Rebel government minister hurt in car bomb attack

A finance minister for the breakaway republic of Donetsk was wounded in a car bombing, according to an official Russian language news account.

Alexander Timofeev, Donetsk People's Republic minister of finance, was in a car when a bomb was detonated Saturday morning.

According to a news account in Sputnik, there were two explosions. Timofeev was listed a in critical condition.

According to RIA Novosti, Timofeev suffered head injuries in the attack.

Russian military journalist said that Timofeev was not hurt in the explosion.  In his blog post he hinted that the attempt on Timofeev was an internal conflict. He also said that August's attempt on Plotnitsky was also an internal matter. He also said that a rumor circulating in Donetsk was the Zakharchenko was on his way out and that Timoffev was suggested as a possible replacement.

According to lb.ua, Timofeev was commander of the rebel combat formation Oplot, which fought at the Donetsk airport until it fell into rebel hands in February, 2015

Two other bombing attempts on rebel officials were made in August, according to Sputnik. A bomb was found near the personal residence of Donetsk president Aleksandr Zakharcheko.

Another assassination attempt earlier in August was made on Lugansk president Igor Plotnitsky. In that incident,a roadside bomb was detonated, resulting in mild injuries

Both republics' officials are likely to be under increased pressure with the news a week ago that Russian Federation humanitarian would end in the 2018 Russian fiscal year.

Russian military journalist Boris Rozhin said that Timofeev was not hurt in the explosion.  In his blog post, he hinted that the attempt on Timofeev was an internal government conflict gone hot.  He said first, however, that the possibility that Ukrainian aligned groups were responsible for the attack as the most likely explanation.

He also said that August's attempt on Plotnitsky was also an internal matter. He also said that a rumor circulating in Donetsk was that Timofeev was suggested as a possible second in command for Zakharchenko.