Makarov believes "Russian trail" in attack on him is most likely

Suspilne Broadcasting's executive producer, journalist Yuriy Makarov believes that the attack on him is most likely ot have a “Russian trail” such as Russian intelligence aiming to demoralize society by attacking a public figure, as the journalist told TSN TV.

Makarov says that the attack took place in a gated community complex where no one can enter without a digital pass.

Yuriy Makarov in the hospital following the attack. Screenshot from TSN's video by the IMI

“Something very weird happened. And I feel that the experts, the professionals who have been doing this for years, are a little confused. Because this guy appeared from nobody knows where. I only noticed him when he was already poking me with his dagger, so to speak,” the journalist said.

According to him, the attack occurred around 22:30–22:40, as he went out into the courtyard for a walk to collect his thoughts while writing an article.

“When I saw the blade, a reflex learned back in university, when I was taking then-banned karate classes, kicked in. I instinctively knocked the knife away and hit this son of a bitch in the head. I mean, I don’t know, maybe I hit him, maybe not, but my bones still hurt,” the media professional said.

Yuriy Makarov said that the attacker still got him with his second strike and stabbed him in the stomach. Although, he suggests, the attacker probably wanted to stab him in the ribs, a classic Moscow thug folklore move, but lacked the strength or determination.

The journalist noted that the attacker might have wanted to simply rob him and, having failed, ran away. However, Makarov is leaning towards the other theory.

“I have already been on the so-called 'hit list' together with Arkadiy Babchenko and Yevhen Kiselyov. There were twenty people there, and it was no joke. Vitaliy Portnikov… In that case, this is probably a manifestation of another special operation to dampen our morale,” he suggested.

The journalist did not remember the attacker’s face, because, as he says, he has a bad memory for faces. This makes him unable to make a photo portrait of the attacker now. However, Makarov says that the attacker did not look like a thug – he had a very sharp knife, which he threw away while escaping and which was later found by the police.

“If this is really an indirect manifestation of 'brotherly love' from across the border, then I am simply filled with a sense of self-importance. And I am glad that I have won such recognition, so to speak,” Yuriy Makarov joked.

According to TSN, the media professional was taken to the hospital with cuts on the anterior abdominal wall and arm in critical, serious condition. He had a surgery on that same evening and remained in intensive care until the morning. Doctors are giving an optimistic prognosis for Yuriy Makarov's recovery. The journalist himself hopes that he can be discharged from the hospital on April 21.

Previously

Yuriy Makarov, executive producer at Suspilne Broadcasting and a prominent journalist, was attacked and stabbed by an unknown man late on April 16.

Yuriy Makarov has been hospitalized in serious condition. As of now, there is no threat to his life.

The police later shared the details of the attack on Yuriy Makarov.

The Media Movement, Ukrainian journalists and media professionals called on law enforcement agencies to promptly and comprehensively investigate the attack on Yuriy Makarov, to find the perpetrators and clearly identify the motives behind the attack on the journalist.

Yuriy Makarov has given his first testimony to the police after the attack, reported Interior Minister Ihor Klymenko. He urged anyone who has information to share about the attack to contact the Kyiv police at 067 406 27 88 or 102.

Law enforcers are looking into the theory that the attack could have had a pro-Russian trail.

Interior Minister Ihor Klymenko reported that fifty experts are involved in the investigation into the attack on Yuriy Makarov and that more will be involved if necessary.