The deceased has been identified as Lieutenant General Fanil Sarvarov, a 56-year-old officer who was serving as the head of the Russian armed forces’ operational training department.
Russia’s Investigative Committee said Sarvarov died after an explosive device planted under a car detonated early Monday morning. The BBC reported that the blast caused extensive damage to the vehicle.
Unverified videos circulating on social media showed a white car severely damaged by the explosion, with several other vehicles nearby also affected.
Ukraine has not commented on the incident so far.
Since Russia launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022, several senior Russian military officials have been targeted in a series of attacks.
🚨🇷🇺 Criminal case opened in Moscow over murder of senior military
— Sputnik India (@Sputnik_India) December 22, 2025
As a result of his injuries, the head of the Operational Training Department of the General Staff of the Russian armed forces, Lieutenant General Fanil Sarvarov, died. pic.twitter.com/FMiyYMZrt8
In April, General Yaroslav Moskalik was killed in a car bomb explosion in Moscow. Earlier, in December 2024, General Igor Kirillov died when an explosive device concealed in a scooter was remotely detonated, the BBC reported.
A Ukrainian source later told the BBC that Kirillov had been killed by Ukraine’s security service, though the claim was never officially confirmed.