A senior Russian military official was killed Monday after an explosive device detonated beneath his vehicle in southern Moscow, marking the third killing of a high-ranking officer in a year and raising fresh security concerns inside Russia.
Lt. Gen. Fanil Sarvarov, who headed the Operational Training Directorate of the Russian Armed Forces’ General Staff, died from injuries sustained in the blast, according to Russia’s Investigative Committee. Authorities said they are examining multiple theories, including the possibility that Ukrainian intelligence services orchestrated the attack.
“In one line of inquiry, investigators are considering the involvement of Ukrainian special services,” said Investigative Committee spokesperson Svetlana Petrenko.
Ukraine has not commented on Sarvarov’s death. Russian officials have repeatedly accused Kyiv of carrying out targeted assassinations inside Russia since Moscow launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine nearly four years ago. Ukraine has acknowledged responsibility for some previous attacks but has remained silent on others.
Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov said President Vladimir Putin was immediately briefed on the killing. Russia’s Defense Ministry described Sarvarov as a veteran officer who had fought in Chechnya and participated in Russia’s military campaign in Syria.
The attack follows a string of high-profile assassinations targeting senior Russian military figures. Just over a year ago, Lt. Gen. Igor Kirillov, head of Russia’s nuclear, biological and chemical protection forces, was killed by a bomb concealed in an electric scooter outside his apartment building. His assistant also died in that blast, and Ukraine’s security service later claimed responsibility. A suspect from Uzbekistan was arrested and charged in the case.
In April, another senior officer, Lt. Gen. Yaroslav Moskalik — a deputy head of the General Staff’s main operational department — was killed when an explosive device detonated in his parked car outside Moscow. A suspect was quickly detained.
Following Moskalik’s death, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said he had received a briefing on the “liquidation” of senior Russian military figures, adding that “justice inevitably comes,” without naming the officer.
Russian President Vladimir Putin has previously criticized security agencies after similar attacks, calling Kirillov’s killing a “major blunder” and urging improvements in counterintelligence and protective measures.
Monday’s bombing underscores the growing reach and intensity of the shadow war tied to the conflict in Ukraine, as Moscow grapples with repeated, deadly attacks on senior figures far from the front lines.
