A senior Russian military officer has been killed in a car bombing in Moscow, marking the latest in a series of high-profile attacks targeting figures linked to Russia’s armed forces since the start of the war in Ukraine.
Russian authorities said the incident occurred early on Monday morning, when an explosive device detonated beneath a parked vehicle in a residential parking area in southern Moscow. The blast, reported at around 7:00 am local time, killed Lieutenant General Fanil Sarvarov, the head of the Operational Training Directorate of the Russian Armed Forces’ General Staff.
The announcement was confirmed by , which said it had opened a criminal case into what it described as a deliberate act of terrorism. Speaking to reporters, committee spokesperson Svetlana Petrenko said investigators were examining multiple possible motives and perpetrators behind the attack.
“We have opened a criminal case in connection with a car bombing in Moscow that killed the head of the Operational Training Directorate of the Russian Armed Forces’ General Staff, Lieutenant General Fanil Sarvarov,” Petrenko said. “Investigators are pursuing numerous lines of enquiry regarding the murder.”
Petrenko added that one of the working theories under consideration is the involvement of Ukrainian intelligence services. “One of these lines of enquiry is that the crime was orchestrated by Ukrainian intelligence services,” she said, without providing further details or evidence.
Russian media outlets reported that the explosive device was planted underneath Sarvarov’s vehicle and detonated remotely. Images published by local outlets showed a charred car and debris scattered across the parking area, with emergency services cordoning off the scene as investigators worked through the morning.
The Russian Defence Ministry later issued a brief statement confirming Sarvarov’s death and outlining his military background. According to the ministry, the general had previously served in Chechnya and took part in Russia’s military operations in Syria, where Moscow supported the government of President Bashar al-Assad.
Sarvarov’s role within the General Staff placed him among the senior figures responsible for operational planning and training within the Russian armed forces. His killing represents one of the highest-ranking military losses in Moscow since the conflict with Ukraine escalated.
While Ukraine has not officially commented on Monday’s attack, Kyiv previously claimed responsibility for a similar operation last December, when a senior Russian military officer was killed in an explosion. Ukrainian officials at the time described the attack as part of efforts to weaken Russia’s military command structure.
The latest bombing follows a pattern of targeted attacks inside Russia that have raised concerns about internal security, particularly in the capital. In April, another senior Russian military official was killed in a car bomb explosion outside his apartment building in Moscow, an incident that also prompted accusations from the Kremlin that Ukraine was behind the attack.
Russian authorities have repeatedly blamed Ukraine for a series of bombings, sabotage operations and targeted killings across Russian territory since the war began. These incidents have included explosions on rail lines, attacks on fuel depots and alleged assassination attempts against figures linked to the military and defence sector.
The Kremlin has argued that such attacks represent an expansion of the conflict beyond the front lines, accusing Ukraine and its allies of attempting to destabilise Russia internally. Kyiv, for its part, has maintained that it has the right to strike military targets involved in what it describes as Russia’s unlawful invasion.
Security analysts say the killing of a senior general in Moscow underscores the increasingly covert nature of the conflict, with both sides accused of conducting intelligence and sabotage operations far from the battlefield. The attacks have also highlighted vulnerabilities in Russia’s internal security apparatus, despite heightened measures since the invasion of Ukraine.
Following Monday’s explosion, security was reportedly tightened in parts of Moscow, with additional patrols deployed near government and military facilities. Residents in the area of the blast described hearing a loud explosion that shattered windows and sent people rushing outside in the early hours of the morning.
Investigators said forensic teams are analysing fragments of the explosive device and reviewing surveillance footage from nearby buildings to determine how the bomb was planted and triggered. Officials have not disclosed whether any suspects have been identified or detained.
The killing comes at a sensitive moment for Russia, as the war in Ukraine continues to exact a heavy toll on both sides. With fighting ongoing and diplomatic efforts stalled, analysts warn that targeted attacks on senior figures could further escalate tensions and provoke retaliatory actions.
International observers have urged restraint, warning that assassinations and bombings in civilian areas carry a high risk of unintended casualties and could further destabilise the region. So far, there have been no reports of other injuries resulting from Monday’s explosion.
As the investigation continues, Russian authorities have vowed to hold those responsible accountable. “All those involved in organising and carrying out this crime will be identified and brought to justice,” Petrenko said.
The death of Lieutenant General Sarvarov adds to a growing list of Russian officials killed in targeted attacks since the war began, reinforcing fears that the conflict is increasingly spilling into Russia’s major cities. Whether the bombing marks a new phase in the conflict or remains part of a broader pattern of covert operations remains to be seen.
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