MOSCOW, Russia — The daughter of a key ally of Russian President Vladimir Putin was killed in an explosion on the outskirts of Moscow.
Daria Dugina, 29, was driving a Toyota Land Cruiser when it exploded on Sunday.
She was the daughter of Alexander Dugin, dubbed “Putin’s brain.” Dugin is a well-known Russian nationalist intellectual whose vision of a resurrected Russian empire influenced Putin’s conflict in neighbouring Ukraine.
Dugin was sanctioned by the West as a key supporter of the Kremlin’s 2014 annexation of Crimea from Ukraine. He also supported Russia’s decision earlier this year to send troops into Ukraine.
Several Dugin supporters immediately claimed he was the intended target of the explosion and blamed the Ukrainian government.
Russian authorities have launched a criminal investigation.
