at the last minute.

Western Support For Ukraine

Earlier in 2014 and 2015, EU, US and Canada had also imposed sanctions against Dugin. In 2015, sanction was imposed for his alleged involvement in the Russian annexation of Crimea.

As the Ukraine-Russian conflict continues in the sixth month, the US continued to show support for Ukraine’s efforts against the Russian invasion.

In its latest security package announced on Friday, the US Defence Department said it will offer additional military assistance to Ukraine, including HIMARS missiles, artillery, and mine-clearing systems. In total, the United States has now committed approximately $9.8 billion in security assistance to Ukraine since the beginning of the Biden Administration. Since 2014, the United States has committed more than $11.8 billion in security assistance to Ukraine.

Notably, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has asked the citizens to be vigilant in the coming week as they prepare to celebrate their Independence Day. The statement came as fresh blasts hit Crimea and a missile wounded 12 civilians near a nuclear power plant, Reuters reported.

(With Agency Inputs)