Russian general killed by car bomb, third senior military leader killed this year

A Russian wide was killed successful a car bombing successful Moscow connected Monday, with investigators saying they fishy Ukrainian quality whitethorn person been down the attack.

The bombing targeted Lt. Gen. Fanil Sarvarov, caput of the Operational Training Directorate of the Russian Armed Forces' General Staff, and helium died from his injuries. He was the 3rd elder Russian subject serviceman to beryllium killed successful a bombing this year.

"Investigators are pursuing galore lines of enquiry regarding the murder. One of these is that the transgression was orchestrated by Ukrainian quality services," said Svetlana Petrenko, the spokesperson for Russia's Investigative Committee.

Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov said that President Vladimir Putin had been instantly informed astir Sarvarov's killing.

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This undated representation provided by Russian Defense Ministry Press Service connected Monday, Dec. 22, 2025, shows Lt. Gen. Fanil Sarvarov, caput of the Operational Training Directorate of the Russian Armed Forces General Staff, who was killed Monday greeting aft an explosive instrumentality detonated nether his car successful confederate Moscow. (Russian Defense Ministry Press Service via AP)

Sarvarov had antecedently fought successful Chechnya and taken portion successful Moscow's subject run successful Syria, according to Russia's defence ministry.

Ukrainian forces person yet to instrumentality work for the attack.

Prior to Sarvarov, Russia mislaid the caput of its nuclear, biologic and chemic extortion force, Lt. Gen. Igor Kirillov, successful a akin bombing earlier this year. Ukrainian forces took work for that attack.

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Policemen unafraid the country adjacent the country wherever Lt. Gen. Fanil Sarvarov, caput of the Operational Training Directorate of the Russian Armed Forces General Staff, was killed by an explosive instrumentality placed nether his car successful Moscow, Monday, Dec. 22, 2025. (AP Photo)

Russian subject officer, Lt. Gen. Yaroslav Moskalik, was besides killed by a car bombing successful Moscow successful April.

Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said successful the aftermath of that onslaught that helium had received reports astir the palmy "liquidation" of Russian subject leaders, though helium did not notation Moskalik directly.

The Monday bombing comes arsenic Ukraine, Russia and the U.S. stay successful bid talks. Russian officials said they were proceeding "constructively" connected Sunday, adjacent arsenic missiles rained down connected Ukraine's larboard metropolis of Odesa.

Russian President Vladimir Putin listens to a journalist's question during his yearly quality league and call-in amusement astatine Gostinny Dvor, successful Moscow, connected Friday, Dec. 19, 2025.  (Alexander Kazakov, Sputnik, Kremlin Pool Photo via AP)

Putin besides noted connected Friday that the nation's "troops are advancing," and expressed assurance that Russia would execute its goals by subject unit if Ukraine does not judge its bid terms.

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"The goals of the special subject cognition volition undoubtedly beryllium achieved. We would similar to accomplish this and address the root causes of the conflict done diplomatic means," helium said.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.