On Friday around 10:40 am a senior Russian military officer was killed by a car bomb in the town of Balashikha, east of Moscow. The victim was identified as Yaroslav Moskalik, 59, who served as the deputy head of the Main Operations Directorate of the General Staff of the Russian Armed Forces.
“According to available information, the explosion was caused by the detonation of an improvised explosive device containing destructive elements,” the Russian Investigative Committee said.
Many believe the suspected assassin is Ukrainian, or linked to Ukraine in some way.
Video has surfaced showing the initial blast.
‼️🇷🇺⚡Russian General, Yaroslav Moskalyk has sadly passed away after a car bomb went off near his home in Moscow.
— Spetsnaℤ 007 🇷🇺 (@Alex_Oloyede2) April 25, 2025
I hope the world can see what truly Ukraine has become. The ISIS of Europe funded by your taxes.
Don't cry when we retaliate, for every one of us you will lose 100. pic.twitter.com/YpKYGJEsPK
Another video taken from a different angle shows the direct aftermath of the explosion.
Happening right now..
— Chris from Massachusetts AKA TommyboyTrader (@autumnsdad1) April 25, 2025
Russian Major General Yaroslav Moskalik, deputy chief of the Main Operations Directorate of the General Staff of the Russian Armed Forces was blown up in his car in Moscow region…
Makes you wonder who was behind it..
pic.twitter.com/uAlpItxqkZ
A criminal investigation has been launched to investigate the murder.
Hours before the incident President Donald Trump’s special envoy Steve Witkoff arrived in Moscow to engage Russian President Vladimir Putin in peace negotiations regarding the Ukraine war.
The US and Putin are now meeting in Moscow to try to establish peace with Ukraine.
— Paul A. Szypula 🇺🇸 (@Bubblebathgirl) April 25, 2025
President Trump’s envoy Witcoff has arrived.
Unfortunately, Zelensky has made it clear he’s only interested in war.
That’s why the US needs to walk away from Ukraine.pic.twitter.com/nQ8bCXvtib
NATO-backed Ukraine has been identified as the source of previous car bombings and political assassinations in Russia. Perhaps most notable of these has been the car bombing of Darya Dugina, the daughter of Russian thought leader Alexander Dugin.
In December, alleged “Ukrainian allies” assassinated Russian Lieutenant General Igor Kirillov via a scooter bomb. He was the head of the Radiation, Chemical and Biological Defense Forces.
‼️ BREAKING: New video showing the moment General Kirillov and his assistant Polikarpov were blown up
— NEXTA (@nexta_tv) December 17, 2024
The footage clearly shows that it was the scooter that exploded.
The explosion killed Igor Kirillov, head of the Radiation, Chemical and Biological Defense Forces of the… pic.twitter.com/3i8P59uPW0