In Kyiv, an unidentified individual with a knife attacked well-known journalist Yuriy Makarov, who sustained serious injuries while taking a walk in one of the residential complexes of the capital
According to the victim himself, the attack occurred around 10:30–10:40 pm, when he went out for a stroll to clear his mind for upcoming reports and suddenly found himself face to face with the attacker, who threatened him with a knife. Makarov explained that the incident took place on the private territory of the residential complex, which is accessible only to a limited number of people with electronic passes. This made the attacker’s attempt to breach the perimeter even more strange and mysterious. The well-known journalist emphasized that, despite the tense situation, he was able to react quickly and defend himself. “When I saw the blade, my instincts kicked in, the ones I was trained in back in university during karate classes, which are now banned. I instinctively deflected the knife and did everything possible to disarm the attacker. Maybe I managed to hit him in the head, or maybe not. My knuckles still hurt,” Makarov humorously recounted. He added that during the struggle, the attacker did manage to deliver a blow to his stomach, which could have been an attempt to 'block' him under the ribs, as often depicted in classic Moscow criminal folklore, but he lacked the strength or resolve. The journalist speculated that the attack might have been motivated not only by a desire to rob him but also by a possible “Russian version” — an attempt to destabilize the situation through a demonstrative assault on a public figure. “I was already on the blacklist of Russian special services along with Arkady Babchenko, Yevgeny Kiselev, and several other well-known personalities. There were about twenty of us — it’s not a joke. Perhaps this attack is another attempt to intimidate Ukrainian journalists and undermine our morale,” Makarov noted. He admitted that he was unable to identify the attacker due to a poor memory for faces, which complicates identifying him. However, Makarov mentioned that during the escape, the assailant threw away the knife, which has now been confiscated by law enforcement and is likely considered evidence in the case. According to him, the attacker resembled an ordinary “junkie” who went out to commit a robbery and was probably seeking his next dose. “If this is a manifestation of so-called ‘brotherly love,’” Makarov joked, “I feel my significance in this world and am glad I managed to draw attention to myself.” Makarov was urgently transported to a hospital with serious wounds: cuts to the anterior abdominal wall and hands. He said that his condition is still serious due to significant blood loss, but medics assure that the prognosis is positive and a speedy recovery is entirely possible. Medical professionals stated that Makarov could be discharged as early as Monday, April 24, and his condition is currently stable. The journalist expressed hope that he would be able to return to work soon and resume covering important events in Ukrainian reality.