A senior Russian military official, Lieutenant General Fanil Sarvarov, died Monday morning after a car explosion in the southern part of Moscow. The blast occurred in a parking lot adjacent to a residential building, according to local media. Sarvarov, who led the Operational Training Directorate of the Russian Armed Forces’ General Staff, suffered fatal injuries and was pronounced dead at the scene, authorities said.
Investigation Launched
Russian authorities immediately opened a criminal case following Sarvarov’s death, treating the incident as a deliberate attack. The Investigative Committee confirmed that investigators are examining all aspects of the explosion, including how the device was planted and detonated. Officials emphasized that the motive remains unclear.
Examining Possible Foreign Links
The Investigative Committee is considering multiple avenues in its inquiry, including possible foreign involvement. “Investigators are pursuing numerous lines of enquiry regarding the murder. One of these is that the crime was orchestrated by Ukrainian intelligence services,” spokesperson Svetlana Petrenko said. She added that forensic and explosives experts have been deployed, witnesses are being questioned, and surveillance footage is under review to piece together the events.
No Comment From Kyiv
Ukrainian authorities have not responded to the allegations. Russian officials have also refrained from publicly identifying any suspects or sharing evidence that links the attack to foreign actors.
Pattern of Targeted Attacks
Sarvarov’s death is the latest in a series of attacks targeting high-ranking Russian military officers in Moscow since the start of Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in early 2022. In December 2024, Lieutenant General Igor Kirillov was killed by a remotely detonated scooter, while Lieutenant General Yaroslav Moskalik died in April from a car bomb explosion. Ukraine has not claimed responsibility for either incident.
