A car explosion in southern Moscow on Monday killed Lieutenant General Fanil Sarvarov, a senior commander in the Russian Armed Forces. The blast occurred in a parking lot adjacent to a residential building, according to Russian media reports. Sarvarov, who led the Operational Training Directorate of the General Staff, was severely injured and later succumbed to his wounds, the Investigative Committee confirmed.
Criminal Investigation Launched
Authorities quickly opened a criminal case into Sarvarov’s death. The motive remains unclear, and investigators have not yet disclosed how the explosive device was deployed. Officials emphasized that the attack is being treated as deliberate, and investigators are working to reconstruct the circumstances surrounding the explosion.
Possible Involvement of Ukrainian Intelligence
Russian authorities are exploring multiple lines of inquiry, including the possibility that Ukrainian intelligence services were involved. “Investigators are pursuing numerous lines of enquiry regarding the murder. One of these is that the crime was orchestrated by Ukrainian intelligence services,” said Investigative Committee spokesperson Svetlana Petrenko. She added that forensic examinations, explosives analyses, and witness interviews are underway, and investigators are reviewing local surveillance footage.
No Comment From Kyiv
Ukraine has not responded to the claims, and Russian authorities have not named any suspects or provided evidence linking the attack to foreign actors.
Part of a Series of Targeted Killings
Sarvarov’s death is the latest in a string of attacks on high-ranking Russian military officials in Moscow since the full-scale invasion of Ukraine began in early 2022. In December 2024, Lieutenant General Igor Kirillov was killed by a remotely detonated scooter, while Lieutenant General Yaroslav Moskalik died in April after a car bomb exploded. Ukraine has not claimed responsibility for either incident.
