Explosion Targets High-Ranking Officer
Russian authorities have launched an investigation into a deadly explosion in Moscow that killed Lieutenant General Fanil Sarvarov on Monday morning. Investigators said a car exploded in the south of the capital, fatally injuring Sarvarov, who headed the Operational Training Directorate of the Russian Armed Forces’ General Staff. According to Russian media reports, the blast occurred in a parking lot next to a residential building, raising concerns about security in the area.
Criminal Case Opened, Motive Unclear
Russia’s Investigative Committee confirmed that it has opened a criminal case into Sarvarov’s death, though officials have not yet established a motive. The committee said investigators are examining multiple scenarios as they work to determine who carried out the attack and why. Sarvarov later died from his injuries, the committee’s spokesperson said.
Investigators Cite Possible Ukrainian Involvement
Russian investigators have named Ukraine as a possible suspect in the killing. “Investigators are pursuing numerous lines of enquiry regarding the murder. One of these is that the crime was orchestrated by Ukrainian intelligence services,” Investigative Committee spokesperson Svetlana Petrenko said. She added that authorities are carrying out extensive investigative measures, saying, “The investigation will appoint the necessary examinations, including forensic and explosives. Witnesses and eyewitnesses are being interrogated, and surveillance cameras are being examined.” Kyiv has not commented on the allegations.
Part of a Broader Pattern Since 2022
The killing marks the latest in a series of attacks targeting senior Russian military figures in Moscow since Russia launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine in early 2022. In December 2024, Lieutenant General Igor Kirillov was killed by a remotely detonated scooter, while Lieutenant General Yaroslav Moskalik died in April after a car bomb attack. Ukraine has not officially claimed responsibility for either incident.
