A car explosion in southern Moscow on Monday claimed the life of Lieutenant General Fanil Sarvarov, a top official in Russia’s military hierarchy. The blast occurred in a parking lot near a residential building, leaving Sarvarov critically injured. He later succumbed to his wounds, the Russian Investigative Committee confirmed. Sarvarov served as head of the Operational Training Directorate of the Russian Armed Forces’ General Staff.
Investigation Launched
Authorities immediately opened a criminal case into Sarvarov’s death and confirmed that the motive remains unclear. Investigators have not provided details on the method of the attack but emphasized that the case is being treated as a targeted killing. Officials are working to gather evidence and reconstruct how the explosion occurred.
Potential Foreign Involvement
Russian investigators are exploring multiple angles, including the possibility that Ukrainian intelligence services were involved. “Investigators are pursuing numerous lines of enquiry regarding the murder. One of these is that the crime was orchestrated by Ukrainian intelligence services,” said Investigative Committee spokesperson Svetlana Petrenko. She added that forensic tests, explosives examinations, witness interviews, and surveillance footage reviews are all part of the ongoing investigation.
Kyiv Remains Silent
Ukrainian authorities have not responded to the allegations, and Russian officials have not identified any suspects publicly or released evidence linking the attack to foreign actors. The inquiry remains active as investigators continue to piece together the circumstances of the blast.
Part of a Broader Pattern
Sarvarov’s death follows a series of attacks on high-ranking Russian military figures in Moscow since the full-scale invasion of Ukraine began in early 2022. In December 2024, Lieutenant General Igor Kirillov was killed by a remotely detonated scooter, and Lieutenant General Yaroslav Moskalik died in April after a car bomb exploded. Ukraine has not claimed responsibility for either attack.
