A Russian general, Lt. Gen. Fanil Sarvarov, was killed on Monday in a car bombing in Moscow, marking the latest targeted attack on senior military officers amid heightened tensions with Ukraine. Russian authorities have suggested that Ukrainian special services may be behind the attack, continuing a series of high-profile assassinations.

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Details of the Attack

The explosive device was installed under the chassis of Sarvarov’s car and detonated Monday morning in southern Moscow. The Investigative Committee of Russia confirmed his death and said investigators are exploring multiple motives, including the possibility of Ukrainian involvement.

The Kremlin stated that President Vladimir Putin was immediately informed of the incident through special services channels. Video released by Russian state media showed a severely damaged vehicle in a middle-class neighborhood of the capital.

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Lt. Gen. Sarvarov’s Military Background

Lt. Gen. Sarvarov, aged 56, served as the head of the Operational Training Directorate of the Russian Armed Forces for nine years. His responsibilities included planning and organizing military operations. State news agency TASS reported that he previously participated in operations in Syria, supporting the Assad regime.

Sarvarov’s death adds to a worrying pattern of assassinations targeting high-ranking Russian military officials within the past year.

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Previous Targeted Killings

Recent assassinations in Moscow include:

• Lt. Gen. Yaroslav Moskalik, deputy head of the main operational department in the General Staff, killed by a car bomb in April 2025.
• Lt. Gen. Igor Kirillov, head of Russia’s nuclear and chemical protection forces, killed by an explosive device on a scooter in 2024. Ukraine claimed responsibility for the attack.
• Armen Sarkisyan, founder of a pro-Russian militia group, killed in February 2025 in a bombing described by Ukraine as targeting a “criminal mastermind.”
• Political figures, including Darya Dugina (2022) and pro-war blogger Vladlen Tatarsky (April 2023), have also died in bombings in Moscow and St. Petersburg.

These attacks demonstrate a continuing pattern of covert operations and targeted assassinations against Russian military and political figures.

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Implications for Russian Security

The repeated targeting of high-ranking officers in Moscow raises serious concerns about domestic security and intelligence vulnerabilities. Kremlin officials have emphasized the need for improved protective measures for senior military personnel, while analysts warn that these attacks could affect military morale and operational effectiveness.

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International Context

The attacks are part of the ongoing conflict between Russia and Ukraine, which has intensified since Russia’s full-scale invasion in 2022. Ukraine has claimed responsibility for some prior assassinations, signaling the use of hybrid warfare tactics targeting military leadership.

These incidents highlight the escalation of asymmetric strategies, intelligence operations, and targeted strikes in the broader context of the Russia-Ukraine war.