Russian investigators have launched criminal investigations into two separate car bomb incidents that occurred in Moscow on Tuesday, with authorities confirming the arrest of at least two suspects, including teenagers allegedly recruited to plant one of the explosive devices.
According to Russia’s Investigative Committee, one of the bombs targeted an employee of a scientific production enterprise in southwestern Moscow. Investigators said a teenage girl was allegedly instructed by unidentified individuals to collect the explosive device and pass it to a teenage boy, who then attached the bomb and a GPS tracking device to the victim’s vehicle. No injuries were reported in that incident, and the suspects have been formally charged.
Russian authorities said the identities of those who directed the teenagers remain unknown, and investigators are continuing efforts to determine who organized the operation.
The second explosion occurred in eastern Moscow and proved more deadly. Russian newspaper Kommersant reported that a driver was killed when a car bomb detonated, although officials have not publicly identified the victim. Authorities have not confirmed whether any arrests have been made in connection with that attack.
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov acknowledged that an explosion had taken place but declined to provide further details, citing the ongoing investigation.
“An explosion took place, but the details are not subject to disclosure in connection with the investigation that is underway,” Peskov said, adding that the matter falls under the responsibility of Russia’s security services.
The incidents come amid heightened security concerns inside Russia following more than four years of conflict between Russia and Ukraine. Since the war began in 2022, Ukrainian military intelligence has claimed responsibility for several targeted killings of senior Russian military officers and officials, although no evidence has been presented linking Ukraine to the latest Moscow bombings.
Russian authorities have not publicly identified any motive for either attack, and investigators have not announced whether the two incidents are connected.
The twin explosions have raised fresh concerns about security in the Russian capital, particularly as authorities continue to investigate possible links between the suspects, the unidentified organizers, and any broader network that may have been involved in planning the attacks.
