Russian General Killed In Car Bomb Attack In Moscow Suburb.
A senior Russian military officer, Major General Yaroslav Moskalik, was killed in a targeted car bomb attack in Balashikha, a town just east of Moscow, Russian authorities have confirmed. The explosion, caused by an improvised explosive device (IED), occurred on Friday morning, marking a significant escalation in attacks on high-ranking Russian military figures.
The Russian Investigative Committee reported that the incident took place at approximately 10:40 AM local time on Nesterov Boulevard, near a residential building. The IED, reportedly planted inside a Volkswagen Golf next to the vehicle’s gas cylinder equipment, was remotely detonated as the 59-year-old general passed by. The blast, equivalent to over 300 grams of TNT, caused extensive damage, with shrapnel and debris scattered across the scene, according to Russian emergency services.
Major General Moskalik, Deputy Chief of the Main Operational Directorate of the General Staff of the Russian Armed Forces, was a key figure responsible for planning military operations. He had served in this role since 2021 and was involved in high-level Russian delegations, including the Minsk talks and negotiations alongside Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov in 2015 and 2019, as well as a 2018 visit to Syria. Russian military blogger Mikhail Zvinchuk noted Moskalik’s “methodical approach and thoughtfulness,” suggesting he was considered for a potential role as head of the National Defence Management Centre.
The Russian Investigative Committee has launched a criminal case under charges of murder and illegal trafficking of explosive substances. Initial reports speculated the explosion might have been caused by a gas cylinder, but experts quickly identified fragments of an IED, ruling out accidental causes.
The attack bears similarities to previous incidents attributed to Ukrainian operatives, including the December 2024 killing of Lieutenant General Igor Kirillov, head of Russia’s nuclear defence forces, in a Moscow bomb blast. Russian pro-war Telegram channels, such as Informant, and Kremlin-aligned outlet TsarGrad were quick to blame Ukraine, with some claiming the timing—coinciding with the arrival of a US envoy in Moscow for peace talks—suggested a deliberate act of sabotage. No group has officially claimed responsibility, and Ukrainian authorities have not commented on the incident.
The explosion caused significant disruption in Balashikha, with the blast damaging the entrance of a nearby residential building and shattering windows up to the fourth floor. Video footage circulating online, allegedly capturing the moment of the detonation, shows a vehicle engulfed in flames, with debris strewn across the street.
This incident is the second high-profile assassination of a Russian general in the Moscow region within four months, raising concerns about security vulnerabilities close to the capital. Russian authorities have vowed a thorough investigation to identify and apprehend those responsible.
The killing of Major General Moskalik underscores the ongoing tensions surrounding Russia’s military operations and the broader geopolitical conflict. As investigations continue, the incident is likely to fuel further speculation and debate about the motives and perpetrators behind this audacious attack.