A senior Russian military officer was killed in a car bomb explosion on Friday, marking the latest in a series of attacks targeting high-ranking officials.
Yaroslav Moskalik, deputy chief of operations for Russia’s military General Staff, died when an explosive device detonated near an apartment building in the town of Balashikha, just outside Moscow. A video circulating on social media shows the moment of the blast, with a parked vehicle erupting into flames as Moskalik walked past.
Reports suggest the bomb had been planted in the car and was triggered remotely. The general, who lived locally, was reportedly on foot when the explosion occurred, leaving the vehicle completely engulfed in fire.
Ukraine has previously claimed responsibility for assassinations of Russian military officers on home soil. Last December, Lt Gen Igor Kirillov, the Kremlin’s top nuclear weapons chief, was killed in a similar car bombing.
The attack comes amid heightened tensions between Russia and the West. US President Donald Trump recently condemned Russian leader Vladimir Putin for continuing airstrikes in Ukraine despite international efforts to broker peace.
No group has yet claimed responsibility for Moskalik’s killing, but speculation points to possible Ukrainian involvement. Russian authorities have launched an investigation into the attack.
