LONDON: A Russian general has been killed in Moscow after an explosive device detonated beneath his car.
Lt Gen. Fanil Sarvarov was the head of the operational training directorate of the Russian armed forces’ general staff, and he died of the injuries he sustained during the blast.
Moscow is describing the incident as a likely assassination carried out by Ukrainian intelligence services.
According to Russian Telegram channels with links to the security services Sarvarov’s car exploded whilst driving along Yaseneva Street in Moscow at around 7am.
Sarvarov oversaw combat training and readiness for Russia’s armed forces in the war in Ukraine and he has also served during other post-Soviet wars, including both Chechen wars and Russia’s 2015-16 military intervention in Syria.
Ukraine has not claimed responsibility for the attack.
Since the start of the war in 2022, several military officials have been targeted in Moscow.
In April last year, Gen. Yaroslav Moskalik was killed in a car bomb attack.
Last year, Kyiv claimed responsibility for the assassination of Lt Gen Igor Kirillov, who headed the military’s nuclear, biological and chemical protection forces.
In September, Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky signalled that further attacks on senior Russian military figures could follow.
He warned that they “have to know where their bomb shelters are”, adding that “If they do not stop the war, they will need it in any case.”
