An explosive device detonated in a parked car near Moscow, leading to the death of General-lieutenant Yaroslav Moskalik, a senior figure in the Russian military. The incident occurred on Friday in Balashikha, a town located to the east of the capital. Investigators have stated that the attack resembles previous assaults attributed to Ukrainian operatives aimed at military personnel and prominent supporters of Russia’s ongoing offensive.
General Moskalik served as the deputy head of the main operational directorate of the Russian military’s General Staff, responsible for overseeing army operations. His killing has not yet elicited a response from authorities in Kyiv, though it fits a pattern of similar attacks that Ukraine has previously characterized as “legitimate targets” in response to Russia’s military actions, which have led to significant casualties.
The blast took place outside a residential block, where a Volkswagen Golf was destroyed, and the Investigative Committee of Russia has launched a murder investigation. Maria Zakharova, spokeswoman for the Russian foreign ministry, labeled the attack as a terrorist act, although investigators have yet to substantiate this claim. The governor of North Osetia, Sergei Menyailo, suggested that Ukraine might be responsible, stating, “People like Yaroslav stick in the enemy’s craw.”
Eyewitnesses reported a loud explosion around 10:45 am local time, with one resident recalling the intensity of the blast that caused her distress. Investigators arrived at the scene, where the body of the general was extracted from the wreckage, drawing immediate media attention.
According to official sources, the explosive device used in this attack was packed with metal fragments, designed to maximize injury. Footage from security cameras revealed a large explosion at the moment a person was approaching the vehicle. Reports on Russian Telegram channels indicated that the Volkswagen, allegedly purchased by an individual from the Ukrainian city of Sumy, had been parked near the flats for several days prior to the explosion.
General Moskalik, 59 at the time of his death, had previously been involved in ceasefire negotiations between Russia and Ukraine in 2015, amidst ongoing conflict with Russian-backed separatists. His promotion to general-lieutenant by President Vladimir Putin in 2021 highlighted his significant role in military operations. Independent sources describe the department he led as integral to planning Russia’s military strategies in Ukraine.
This incident marks another chapter in a series of targeted attacks against figures associated with Russia’s military endeavors since the conflict escalated in 2020. Previous attacks attributed to Ukrainian operatives include the 2022 car bombing of Darya Dugina and the 2023 explosion in a Saint Petersburg cafe that killed military correspondent Maxim Fomin. While Kyiv has sometimes taken credit for such operations, it has not yet acknowledged responsibility for the attack on Moskalik.
Putin has previously criticized his security agencies for failing to prevent such incidents, emphasizing the need to mitigate lapses that could lead to high-level assassinations of military personnel amidst the ongoing conflict.
