A high-ranking Russian general was assassinated on Monday morning when an explosive device planted under his vehicle detonated in Moscow. This marks the third such killing of a senior military officer within a year, with Russian investigators pointing a finger at Ukrainian intelligence services.
Details of the Attack and Victim
Lt. Gen. Fanil Sarvarov, who served as the head of the Operational Training Directorate within the General Staff of the Russian Armed Forces, succumbed to injuries sustained in the blast. The confirmation came from Svetlana Petrenko, the official spokesperson for Russia's top criminal investigation body, the Investigative Committee.
Petrenko stated that multiple lines of inquiry are being actively pursued. "One of these is that the crime was orchestrated by Ukrainian intelligence services," she said, highlighting the immediate suspicion falling on Kyiv.
A Pattern of Targeted Attacks
This incident is not isolated and follows a disturbing pattern of targeted attacks against Russian military leadership:
- December 17, 2024: Lt. Gen. Igor Kirillov, chief of Russia's nuclear, biological, and chemical protection forces, was killed by a bomb hidden on an electric scooter outside his apartment. Ukraine's security service publicly claimed responsibility for this attack. An Uzbek national was swiftly arrested and charged with carrying out the killing on behalf of Ukraine.
- April 2025: Another senior officer, Lt. Gen. Yaroslav Moskalik, a deputy head of the main operational department in the General Staff, was killed by an explosive device placed in his car parked near his apartment on the outskirts of Moscow. A suspect was also quickly apprehended in this case.
Reactions and Broader Context
The killing of General Kirillov last year prompted a sharp reaction from the Russian leadership. President Vladimir Putin labeled it a "major blunder" by the country's security agencies, urging them to learn from the failure and enhance their protective measures.
However, the latest attack on General Sarvarov indicates continued vulnerabilities. Moscow has repeatedly accused Ukraine of being behind several bombings and other sabotage acts on Russian soil since the onset of the conflict, allegations that Kyiv typically neither confirms nor denies officially.
The assassination of a figure like Sarvarov, who was involved in operational training at the highest level of the military command, represents a significant security breach and a psychological blow to the Russian establishment, raising serious questions about the safety of its officials even in the capital.
