MOSCOW, Russia – A senior Russian military officer, General Yaroslav Moskalik, was reportedly killed in a car explosion on Thursday, April 25, 2025 near Moscow.
The blast, which occurred around 10:40 a.m. in the city of Balashikha, just outside Moscow, has sparked a wave of conflicting reports regarding the identity of the victim and the cause of the explosion.
According to several Russian Telegram channels, including Baza, General Moskalik, who serves as the Deputy Chief of the Main Operational Directorate of the Russian Armed Forces, was walking near his residence when the explosion occurred.
The blast reportedly sent the general several meters away from the scene.
The vehicle, a parked Volkswagen Golf, is believed to have contained an improvised explosive device (IED) filled with shrapnel, based on photos from the scene.
However, conflicting reports have emerged from Russia’s state-run news agencies, TASS and Ria Novosti.
TASS initially stated that a passerby was killed in the explosion, not the military officer, while other reports indicated that the blast shattered windows on the lower floors of a nearby building, further complicating the narrative.
Both agencies also mentioned that gas equipment had been installed in the car, raising the possibility that the explosion could have been accidental rather than a targeted attack.
Investigators are reportedly examining two potential causes: either an accidental gas cylinder explosion or the detonation of an IED.
No official confirmation has yet been provided regarding Moskalik’s death or the precise cause of the explosion.
