Russian General Yaroslav Moskalik Assassinated in Moscow Car Bombing

Russian Lieutenant General Yaroslav Moskalik, deputy chief of the Main Operational Directorate of the General Staff, was killed in a car bomb explosion in Balashikha, a suburb of Moscow. The blast occurred as Moskalik walked past a parked Volkswagen, which was rigged with an improvised explosive device packed with shrapnel and a gas cylinder, and was reportedly detonated remotely. Footage from the scene shows the car engulfed in flames and significant damage to nearby residences. While Russian authorities have launched an investigation, no group has claimed responsibility for the attack, and it remains unclear who was behind the bombing. The incident follows a series of similar attacks on Russian military officials in recent years, raising concerns about targeted assassinations amid ongoing tensions related to the war in Ukraine. The timing of the attack coincided with diplomatic efforts in Moscow aimed at addressing the conflict in Ukraine.