Russian General assassinated by car bomb in Moscow
What's the story
A car bomb blast in southern Moscow has killed Lieutenant General Fanil Sarvarov, the head of the training department of Russia's general staff, Al Jazeera reported, quoting a statement by investigators. The incident took place around 7:00am local time (9:30am IST) on Yaseneva Street when an explosive device detonated under his vehicle. The Investigative Committee of Russia has launched an investigation into what it is calling a "murder."
Investigation underway
Investigators explore multiple motives, including foreign involvement
The Investigative Committee has opened a criminal case under Article 105 of the Russian Criminal Code for murder committed in a socially dangerous manner, as well as Article 222.1, which relates to the illegal trafficking of explosives. Investigators are looking into several possible motives behind Sarvarov's killing, including the possibility that Ukrainian intelligence services were involved. This line of inquiry is based on Ukraine's alleged history of conducting assassinations inside Russia and Russian-controlled areas since February 2022.
Past incidents
Ukraine's alleged involvement in previous assassinations
Ukraine has been accused of several high-profile assassinations, including that of Lieutenant General Igor Kirillov in December 2024. Kirillov, head of Russia's nuclear, biological, and chemical protection forces, was killed by a bomb planted on an electric scooter near his apartment building. Another incident involved the car bombing of Russian naval captain Valery Trankovsky, whom Kyiv accused of war crimes for targeting civilians.
Career overview
Sarvarov's military career and previous assassination attempts
Sarvarov had a distinguished military career, serving in major conflicts such as the Ossetian-Ingush conflict and the Chechen wars of the 1990s. He was also involved in military operations in Syria between 2015 and 2016. The Russian Investigative Committee confirmed that Sarvarov died from his injuries at a hospital after the blast.