An explosive device detonated in a parked vehicle near Moscow on Friday, resulting in the death of a senior Russian general, according to investigators. This incident echoes prior attacks attributed to Ukraine.
The victim has been identified as Lieutenant General Yaroslav Moskalik, the deputy head of the military’s General Staff’s main operational directorate, responsible for overseeing army operations.
At the time of this report, Kyiv had not made any remarks regarding the incident, which mirrors other high-profile assassinations of military figures and prominent supporters of Russia’s ongoing campaign over the past three years.
Ukrainian officials have previously labeled some of these individuals as “legitimate targets,” suggesting these attacks serve as retaliation for Moscow’s military actions that have led to countless fatalities.
In response to the explosion—a blast from a Volkswagen Golf located outside an apartment building in Balashikha, east of Moscow—Russia’s Investigative Committee confirmed an investigation into murder had been launched.
“A military figure from our ranks was killed as a result of a terrorist attack,” stated Maria Zakharova, spokesperson for the Russian foreign ministry.
The general’s body was reportedly found near the front entrance of the residential building, and just a few meters away from the incinerated remains of the white vehicle, as shown in footage released by investigators.
On-location reports indicated that police had cordoned off the area on Friday, with ambulances surrounding the blast site.
Witnesses in the vicinity reported hearing a powerful explosion around 10:45 AM (0745 GMT).
“The blast was incredibly loud; it even caused me chest pain,” recounted Lyudmila, a local resident.
‘Improvised Explosive Device’
The assassination closely resembles earlier attacks claimed by Kyiv against those involved in Russia’s three-year military operations against Ukraine.
Last December, Ukraine’s intelligence services asserted responsibility for the assassination of the head of the Russian military’s chemical weapons department via a remotely detonated bomb attached to a scooter.
Security footage of the recent explosion indicates a massive blast that propelled debris into the air, occurring just as an individual approached the car.
Investigators reported that the explosion resulted from an “improvised explosive device” filled with metal shards intended to inflict maximum damage.
According to the investigative news site Agentstvo, which cited leaked information, Moskalik was a resident of Balashikha, although the vehicle did not appear to be registered in his name.
Unverified reports circulating on Russian Telegram channels connected to law enforcement suggested that the car was purchased recently by an individual from the Ukrainian city of Sumy.
These sources also indicated that the Volkswagen had been parked at the location for several days and was equipped with a camera.
TASS reported that Moskalik was 59 years old and had previously represented the Russian military in ceasefire discussions with Ukraine back in 2015, amidst the conflict involving Kyiv and Russian-backed factions.
‘Serious Blunders’
Russian President Vladimir Putin elevated Moskalik to the rank of lieutenant general in 2021.
Over the past three years, individuals linked to Russia’s military efforts in Ukraine have faced similar targeting in multiple attacks, including the assassination of nationalist Darya Dugina in a car bombing in August 2022, and an explosion in a café in Saint Petersburg in April 2023 that killed well-known military correspondent Maxim Fomin, also known as Vladlen Tatarsky.
While Ukraine has occasionally claimed responsibility or celebrated these attacks, it has remained silent on this most recent incident.
In the wake of the December killing of Igor Kirillov, head of the military’s chemical weapons division, Putin acknowledged some failures within his security apparatus.
“We cannot afford such serious blunders to continue,” he stated.
