Russian general killed in bomb blast near Moscow

A car exploded on Friday in Balashikha, a suburb east of Moscow, killing at least one person who has been confirmed by the Russian government as Lieutenant General Yaroslav Moskalik, deputy head of the Main Operational Directorate of Russia’s General Staff.

Photo:

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The Emergency Situations Ministry said the vehicle caught fire following an explosion, but did not initially report any casualties. The state news agency TASS, citing a source, said an explosive device had been placed in the car.

Deputy Chief of Main Operations Directorate, General Staff, #Russian Armed Forces, Major General Yaroslav Moskalik, killed in a car IED blast, #Moscow region, during #US #MiddleEast envoy #Witkoff's visit to the capital for #Russia-#Ukraine peace talks.#Putin #Trump #Zelensky… pic.twitter.com/QapafBWvdo

— Vikas Lohchab (@TheVikasLohchab) April 25, 2025

Investigators later confirmed Moskalik’s death and said the bomb’s power was equivalent to 300 grams of TNT. A criminal case has been opened, though no suspects have been named.

Moskalik’s role in Russia’s war against Ukraine was unclear. Public records show he took part in Normandy Format talks on Donbas in 2015 and 2019 and sat across the table from then-Syrian President Bashar al-Assad in 2018.

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Source: PAP, RMF24