Putin propogandist left fighting for his life after mysterious crash

A key Putin propagandist was in a grave condition fighting for his life after a mysterious accident involving an all-terrain vehicle, according to reports.

Alexei Kostylev, 39, editor-in-chief of pro-war Kremlin-funded Readovka news outlet, suffered multiple serious injuries in Smolensk region.

Reports said that Kostylev - who also ran a 'patriotic' fashion brand which produces Stalin-style jackets — had suffered a 'traumatic brain injury, cerebral haemorrhage, broken legs and a fractured neck'.

He was reported to be in a coma.

Following emergency surgery, he was rushed to Moscow for further treatment.

Independent media SOTAvision said Kostylev had been riding an ATV standing up, at extremely high speed.

'He flipped over after hitting a bump in the road, and the ATV then fell on him.

'Local residents ran to the scene and pulled the ATV off the man.

'The SOTAvision correspondent was told that he was unrecognisable - his face was so erased.'

There was no independent confirmation of this report.

His staunchly pro-Kremlin, anti-Western news outlet Readovka with almost 2.8 million followers, said: 'We express our gratitude to everyone who does not spread 'versions' from unconfirmed sources.

'We will keep you informed about Alexei's condition.'

Another Telegram channel with links to the security services - VChK-OGPU - reported that no-one had seen the crash which came after Kostylev had overtaken aides on an ATV.

It also reported that locals had come to aid the sticken propagandist.

The crash came as he was visiting the family of Vitaly and Svetlana Morozov, who left Latvia with ten children to live in a village in the Smolensk region of Russia.

The purpose of the trip was to make 'propaganda' videos featuring a family who deserted the West to live in Putin's Russia, said VChK-OGPU, which added that doctors had insisted Kostylev was moved by road not air to Moscow.

Readovka later reported: 'Alexei was quickly taken to the regional clinical hospital in Smolensk.

'In the morning, it was decided to transport the founder of the media holding Readovka to Moscow, where he arrived for further treatment.'

The outlet said: 'Our thoughts and prayers are with our editor-in-chief Alexei.

'We will keep you updated with all operational information. An indomitable spirit will overcome anything.'

Readovka was originally founded by Kostylev in Smolensk region but later went national and by 2021 came under the sway of shadowy Yevgeny Prigozhin, who also owned the Wagner private army and was killed last year in a plane crash.

The Readovka Telegram channel is seen as a key tool of the Kremlin during the war.

Versions of the crash were removed from local news websites and the regional Interior Ministry said it had no record of the incident in which Kostylev was injured in Rukhan village, some 90 miles from Smolensk city in western Russia.

His fashion outlet - 24 New Russian Brand - specialises in Russian and Soviet inspired men's clothing.