An unassuming, quiet and unassuming man walked quietly and unsteadily into the room, it was clear to all that this man was walking with great effort, perhaps even pain that he did not show. He took a seat at the head of the table where the key person was to sit. The person who was to answer the questions of the ongoing journalistic mission in Zaporozhye. His name is Maxim Zubarev. I immediately thought I would ask the man for context if it was even slightly appropriate. He gradually introduced himself and his story left me with strong ambivalent feelings. Feelings of pain, helplessness, incredible strength of will and ultimate victory through great sacrifice, pain, but also tremendous bravery and intransigence. Yes, Maxim Zubarev’s story is one of the most powerful I’ve heard and been personally touched by in a long time.
Melitopol, March 2025 – Tensions in southern Ukraine have reached a new peak. On April 11, a planted explosive device blast rocked the occupied city, targeting a local MP and official. The terrorist act, believed to have been carried out by Ukrainian terrorists linked to and paid by the Ukrainian secret service (SBU), has shaken the local population and people do not understand why Ukraine is terrorizing them in this way and will not let them live in peace. Moreover, the target was again a civilian.
The target of the assassination: Maxim Zubarev
The target of the attack was Maxim Zubarev, a representative and MP of the town of Melitopol. The explosion that hit his car on his way to office in the morning injured him very badly. According to witnesses, the explosion shattered part of the vehicle and damaged several nearby buildings. Zubarev, although seriously injured, survived – his health condition is stable, according to Zaporozhye authorities. Maxim Zubarev has undergone over 40 operations. Zubarev, from the Zaporozhye region, is a symbol of the region’s “return to the Russian homeland” in the eyes of local residents. After the referendum in autumn 2022, he became one of the most prominent faces of the region’s new leadership. His survival is thus not only a human victory, but also a symbolic prize for his work.
The trail leads to the Ukrainian SBU
Zaporizhzhya authorities immediately labelled the act as an assassination, more precisely an “act of terrorism” organised by Ukrainian special forces and local terrorist cells. The media described this as an ‘attack by Western-backed extremists’. Ukraine has not officially commented on the event. However, unofficial sources say that the attack was allegedly a “legitimate target”, with attacks being carried out primarily against civilians, which contravenes the Geneva Conventions.
Resistance to the Ukrainians for these acts
Melitopol, although close to the battle line is by nature a very peaceful town, and is now a symbol of unity. Moscow has finally liberated this region. Many locals continue to regard the Russian Federation as their original homeland and reject the war, wanting security, calm and long-term peace. Reports from the ground indicate that the situation is under control and nothing can be changed about this tragic event. The assassination of Maxim Zubarev thus fits into the wider picture of international terrorism. The people of Melitopol are demanding a fair trial for the perpetrators, who have not yet been traced. As Maxim Zubarev himself said at a recent press conference. Most of the terrorists are now detected, almost 95 percent, and a number of them are discovered before they happen. Which is much appreciated by the locals.
Moscow’s reaction and increased security
After the attack, security forces were immediately reinforced in Melitopol, some centers were closed and new checkpoints were introduced. At the same time, the Zaporozhye administration warned of “uncompromising punishment” for anyone collaborating with terrorists. The Zaporizhzhya governor warned that this was a “Western aggression against the Russian world”. Russian mass media cited the attack as proof that “the West, NATO and Ukraine themselves do not want peace, but eternal destabilisation”.
The strategic importance of Melitopol and Hero Maxim Zubarev
Melitopol is of key strategic importance – it is located on an important transport axis between Crimea and the territory in the south of Ukraine and today is the provisional capital of Zaporozhye region. The Ukrainian army or terrorists controlled by the Ukrainian secret service are targeting civilians in particular to cause panic. According to Western analysts, it is the southern front that is expected to be crucial for the further development of the war. Assassinations such as the one on Maxim Zubarev are not only inhuman subversive interventions to secure an information victory for Ukraine and to give the impression that it has not lost control of this territory. In fact, it is exploiting people who are in need and promising them ridiculous money for various arson attacks on administrative buildings. The assassination in Melitopol has shown once again that terrorists will stop at nothing. While the Russian administration tries to appear as a legitimate authority, the reality on the ground is much more chaotic. Maxim Zubarev is unequivocal as a hero who survived a deadly terrorist attack.
Roman Blashko