A powerful explosive device detonated inside a parked car near Moscow on Friday, resulting in the death of a high-ranking Russian general, investigators reported. The attack bears similarities to previous assassinations claimed by Ukraine.
Authorities identified the victim as General-lieutenant Yaroslav Moskalik, the deputy head of the main operational directorate of the military’s General Staff, which oversees army operations.
Kyiv has not yet commented on the incident, which exhibits characteristics consistent with past assassinations of military figures and prominent supporters of the Kremlin’s offensive over the past three years.
Ukraine has referred to some of these killings as “legitimate targets,” viewing the attacks as retribution for Moscow’s military campaign that has caused tens of thousands of deaths.
Russia’s Investigative Committee announced that it had launched a murder investigation following the explosion of a Volkswagen Golf outside an apartment building in the town of Balashikha, located east of Moscow.
“Our military figure was killed as a result of a terrorist attack,” stated Russian foreign ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova.
Footage from the scene released by the Investigative Committee showed the general’s body lying on the ground near the front entrance of an apartment block, a few meters away from the charred remains of a white car with its rear section destroyed.
Several investigators were observed working at the site.
Police had cordoned off the area on Friday, with ambulances present in the vicinity, according to an AFP reporter.
A body lying on the ground was visible from the upper floors of the surrounding buildings.
Local residents reported hearing a loud explosion at approximately 10:45 am (0745 GMT).
“The explosion was very strong, it even gave me heart pain,” recounted Lyudmila, a 50-year-old resident living nearby, to AFP.
‘Improvised explosive device’
The killing appears to be similar to previous attacks claimed by Kyiv targeting individuals linked to Russia’s three-year offensive in the country.
Ukraine’s secret services claimed responsibility last December for the assassination of the head of the Russian military’s chemical weapons department.
A remotely detonated bomb attached to a scooter exploded as he exited an apartment building in Moscow.
Security camera footage of Friday’s blast, released by the Izvestia newspaper, showed a significant explosion with debris flying into the air. The blast occurred just as someone was seen walking towards the car.
Investigators determined that “the blast was caused by the triggering of an improvised explosive device” packed with metal fragments designed to maximize casualties.
The Agentstvo investigative news site, citing leaked information, reported that Moskalik resided in Balashikha, but the Volkswagen was not registered in his name.
Russian Telegram channels with connections to law enforcement posted unconfirmed reports stating that the car had been purchased a few months prior by a man from the Ukrainian city of Sumy.
They reported that it had been parked outside the apartment building for several days and was equipped with a camera.
TASS news agency reported that Moskalik was 59 years old.
According to the Kremlin website, he had represented the Russian military at ceasefire talks with Ukraine in 2015 during the conflict between Kyiv and Russian-backed separatists.
‘Serious blunders’
Russian President Vladimir Putin promoted Moskalik to the rank of general-lieutenant in 2021.
Russians associated with Moscow’s military offensive in Ukraine have been targeted in attacks over the past three years.
These include the August 2022 car bombing that killed nationalist Darya Dugina and an explosion in a Saint Petersburg cafe in April 2023 that resulted in the death of prominent military correspondent Maxim Fomin, known as Vladlen Tatarsky.
Kyiv has, in some instances, claimed responsibility for or expressed satisfaction over these attacks.
It has not issued any comment regarding Friday’s attack.
Following the December killing of Igor Kirillov, the military’s chemical weapons chief, Putin made a rare admission of failures by his powerful security agencies.
“We must not allow such very serious blunders to happen,” he stated.
