Senior Russian General killed in car bomb near Moscow

KATHMANDU: A senior Russian military officer was killed in a car bombing on Friday, according to Russia’s top criminal investigation agency.

The Investigative Committee confirmed that Lt. Gen. Yaroslav Moskalik, deputy chief of the General Staff’s main operational directorate, died after an explosive device detonated in his vehicle in Balashikha, a suburb just outside Moscow.

Committee spokesperson Svetlana Petrenko stated that the device was packed with shrapnel and that investigators were currently working at the scene.

Russian media released footage showing a car engulfed in flames in the courtyard of a residential building.

Authorities have not identified any suspects in the case.

This incident comes in the wake of another high-profile attack — the Dec 17 killing of Lt. Gen. Igor Kirillov, who died when a bomb concealed in an electric scooter exploded outside his home as he was leaving for work.

Russian officials had blamed Ukraine for Kirillov’s assassination.