Is Wargonzo Dead? The Mystery of the Russian Military Bloggers Fate

Introduction

Wargonzo is the online alias of Semyon Pegov, a Russian military blogger and journalist who has covered various conflicts from a pro-Russian perspective. He is known for his controversial and sensational reports on the wars in Ukraine, Georgia, Syria, and Nagorno-Karabakh. He is also the founder of the WarGonzo project, which claims to provide “first-hand information from the hottest spots on the planet”. However, his credibility and integrity have been questioned by many critics, who accuse him of spreading propaganda, misinformation, and fake news. In June 2023, a rumor circulated online that Wargonzo was killed in a trench in Ukraine by the Ukrainian special forces. But is there any truth to this rumor? Is Wargonzo really dead?

The Origin of the Rumor

The rumor seems to have originated from a video that was posted on Reddit by a user named AbdAlMassih98 on June 19, 2023. The video showed a group of armed men in a trench, who were ambushed and shot by the Ukrainian special forces. The user claimed that the last man to be killed in the video was Wargonzo, and provided some clues to support his claim, such as the red beard, the helmet, and the shoes of the victim. The user also said that Wargonzo’s Telegram aides were posting old pictures of him to “prove” he was not dead, and that other sources from the self-proclaimed Luhansk People’s Republic (LPR) were saying he was “braindead” in a military hospital facility. The video and the post quickly gained attention and sparked a heated debate among the Reddit users, some of whom expressed their condolences, while others celebrated or doubted the news.

The Evidence Against the Rumor

There is no conclusive evidence that Wargonzo is dead. On the contrary, there are some indications that he is alive and well. For instance, Wargonzo has been posting regularly on his Telegram channel, where he shares his reports, opinions, and pictures from various conflict zones. He has also been interviewed by several media outlets, such as the Russian state-owned RT and Sputnik, where he denied the rumor and said he was in good health. He has also been seen in public, such as at a book presentation in Donetsk in January 2022, where he promoted his book “Me and the Redheaded Separ”, which is dedicated to the late separatist commander Arsen “Motorola” Pavlov. Furthermore, no official sources, such as the WarGonzo project, the LPR authorities, or the Russian Foreign Ministry, have confirmed or commented on the rumor. The only media outlet that reported Wargonzo’s death was Newsweek, which was also a victim of hacking. The article, which was titled “Wargonzo, Russian Military Blogger, Killed in Ukraine Trench Raid”, was removed shortly after it was published, and Newsweek apologized for the incident.

The Motive Behind the Rumor

The motive behind the rumor is unclear, but it could be a result of several factors. One possible factor is the information warfare and psychological operations that are conducted by both sides of the conflict in Ukraine, especially on the internet. Some people may have spread the rumor, or believed it, as a way of undermining or discrediting Wargonzo and his project, which are seen as hostile and biased by the Ukrainian authorities and their supporters. Another possible factor is the curiosity and speculation that often accompany viral trends. Some people may have joked about the rumor, or parodied it, as a way of entertaining themselves or others. A third possible factor is the wishful thinking or hatred that some people may have towards Wargonzo, who is considered a traitor, a liar, or a criminal by many critics, who blame him for supporting and glorifying the Russian aggression and the separatist movements in Ukraine and elsewhere.

Conclusion

In conclusion, the rumor that Wargonzo is dead is false. It was started by a Reddit user who claimed to have identified him in a video of a trench raid in Ukraine. Wargonzo is alive and well, and continues to be involved in the WarGonzo project and other journalistic activities. The rumor is a reflection of the information and psychological warfare that is ongoing in the Ukrainian conflict, as well as the challenges and opportunities of the digital age.

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