A senior Russian general has been killed after a bomb exploded under his car in Moscow, with investigators saying Ukrainian intelligence may be behind the attack. Lieutenant General Fanil Sarvarov, who oversaw combat training for Russia's armed forces, died from his injuries, according to a statement from Russia's Investigative Committee.
The explosion occurred at about 7am on Monday on Yaseneva Street, according to Russian Telegram channels linked to security services. The vehicle travelled several metres before the blast, killing the driver. Sarvarov had extensive experience in post-Soviet conflicts, including both Chechen wars and Russia's intervention in Syria.
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov described the death as a 'terrible murder'. Pro-war figures called for swift retribution, with Duma defence committee member Andrey Kolesnik saying those responsible should be 'destroyed on the spot'. The attack is the third bombing in Moscow in the past year to kill a senior Russian officer linked to the Ukraine war.
Ukraine has previously claimed responsibility for assassinations of Russian officers, including Lieutenant General Igor Kirillov in December. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy appeared to signal further attacks in September, saying Russian generals 'have to know where their bomb shelters are'. The killing underscores failures in Russia's security services, which President Vladimir Putin described as a 'major blunder' after Kirillov's death.
