Three individuals, including two police officers, were killed in an explosion in Moscow on Wednesday, according to Russian investigators. The incident occurred in close proximity to the site of a recent car bomb attack that resulted in the death of a high-ranking military official just days earlier.
The two traffic police officers were approaching a “suspicious individual” when an explosive device detonated, as confirmed by Svetlana Petrenko, spokesperson for the Investigative Committee. Both officers, along with a civilian standing nearby, succumbed to their injuries at the scene. Forensic experts and investigators have since been conducting a thorough examination of the area.
This tragic event unfolded in the same vicinity where Lt. Gen. Fanil Sarvarov, head of the Operational Training Directorate of the Russian Armed Forces’ General Staff, was killed on Monday morning. Sarvarov died when a bomb exploded beneath his vehicle, highlighting a concerning pattern of violence targeting senior military figures.
Investigators are exploring the possibility that Ukraine may have orchestrated the attack on Sarvarov, which marks the third assassination of a senior Russian military officer within a year. On December 17, 2024, Lt. Gen. Igor Kirillov, who led the military’s nuclear, biological, and chemical protection forces, was killed by a bomb hidden on an electric scooter near his residence. His assistant also lost their life in that incident. The Ukrainian Security Service claimed responsibility for Kirillov’s assassination, and an Uzbek man was subsequently arrested and charged with the crime.
In April 2023, another senior officer, Lt. Gen. Yaroslav Moskalik, a deputy head of the General Staff’s main operational department, was killed by an explosive device in his vehicle parked near his apartment. Authorities quickly apprehended a suspect in that case as well.
Since the onset of military action in Ukraine nearly four years ago, Russian authorities have increasingly attributed various high-profile assassinations of military personnel and public figures to Ukraine. While Ukraine has acknowledged responsibility for some incidents, the broader implications of these targeted attacks continue to raise significant concerns.
The recent explosion and the assassination of military officials come amidst heightened tensions between Russia and Ukraine, exacerbating an already volatile situation. As investigations proceed, the international community watches closely, aware that the fallout from these events may have lasting ramifications for both nations.
