A senior Russian military leader, Lieutenant General Fanil Sarvarov, was killed in a car bomb blast in Moscow on Monday, marking the third assassination of a high-ranking officer in just over a year. Investigators are considering possible Ukrainian involvement
Russian General Killed in Moscow Car Bomb, Ukraine Suspected
MOSCOW: A senior Russian military commander, Lieutenant General Fanil Sarvarov, was killed early Monday after a bomb exploded beneath his car in Moscow. The attack marks the third assassination of a high-ranking Russian military officer within just over a year, raising concerns about escalating covert operations linked to the Russia-Ukraine conflict.
According to Russian authorities, the explosive device detonated under Sarvarov’s vehicle in southern Moscow at approximately 6:55 a.m. local time. The blast severely damaged the car and left the general critically injured. He was rushed to a nearby hospital but later succumbed to his injuries, officials from the Russian Investigative Committee confirmed.
Svetlana Petrenko, spokesperson for the Investigative Committee, said a criminal investigation has been launched into what authorities are calling a targeted murder. Investigators are examining several possibilities, including potential involvement of Ukrainian intelligence services. Ukraine has not issued any official statement responding to the allegations.
Lieutenant General Sarvarov headed the Operational Training Directorate of the Russian Armed Forces’ General Staff, a key department responsible for military preparedness and troop training. A decorated officer, he previously served in major Russian military operations in Chechnya and Syria, making him a high-profile figure within the defense establishment.
The killing follows a troubling pattern. In December 2024, Lieutenant General Igor Kirillov was killed in Moscow when a bomb hidden on an electric scooter exploded nearby. In April 2025, another senior officer, Lieutenant General Yaroslav Moskalik, died after an explosive device detonated in his car near the Russian capital. In both cases, Russian authorities blamed Ukraine, though Kyiv has neither fully confirmed nor denied responsibility.
The latest incident comes amid prolonged hostilities between Russia and Ukraine, with diplomatic efforts failing to produce a lasting ceasefire. Analysts say the assassination highlights the intensifying shadow war between the two sides, with targeted strikes increasingly extending beyond the battlefield and into major cities.
