Story perspectives

Artist Who Mocked Putin Murdered; Tusk Warns Russian Terror

6/18/2026

Summary

Story summary

Artist Robert Kuzovkov, known as Semyon Skrepetsky, was shot at close range near his Biala Podlaska home.
He publicly mocked President Vladimir Putin in paintings, including a portrait of Putin with Stalin and a June 12 video discarding the Russian flag.
Prime Minister Donald Tusk warned the killing could be state-terrorism, urged proof of Russian orders, and said it follows a pattern of alleged Russian-linked assassinations abroad since the 2022 Ukraine invasion.

History

Historical Context

After the 2015 poisoning of Bulgarian arms dealer Emilian Gebrev, former GRU officer Sergei Skripal and his daughter Yulia were attacked with a Russian-made Novichok on 4 March 2018 in Salisbury, leading Britain to expel 23 Russian diplomats on 12 March. The 30 June 2018 Amesbury poisoning of Charlie Rowley and Dawn Sturgess reinforced a pattern of extraterritorial Russian chemical attacks, prompting tighter EU security coordination.

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Story summary

Artist Robert Kuzovkov, known as Semyon Skrepetsky, was shot at close range near his Biala Podlaska home.
He publicly mocked President Vladimir Putin in paintings, including a portrait of Putin with Stalin and a June 12 video discarding the Russian flag.
Prime Minister Donald Tusk warned the killing could be state-terrorism, urged proof of Russian orders, and said it follows a pattern of alleged Russian-linked assassinations abroad since the 2022 Ukraine invasion.

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