Just as it appeared as though Russia's invasion of Ukraine had ground to a stalemate, with some suggesting a Ukrainian counterattack is in the offing ahead of a pullback by Moscow's forces, an event has just taken place that harkens historians back to the first time the European continent exploded during the 20th century.

"The daughter of Russian philosopher Alexander Dugin was assassinated in Russia after a bomb detonated over the weekend. Dugin is a polarizing figure, especially in the West, where he's considered influential with Russian President Vladimir Putin," intelligence bulletin Forward Observer noted in a Monday report.

An analyst comment followed:

While some pundits have speculated that Dugin was the target of the car bomb due to internal political disputes, it's more likely that Ukrainian special operations are responsible. For now, the Russians are blaming Ukraine and the United States, which will likely lead to increased targeting of civilian leadership in Ukraine. Dugin famously pressed for the war in Ukraine as part of a broader conflict to topple the West. This is an event that could draw Russian attacks on U.S. interests in the region, which could expand the scope of the conflict.