Explosion in Moscow Kills Top Russian General Sarvarov in Apparent Assassination

A car bomb detonated in southern Moscow has killed a senior Russian military official, according to the Russian Investigative Committee on December 19.

The explosion occurred on Yasenevaya Street, moments after the officer entered his personal Kia Sorento and began driving. The vehicle sustained severe damage.

Initial reports said the officer suffered multiple shrapnel wounds and fractures and was in critical condition. Later, Russia’s Investigative Committee confirmed that the target of the attack—Lieutenant General Fanil Sarvarov—died from his injuries.

According to the Investigative Committee, an explosive device had been planted underneath the vehicle, causing a powerful blast as the car moved off.

“The investigation is considering several versions of the murder. One of them involves possible links to Ukrainian special services,” the Russian Investigative Committee said.

Fanil Sarvarov was born on March 11, 1969, in Gremyachinsk, Perm region, and had decades of service in the Russian Armed Forces.

His military education included graduation from Kazan Higher Tank Command School (1990), Armored Forces Academy (1999), and General Staff Academy (2008).

Over the course of his career, Sarvarov took part in combat operations in the North Caucasus, including the Ossetian-Ingush conflict and the Chechen war, and later served in Syria in 2015–2016.

At the time of his death, he held the post of Head of the Operational Training Directorate of the Russian Armed Forces, a senior role responsible for preparing units for combat operations.

Earlier, a senior Russian military officer was killed in a car explosion in the Moscow suburb of Balashikha.

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