A high-ranking Russian military commander has been assassinated in a suspected car bomb attack in the heart of Moscow, Russian authorities have confirmed.
Details of the Deadly Attack
Lieutenant General Fanil Sarvarov, 56, was driving to work in his white Kia Sorento on Monday morning when an explosive device detonated beneath the vehicle. The blast occurred in the Yasenevo district, located in the south-west of the Russian capital.
Emergency services reported that Sarvarov was found alive but severely wounded in the mangled wreckage of his car. A major rescue operation was required to free him from the debris. He was subsequently rushed to hospital, where he later succumbed to his injuries.
Medical reports indicated the general suffered extensive trauma, including multiple shrapnel wounds, closed fractures, leg injuries, and a fractured facial bone.
Investigation and Wider Context
Russia's Investigative Committee has launched a criminal probe into the assassination. A spokesperson stated that a number of forensic examinations would be scheduled, including medical and explosive analyses. The committee also noted that possible Ukrainian involvement is being investigated, a claim Kyiv has not commented on.
The attack bears hallmarks of other assassinations targeting Russian military and political figures since the onset of the full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022.
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov confirmed that President Vladimir Putin was informed of Sarvarov's death immediately. Sarvarov served as the head of operational training for the Russian armed forces, a key position within the military structure.
Scene of the Explosion and Reaction
Images from the scene showed the devastating power of the blast, with the car's doors blown out and the bodywork severely damaged. The force of the explosion also damaged seven other vehicles parked nearby.
Local residents described hearing a loud explosion. "At first, we thought a drone had been shot down," one witness said. "There was an explosion, but there was no fire."
Reports state that Sarvarov's wife rushed to the scene following the 7am blast but was initially prevented from seeing her trapped and wounded husband.
This incident follows a pattern of attacks on Russian officials. US intelligence previously believed Ukraine authorised the car bomb that killed the daughter of Russian nationalist Aleksandr Dugin in 2022. More recently, Lieutenant General Igor Kirillov died in a blast outside his apartment in 2024, and Major General Yaroslav Moskalik was killed by an explosive device near his residence earlier this year.
