Major-General Yaroslav Moskalik, deputy head of the Main Operations Directorate of Russia’s Armed Forces, was killed in a car bomb explosion on Friday in Balashikha, just east of Moscow. The Investigative Committee of Russia confirmed his identity and launched a criminal case into the deadly incident.
Authorities stated the blast resulted from a homemade explosive device filled with destructive elements. No group has yet claimed responsibility, but the attack adds to a series of assassinations of high-ranking Russian military officers since the Ukraine war began in 2022.
The bombing occurred as the Trump administration’s envoy, Steve Witkoff, was in Moscow for expected talks with President Vladimir Putin amid efforts to end the war now in its fourth year. Russian outlet Baza reported the bomb was detonated remotely as Moskalik walked past a parked car outside his apartment.
Moskalik, seen in past footage in military attire at official events, had a long-standing role in Russian military diplomacy. He was part of the 2015 Normandy Format talks and represented the Russian General Staff in Minsk agreement negotiations, alongside senior Russian officials.
According to Kommersant, a second individual also died in the blast. The event comes four months after a similar attack killed Lt.-Gen. Igor Kirillov, who was reportedly targeted by Ukraine’s SBU intelligence service using a scooter bomb.
Source: Swifteradio.com
