Russian General Killed in Car Bomb Near Moscow Amid Peace Talks
Lieutenant General Yaroslav Moskalik, Deputy Chief of the Main Operations Directorate of the Russian Armed Forces, was killed in a powerful car explosion near his residence in Balashikha, a suburb east of Moscow. The attack took place on April 25, 2025, as Moskalik’s car was struck by a remotely triggered improvised explosive device embedded with shrapnel. The blast was strong enough to shatter windows in nearby buildings.
General Moskalik, aged 59, was a high-profile figure within Russia’s military establishment and had previously represented the Russian Ministry of Defence in several key international negotiations, including talks under the Normandy Format aimed at resolving the Ukraine conflict.
Russia Points Finger at Ukraine Over Attack
Following the assassination, Russian authorities launched a criminal investigation, categorizing the incident as murder involving illegal use of explosives. While no individuals have yet been formally named, top Russian officials have suggested that Ukrainian special services were behind the attack.
Government spokespeople emphasized that the pattern of recent incidents pointed to what they called “continuing Ukrainian terrorism” on Russian soil. However, no direct evidence has been presented to substantiate the claims, and Ukrainian authorities have so far refrained from commenting publicly on the assassination.
The killing of such a senior figure has further inflamed already heightened tensions between Moscow and Kyiv.
Killing Overshadows Ongoing Peace Efforts
The assassination occurred on the same day U.S. envoy Steve Witkoff visited Moscow for negotiations with President Vladimir Putin on a proposed U.S.-brokered peace plan. This marked Witkoff’s fourth meeting with Putin since February, signaling intense behind-the-scenes diplomatic efforts.
The peace framework reportedly includes provisions such as U.S. recognition of Crimea as part of Russia and lifting sanctions imposed since 2014. However, these proposals have been received with deep skepticism in Kyiv and other Western capitals.
The killing of General Moskalik also echoes a similar incident from December 2024, when Lieutenant General Igor Kirillov was assassinated in a car bombing in Moscow. That attack had been attributed to Ukrainian intelligence operations, further deepening hostilities.
With the latest killing, fears of further retaliation and escalation between Russia and Ukraine have intensified, casting a shadow over ongoing diplomatic attempts to end the conflict.
