Moscow's Mystery: Another Russian General Falls Victim to Bomb Blast

In a quiet residential area of southern Moscow, a sudden explosion shattered the calm early Monday morning. A car bomb tore through a white Kia Sorento, claiming the life of Lieutenant General Fanil Sarvarov. This marked the third high-ranking military official to meet such a fate since last December. Sarvarov, 56, was the head of the operational training department at Russia’s General Staff. His death was confirmed by Russia’s Investigative Committee, which stated he succumbed to his injuries. The blast occurred on Yasenevaya Street in the Orekhovo-Borisovo Yuzhnoye district, leaving investigators to piece together the scene. Police swiftly launched a murder investigation, examining the site and conducting forensic, medical, and explosive analyses. The scene was a chaotic mix of debris and shattered glass, a stark reminder of the violence that had taken place. Authorities are also exploring the possibility of Ukrainian intelligence involvement, though Ukraine has not commented on the incident.This attack echoes previous ones. In December 2024, Lieutenant General Igor Kirillov, head of the military’s nuclear, biological, and chemical protection forces, was killed by a bomb hidden on an electric scooter near his apartment. Then, in April, Lieutenant General Yaroslav Moskalik, deputy chief of the Russian General Staff’s Main Operational Directorate, was killed in another blast. A suspect was quickly arrested in that case. Sarvarov’s career was marked by significant military engagements. He led the General Staff’s operational training department since 2016 and participated in the Chechen wars and Russia’s military campaign in Syria in 2015 and 2016. His death has sent shockwaves through the military community, raising questions about security for high-ranking officials. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov confirmed that President Putin had been informed of Sarvarov’s death. The incident has once again brought attention to the vulnerabilities of Russia’s military leadership, sparking debates about the effectiveness of security measures.