Photo credit: www.cbsnews.com
A powerful explosion targeted a car parked near Moscow on Friday, resulting in the death of a high-ranking Russian military official. The Investigative Committee, which is responsible for probing significant crimes, revealed that it has initiated a murder investigation following the incident.
The victim has been identified as General-lieutenant Yaroslav Moskalik, who served as the deputy head of the main operational directorate of the military’s General Staff. The explosion occurred in front of a residential building in Balashikha, a town located to the east of the Russian capital.
Investigators have launched inquiries into potential murder and the illegal handling of explosives, as authorities explored the circumstances surrounding the explosion of the Volkswagen Golf, which left a severe impact on the surrounding area. Social media images displayed extensive damage to the vehicle itself. This incident marks a tragic continuation of violence directed at Russian military personnel, echoing a similar attack four months prior that claimed the lives of another general and his deputy in Moscow.
According to the investigative news outlet Agentstvo, which cited anonymous sources, Moskalik had residency in Balashikha, although the vehicle involved in the explosion was not registered under his name. Security footage, shared by the Russian media outlet Izvestia, captured the moment of the catastrophic blast, which erupted as a figure approached the car.
Authorities confirmed that the explosion was caused by a sophisticated improvised explosive device (IED) that contained metal fragments designed to inflict maximum damage. Moskalik’s prior military engagements included representing Russia in the “Normandy format” discussions regarding the conflict in Ukraine back in 2015. He was promoted to the rank of general-lieutenant by President Vladimir Putin in 2021.
This attack coincides with ongoing diplomatic discussions surrounding a U.S.-brokered peace initiative for Ukraine, involving U.S. envoy Steve Witkoff’s anticipated meetings with President Putin in Moscow. The method and timing of the bombing suggest similarities to previous assaults targeting individuals associated with Russia’s military efforts in Ukraine. While Ukrainian officials have not taken responsibility for this specific incident, they have claimed involvement in prior attacks, such as the car bombing of nationalist Darya Dugina in August 2022 and a cafe explosion in Saint Petersburg that killed military correspondent Maxim Fomin in April 2023.
Further underscoring the volatile situation, Illia Kiva, a former pro-Moscow Ukrainian politician, was murdered near Moscow in December 2023, with Ukrainian military intelligence openly celebrating the event. Similarly, Igor Kirillov, who headed the Russian military’s chemical weapons unit, was killed in December by an explosive device placed on a scooter, with reports suggesting that Ukrainian operatives were involved. Following these developments, President Putin acknowledged the failures of his security apparatus, insisting that serious lapses must be addressed to enhance national security.
Source
www.cbsnews.com