Ukrainian intelligence services allegedly orchestrated the assassination of a third Russian general in Moscow within a year, marking an escalating campaign of targeted killings that brings the Ukraine conflict directly to Russia’s doorstep.
Story Highlights
- Lt. Gen. Fanil Sarvarov killed by car bomb in Moscow, third general targeted in one year
- Russian investigators point to Ukrainian intelligence services as orchestrators
- Pattern of assassinations demonstrates Ukraine’s ability to strike deep inside Russia
- Putin called previous general’s killing a “major blunder” by Russian security agencies
High-Ranking General Killed in Moscow Car Bombing
Lt. Gen. Fanil Sarvarov, head of the Operational Training Directorate of the Russian Armed Forces’ General Staff, died Monday morning when an explosive device detonated beneath his vehicle in Moscow.
Svetlana Petrenko, spokesperson for Russia’s Investigative Committee, confirmed Sarvarov succumbed to injuries from the blast. The general had previously served in combat operations in Chechnya and participated in Russia’s military campaign in Syria, according to the Defense Ministry.
Russian general killed by car bomb and Moscow blames Ukraine https://t.co/LjkV9mfGh7
— Sky News (@SkyNews) December 22, 2025
Ukrainian Intelligence Suspected in Coordinated Assassination Campaign
Russian investigators identified Ukrainian intelligence services as the primary suspect behind Sarvarov’s murder, continuing a pattern of accusations against Kyiv for targeted killings inside Russia.
“Investigators are pursuing numerous lines of enquiry regarding the murder. One of these is that the crime was orchestrated by Ukrainian intelligence services,” Petrenko stated.
Since the conflict began nearly four years ago, Russian authorities have consistently blamed Ukraine for assassinations of military officers and public figures, with Ukraine claiming responsibility for several attacks.
Third General Eliminated in Systematic Targeting Campaign
Sarvarov’s death represents the third assassination of a senior Russian military officer within twelve months. Lt. Gen. Igor Kirillov, chief of nuclear, biological and chemical protection forces, was killed by a bomb hidden on an electric scooter outside his apartment building on December 17, 2024.
Ukraine’s security service claimed responsibility for that attack, which also killed Kirillov’s assistant. An Uzbek man was subsequently arrested and charged with carrying out the killing on behalf of Ukrainian intelligence.
Putin Acknowledges Security Failures as Attacks Continue
The assassination pattern exposed significant vulnerabilities in Russian security operations, prompting criticism from President Putin himself. Putin described Kirillov’s killing as a “major blunder” by Russia’s security agencies, emphasizing they should learn from the incident and improve efficiency.
Despite these warnings, another senior officer, Lt. Gen. Yaroslav Moskalik, was killed in April 2025 by an explosive device planted in his car near his Moscow-area apartment. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov confirmed Putin was immediately informed about Sarvarov’s assassination.
