This is the 2428th most frequent Russian word.
подобного
"Similar" or "of the sort."
In this sentence, 'подобного' means 'like this' or 'similar to this,' and it is used in the genitive case to express the idea of similarity or resemblance to something not specified.
Я никогда раньше не видел ничего подобного.
I have never seen anything like this before.
Here, 'подобного' translates to 'such' or 'of this kind,' describing the type of development and is used in the genitive case, often associated with abstract concepts.
Как избежать подобного развития событий?
How can we avoid such a development of events?
In this context, 'подобного' means 'similar' or 'of a similar kind,' referring to the characteristics of the object or concept, again in the genitive case due to the construction.