One more Russian General has been assassinated in a car bomb blast in Moscow today, as Russian authorities blamed Ukraine for the killing of Lieutenant General Fanil Sarvarov.
On December 22, 2025, a car bomb exploded in southern Moscow, killing General Sarvaro, Kremlin authorities said. Russian investigators have launched a terrorism inquiry and point to possible involvement by Ukrainian special services. Authorities said the attack marked a serious escalation in targeted strikes against high-ranking officials inside the Russian capital.
According to Russia’s State Investigative Committee, the explosion occurred at around 06:55 Moscow time when Lieutenant General Fanil Sarvarov exited a parking area in his Kia Sorento. Investigators said an explosive device planted beneath the vehicle detonated as the car began to move, causing fatal injuries to the general.
The committee confirmed that Sarvarov, who headed the Russian General Staff’s army operational training directorate, died at the scene as a result of severe blast-related wounds. Emergency services and law enforcement officers quickly sealed off the area while bomb disposal experts and forensic teams began collecting evidence.
Investigators release initial findings
Soon after the incident, investigators released video footage showing the destroyed vehicle. The footage revealed extensive damage to the car’s undercarriage and interior, with visible bloodstains on the driver’s seat. Officials said the nature of the blast indicated a deliberately planted explosive device rather than an accidental detonation.
In an official statement, the Investigative Committee said it was examining several possible scenarios. However, it added that one of the primary versions under consideration involved Ukrainian special services. Investigators said they were analysing surveillance footage, forensic materials, and communication data to identify those responsible.
So far, Ukrainian authorities have not commented on the allegations. Meanwhile, Russian security agencies have heightened vigilance in and around Moscow, particularly near government buildings and military facilities, following the attack.
Security implications and rising tensions
The killing of Lieutenant General Sarvarov has raised concerns within Russia’s political and military establishment. Analysts say the attack underscores growing security challenges amid the ongoing conflict between Russia and Ukraine. In recent months, Russian officials have reported multiple sabotage attempts, drone strikes, and targeted attacks inside Russian territory.
Sarvarov held a key role within the Russian military structure, overseeing operational training and readiness of army units. Officials described him as an experienced officer with decades of service. His death represents one of the most high-profile assassinations of a senior Russian general in Moscow since the start of the conflict.
Russian officials argue that such attacks aim to destabilise the country and intimidate military leadership. As a result, authorities have pledged to strengthen counterintelligence measures and ensure accountability for those involved.
Investigation continues
The Investigative Committee said it had opened a criminal case on charges related to terrorism and illegal handling of explosives. Investigators are also working to determine how the device was planted and whether the perpetrators received inside assistance.
Meanwhile, state media reported that security agencies were questioning potential witnesses and reviewing footage from nearby residential buildings and traffic cameras. Officials said they would provide further updates as the investigation progresses.
The incident has added to already heightened tensions between Moscow and Kyiv, as both sides continue to trade accusations amid the prolonged conflict.
Lieutenant General Yaroslav Moskalik assassinated
Earlier, in April 2025, a high-ranking Russian military officer, Lieutenant General Yaroslav Moskalik, was killed in a car explosion in the Moscow suburb of Balashikha, police investigators confirmed.
Authorities have launched both a murder investigation and a probe into the illegal possession and distribution of explosives.
Initial state media reports suggested a gas leak was to blame, but surveillance footage shared by pro-Kremlin outlets captured the moment a powerful blast erupted near a parked car as a pedestrian passed by.
Lieutenant General Moskalik, 59, served as deputy chief of the General Staff’s Main Operational Directorate—one of the Russian military’s most strategic departments, responsible for combat readiness and operational planning.
Moskalik’s killing adds to a growing list of assassination attempts and targeted attacks since Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022. Military commanders, Kremlin allies in occupied Ukraine, and defectors have all been targets.
In a similar incident last December, Lieutenant General Igor Kirillov and his assistant were killed when an explosive device attached to a scooter detonated as they exited a residential building—marking the highest-profile assassination of a Russian officer since the war began.
