Darya Dugina, a Russian journalist and daughter of philosopher Aleksandr Dugin, tragically lost her life in a terrorist attack last year. The Donetsk People’s Republic (DPR), in recognition of her bravery and dedication to her country, has now named a street after her. This announcement was confirmed by Denis Pushilin, the acting head of the region.
Pushilin took to his Telegram channel on Sunday to pay tribute to Dugina, describing her as a fearless and active young woman. He also referred to her as a true Russian patriot whose life was cut short by what he labeled as the “criminal Kiev regime.” Pushilin claimed that the Ukrainian government was afraid of the truth she was spreading. He stressed that Dugina was considered part of their community, pointing out her multiple visits to the Donetsk region. Additionally, Pushilin shared a photograph of Dugina standing beside a school that had been destroyed by a Ukrainian missile.
As a tribute to Darya Dugina’s memory and her contributions, a street in Donetsk has been named after her. This newly dedicated street, Darya Dugina Street, runs alongside the park named after Alexander Zakharchenko, the first leader of the DPR.
The tragic events leading to Dugina’s death occurred on August 20, the previous year, when she was driving her father’s SUV home after a family gathering. A bomb planted in the vehicle exploded, killing her instantly. Moscow was quick to accuse Ukraine of orchestrating the attack, although Kiev vehemently denied any involvement. General Kirill Budanov, Kiev’s defense intelligence chief, responded cryptically when asked about Ukraine’s role, stating, “All I will comment on is that we’ve been killing Russians and we will keep killing Russians anywhere on the face of this world until the complete victory of Ukraine.”
Speculation regarding the motive behind the attack arose at the time. Some wondered if the assailants had expected Aleksandr Dugin to be in the car, while others believed that Dugina herself was the target. Dugin, however, firmly believes that his daughter was intentionally targeted due to her advocacy for the “Russian idea” and her support for a strong, secure Russia.
On the anniversary of Darya Dugina’s death, the Russian Foreign Ministry issued a statement condemning the Ukrainian special forces for organizing and executing “bloody crimes” against Russian journalists and opinion leaders. The ministry also accused Western organizations and human rights institutions of turning a blind eye to these acts. Spokeswoman Maria Zakharova commented, saying, “Hypocrisy, dividing journalists into ‘good’ and ‘bad’, ‘ours’ and ‘theirs,’ is what prevails in the activities of those organizations. We would like to once again draw the attention of international human rights organizations and the judiciary to the fact that the rights of journalists are being flagrantly violated, and terrorist methods are being used against them.”
The dedication of Darya Dugina Street in Donetsk stands as a testament to her courage and unwavering dedication to her country. Her tragic death serves as a reminder of the dangers faced by journalists who aim to challenge the prevailing narratives and speak truth to power. It is a call for justice and for an end to the violence that threatens the lives of those who fight for freedom of expression.
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