Russian General Killed; Ukraine Blamed

Russian authorities detained a man they describe as a “Ukrainian special services agent” over a car bombing near Moscow that killed General Yaroslav Moskalik, a senior General Staff official. The FSB claims the suspect bought the Volkswagen used in the attack, planted an IED packed with shrapnel, and that the device was detonated from Ukraine; his nationality is unclear, though he reportedly has a Ukrainian residence permit. Footage shows the suspect in custody and the car’s debris, but it’s unclear if his confession was made under duress. No group has claimed responsibility. The killing coincided with US-Russia talks on Ukraine, after which President Trump expressed doubts about Putin’s willingness to reach a peace deal and floated possible new sanctions following recent Russian strikes on Kyiv.

Russian Lt. Gen. Yaroslav Moskalik, a deputy head of the General Staff’s main operational department, was killed by a shrapnel-rigged car bomb in Balashikha near Moscow, according to Russia’s Investigative Committee. Moscow is suggesting Ukrainian involvement, with officials labeling it a terror attack; Ukraine has not publicly claimed responsibility. The bombing follows the December killing of Lt. Gen. Igor Kirillov in a separate explosive attack that Ukraine’s security service acknowledged. The incident occurred as U.S. envoy Steve Witkoff visited Moscow for talks aimed at ending the war in Ukraine. Images show a burned Volkswagen Golf at the scene.

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