A car explosion in southern Moscow on Monday claimed the life of Lieutenant General Fanil Sarvarov, a senior official in Russia’s military hierarchy. The blast occurred in a parking lot adjacent to a residential building, according to Russian media reports. Sarvarov, who led the Operational Training Directorate of the Russian Armed Forces’ General Staff, suffered fatal injuries and later died, the Investigative Committee confirmed. Authorities have launched a full investigation into the incident.
Criminal Case Opened
The Investigative Committee said a criminal case has been opened into Sarvarov’s death, but the motive remains unclear. Officials have not released details about the type of explosive device used or the method of detonation, but they confirmed that the attack is being treated as a deliberate killing. Investigators are actively working to piece together how the explosion occurred and to identify those responsible.
Exploring Possible Ukrainian Link
Russian authorities are examining multiple leads, including potential involvement by Ukrainian intelligence services. “Investigators are pursuing numerous lines of enquiry regarding the murder. One of these is that the crime was orchestrated by Ukrainian intelligence services,” said committee spokesperson Svetlana Petrenko. She added that forensic and explosives analyses are underway, witnesses are being questioned, and surveillance footage is being reviewed to gather further evidence.
Kyiv Has Not Responded
Ukrainian officials have not commented on the allegations. Russian authorities also have not disclosed any suspects or provided public evidence linking the attack to foreign actors.
Part of a Pattern of Targeted Attacks
The killing follows a series of attacks on high-ranking Russian military officials in Moscow since the start of Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in early 2022. In December 2024, Lieutenant General Igor Kirillov died in an explosion triggered by a remotely detonated scooter, and Lieutenant General Yaroslav Moskalik was killed in April by a car bomb. Ukraine has not officially claimed responsibility for either attack.
