MOSCOW (FN) — A powerful car bomb killed Lieutenant General Fanil Sarvarov, a senior officer in Russia’s General Staff, in southern Moscow early Monday, officials said. The attack marks one of the most high-profile assassinations inside Russia since the war in Ukraine began.
Sarvarov, head of the General Staff’s army operational training directorate, was driving a Kia Sorento when an explosive device detonated beneath the vehicle around 6:55 a.m. local time (03:55 GMT), investigators reported. The blast tore through the car as he left a parking lot on Yaseneva Street, killing him instantly.
Russia’s Investigative Committee confirmed it had opened a murder investigation and released video footage showing the wreckage of the vehicle. Blood was visible on the driver’s seat, underscoring the force of the explosion. Officials said multiple lines of inquiry were being pursued, including the possibility that Ukrainian special services orchestrated the attack.
The bombing is the third killing of a senior Russian military officer in a year, highlighting vulnerabilities even in the capital. Moscow has previously accused Kyiv of conducting cross-border assassination attempts targeting generals and political figures. Ukrainian officials have not commented on the latest incident.
Sarvarov was a key figure in Russia’s military training operations, overseeing combat readiness and operational drills for the army. His death is expected to disrupt planning within the General Staff at a time when Russia continues its war effort in Ukraine.
Witnesses reported hearing a loud explosion followed by smoke rising from the parking lot. Emergency services quickly cordoned off the area, and forensic teams were seen collecting evidence. The Investigative Committee said it was analyzing surveillance footage and interviewing witnesses.
The attack has rattled Moscow residents, who are unaccustomed to such high-profile bombings in the capital. Security has been tightened across the city, with checkpoints and patrols increased in southern districts.
Internationally, the killing is likely to intensify tensions between Russia and Ukraine. Western analysts say the assassination underscores the reach of the conflict beyond the battlefield and into Russia’s heartland.
Russian state media framed the attack as terrorism, while pro-war commentators demanded harsher retaliation against Ukraine. The Kremlin has not yet issued an official statement, but senior officials are expected to address the nation later today.
As investigators continue their probe, Sarvarov’s death adds to a growing list of senior Russian figures targeted since the war began. The incident raises questions about security lapses and the ability of Russia’s enemies to strike inside its capital, potentially reshaping the Kremlin’s war strategy.
