A high-ranking Russian general was killed when a homemade explosive device detonated inside a parked car in the town of Balashikha, located east of Moscow, according to the Investigative Committee, which handles major criminal investigations in Russia.
Authorities identified the victim as Lieutenant-General Yaroslav Moskalik, the deputy chief of the General Staff’s main operational directorate. Friday’s incident bore similarities to earlier attacks targeting individuals connected to Russia’s military campaign in Ukraine.
In a statement released on Friday, the Investigative Committee confirmed, “According to available information, the explosion was caused by the detonation of a homemade bomb packed with destructive materials.”
The blast, which occurred outside a residential building in Balashikha, destroyed a Volkswagen Golf. Investigators have launched a criminal inquiry into the fatal explosion, though the statement did not speculate on who might be responsible.
Moskalik was promoted to lieutenant-general by Vladimir Putin in 2021
Moskalik had previously represented Russia at the “Normandy Format” negotiations on Ukraine in 2015, which took place amid the conflict between Kyiv and Russian-backed separatists. He was promoted to the rank of lieutenant-general by President Vladimir Putin in 2021, as stated on the Kremlin’s official website.
Photos shared on social media depicted the vehicle engulfed in flames. According to Agentstvo, an investigative outlet citing leaked details, Moskalik resided in Balashikha, but the car was not registered in his name.
Security camera footage published by Izvestia captured the moment of the powerful blast, showing debris flying as a person approached the vehicle.
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Russian Generals involved in Ukraine getting killed
This latest incident follows a string of deadly attacks on Russian figures tied to the war in Ukraine. These include the 2022 car bombing that killed nationalist Darya Dugina and the 2023 café explosion in Saint Petersburg that claimed the life of prominent military blogger Maxim Fomin, also known as Vladlen Tatarsky.
In December, Igor Kirillov, the head of Russia’s chemical weapons division, was assassinated by a bomb hidden in a scooter in Moscow—one of the boldest operations Kyiv has been accused of orchestrating since the conflict began.
Following Kirillov’s death, President Putin publicly acknowledged lapses within Russia’s powerful security apparatus, stating: “We must not allow such very serious blunders to happen.”
