Targeted Car Explosion in Moscow Kills Senior Russian Military Officer

A senior Russian military officer has been killed in a targeted car explosion in Moscow, authorities confirmed on Monday.

Russia’s Investigative Committee said Fanil Sarvarov, a lieutenant general in the Russian Armed Forces, died from injuries sustained when an improvised explosive device detonated under his vehicle. The blast occurred in the courtyard of a residential building on Yaseneva Street in southern Moscow as he was getting into his car.

Early reports described the incident as an assassination attempt, saying the 56-year-old officer was critically injured and rushed to hospital. Investigators later confirmed that Sarvarov succumbed to his wounds, and said the device had been deliberately planted, pointing to a targeted attack. Several nearby vehicles were also damaged in the explosion.

Russian authorities have opened a criminal case on charges including murder carried out in a manner dangerous to the public and illegal handling of explosives. One line of inquiry being considered is a possible link to Ukrainian intelligence services, Russian officials said, noting that similar attacks inside Russia have previously been attributed to Kyiv.

Sarvarov had extensive military experience, including counterterrorism operations in southern Russia and involvement in Russia’s military campaign in Syria. In recent years, he headed a department responsible for the operational training of senior officers.

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