In a tragic incident on Monday, a high-ranking Russian general lost his life in a car bombing in Moscow. Investigators are currently exploring the possibility that Ukrainian intelligence might be linked to the attack.

The victim, Lt. Gen. Fanil Sarvarov, who led the Operational Training Directorate of the Russian Armed Forces’ General Staff, succumbed to injuries sustained during the explosion. His death marks the third time this year that a senior Russian military officer has been killed in a bombing.

Svetlana Petrenko, the spokesperson for Russia’s Investigative Committee, stated that investigators are examining multiple theories related to the murder. One significant line of inquiry is the potential involvement of Ukrainian intelligence services.

Following the incident, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov confirmed that President Vladimir Putin was promptly briefed on the situation.

An image provided by the Russian Defense Ministry Press Service, dated December 22, 2025, shows Lt. Gen. Sarvarov, who was killed after an explosive device detonated beneath his vehicle in the southern part of Moscow. (Photo courtesy of the Russian Defense Ministry Press Service via AP)

According to the Russian defense ministry, Sarvarov had an extensive military career, having previously served in Chechnya and participated in Moscow’s military efforts in Syria.

Ukrainian forces have yet to take responsibility for the attack.

Prior to Sarvarov, Russia lost the head of its nuclear, biological and chemical protection force, Lt. Gen. Igor Kirillov, in a similar bombing earlier this year. Ukrainian forces took responsibility for that attack.

Policemen secure the area near the scene where Lt. Gen. Fanil Sarvarov, head of the Operational Training Directorate of the Russian Armed Forces General Staff, was killed by an explosive device placed under his car in Moscow, Monday, Dec. 22, 2025. (AP Photo)

Russian military officer Lt. Gen. Yaroslav Moskalik was also killed by a car bombing in Moscow in April.

Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said in the aftermath of that attack that he had received reports about the successful “liquidation” of Russian military leaders, though he did not mention Moskalik directly.

The Monday bombing comes as Ukraine, Russia and the U.S. remain in peace talks. Russian officials said they were proceeding “constructively” on Sunday, even as missiles rained down on Ukraine’s port city of Odesa.

Russian President Vladimir Putin listens to a journalist’s question during his annual news conference and call-in show at Gostinny Dvor, in Moscow, on Friday, Dec. 19, 2025. (Alexander Kazakov, Sputnik, Kremlin Pool Photo via AP)

Putin also noted on Friday that the nation’s “troops are advancing,” and expressed confidence that Russia would achieve its goals by military force if Ukraine does not accept its peace terms.

“The goals of the special military operation will undoubtedly be achieved. We would prefer to accomplish this and address the root causes of the conflict through diplomatic means,” he said.