Moscow rocked by explosion as top Putin general killed in 'assassination' blast
An anti-Kremlin media outlet named the man as Lt-Gen Fanil Sarvarov, 56, head of the Department of Operational Training of Vladimir Putin's armed forces.
A high-ranking Russian military figure has been killed in a suspected car bomb explosion in Moscow on Monday morning. Lt. Gen. Fanil Sarvarov, Head of the Operational Training Directorate of the Russian Armed Forces General Staff and one of Vladimir Putin's top officials, died from his injuries, Russia’s Investigative Committee said.
The top brass officer, 56, is believed to have been travelling to work in his Kia Sorento when an explosive device was detonated underneath his car in the asenevo district. Sarvarov died from his injuries Svetlana Petrenko, official spokesperson for Russia’s Investigative Committee, said: "Investigators are pursuing numerous lines of enquiry regarding the murder. One of these is that the crime was orchestrated by Ukrainian intelligence services." One report said the victim suffered "multiple shrapnel injuries, closed fractures, leg injuries, and a fractured facial bone". Seven other cars were damaged by the force of the blast.
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“At first, we thought a drone had been shot down,” said a resident. "There was an explosion, but there was no fire."
The Russian Investigative Committee launched an immediate criminal probe into the blast but did not name the wounded officer.
"Investigators and forensic experts from the Moscow Investigative Committee, together with emergency services, are examining the scene," said a spokeswoman.
"A number of examinations, including medical and explosive examinations, will be scheduled soon."
Investigators and forensic experts from the Moscow main directorate of the Investigative Committee, together with operational services, are currently examing the scene.
Forensic, medical, and explosive technicians will be appointed in the near future. The progress of the investigation has been placed under control in the central apparatus of the Investigative Committee of Russia, according to the Russian Investigative Committee.
Ukraine was previously believed to have been behind the assassinations of senior military figures in Russia.
A year ago, Lt-Gen Igor Kirillov, 54, in charge of Russia’s radiation, chemical and biological defence troops, died in a blast as he left his apartment building for work.
Major-General Yaroslav Moskalik, 58, died when a Volkswagen Golf exploded as he walked past it close to his residence near Moscow in April this year
