A senior Russian military officer died after a car explosion near Moscow, according to Ukrainian officials and Russian media. The incident marks another assassination of high-profile opponents of Ukraine inside Russia.
The explosion occurred on Tuesday in Balashikha, a city east of Moscow. Russian investigators have launched a criminal case related to the blast. The driver died on the scene.
Authorities have not publicly identified the victim or detailed the criminal case. However, reports suggest the deceased was Damir R. Davydov, an officer in the Russian military’s supply department for the Main Missile and Artillery Directorate. A Ukrainian official confirmed Davydov’s identity but chose to remain anonymous.
The Kremlin spokesman, Dmitri S. Peskov, stated that President Vladimir V. Putin was briefed on the matter but said the investigation details are confidential.
This explosion happened in the same area as an attack in April 2025, where Maj. Gen. Yaroslav Moskalik was killed by a car bomb. Ukrainian special services have targeted several high-profile Russian military figures, revealing security vulnerabilities.
Past incidents include the December 2025 car bombing that killed Lt. Gen. Fanil Sarvarov and the December 2024 scooter explosion that killed General Igor Kirillov, who was responsible for nuclear and chemical weapons protection. President Putin called Kirillov’s death a “severe blunder” and urged Russian special services to strengthen security measures.
Reporter Ivan Nechepurenko, known for his coverage of Russia and its neighboring regions, continues to report from Moscow and Tbilisi, Georgia.
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