Russian authorities have confirmed that a senior military official has been killed in an explosion in Moscow, the latest in a series of attacks on members of the Russian military and security apparatus since the start of the invasion of Ukraine in February 2022.
According to Russia’s Investigative Committee, the deceased Sarvarov served as head of the operational training department within the armed forces, making him one of the key people responsible for planning and improving the combat readiness of Russian units. This is a position of great strategic importance, especially in the context of the war in Ukraine.
Investigative authorities say that several versions of the events are currently being considered, with one of the main theories involving the possible involvement of Ukrainian intelligence services. Official Kiev has not yet commented on these allegations, and as in previous similar cases, Ukraine adheres to a policy of not publicly confirming or claiming responsibility for targeted attacks on Russian military or security officials.
Investigators and forensic teams have been dispatched to the scene of the explosion, which is reportedly located in the southern part of the Russian capital. Russian media reported that the explosion occurred in a parking lot near an apartment building, causing panic among residents of that part of Moscow. It is not yet known whether there were any other injuries in the incident.
This attack further increases the Russian authorities’ concern about the security situation in the capital, given that Moscow has been the scene of several assassinations and explosions targeting high-ranking military and security officials in the past three years.
Recall that in April of this year, General Yaroslav Moskalik was killed in a car bomb attack in Moscow, while in December 2024, General Igor Kirillov was killed when an explosive device hidden in an electric scooter was remotely activated. This case attracted great attention from the international public due to the sophistication of the attack.
Following Kirillov’s death, an unnamed Ukrainian security source told the BBC that the general had been killed in an operation by the Ukrainian security services. However, this information has never been officially confirmed, nor has Ukraine claimed responsibility, in keeping with its long-standing practice of not commenting on such actions.
The series of such attacks points to an increasingly intense “shadow war” that is taking place inside Russia, parallel to the fighting on the front lines. While Moscow insists that these are acts of terrorism and foreign sabotage, analysts say the targets are mostly carefully selected individuals who play key roles in leading or supporting Russian military operations in Ukraine.
An investigation into the latest incident is ongoing, and Russian authorities have said they will update the public on new developments as more evidence is gathered.
