“According to an investigation, on the morning of December 22, an explosive device planted under a car was activated on Yasenevaya Street in Moscow,” Svetlana Petrenko said

Thank you for reading this post, don't forget to subscribe!

MOSCOW — A high-ranking Russian military official was killed Monday morning, December 22, 2025, after an explosive device detonated underneath his vehicle in southern Moscow. The Russian Investigative Committee has launched a federal murder probe, with early indications pointing toward the involvement of foreign intelligence services.

Incident Details

The blast occurred during the morning commute in the Yasenevo district of the capital. According to official statements, the victim was identified as Lieutenant General Fanil Sarvarov, 56, the Head of the Operational Training Directorate of the Russian Armed Forces’ General Staff.

The explosion reportedly originated from an improvised explosive device (IED) planted beneath the general’s SUV. Emergency services arrived on the scene shortly after the detonation, but General Sarvarov succumbed to his injuries at the site.

Official Statements

Svetlana Petrenko, spokesperson for Russia’s Investigative Committee, confirmed that the agency is treating the incident as a targeted assassination.

“Investigators are pursuing numerous lines of inquiry regarding the murder. One of the primary theories is that the crime was orchestrated by Ukrainian intelligence services,” Petrenko stated in a televised briefing.

While no group has officially claimed responsibility, the attack follows a pattern of high-profile assassinations within Russian borders.

Context and Escalation

This assassination marks the third high-level military officer killed in or near Moscow in the past year:

• December 2024: Lt. Gen. Igor Kirillov (Nuclear/Biological Defense Chief) was killed by a bomb hidden in an electric scooter.

• April 2025: Lt. Gen. Yaroslav Moskalik (General Staff Deputy) was killed in a similar car bombing.

General Sarvarov was a pivotal figure in the General Staff, responsible for the operational readiness and training of the Russian Armed Forces during the ongoing conflict in Ukraine.

Security Response

In the wake of the blast, Moscow security forces have increased checkpoints and surveillance around military housing complexes and government districts. President Vladimir Putin has reportedly been briefed, and the Investigative Committee has deployed specialist forensic teams and explosives experts to analyze the debris for signatures of the device used.