Racism Reaches Boiling Point for Khawaja Family Online

A senior Russian military officer has been killed in Moscow after an explosive device planted beneath his car detonated on Monday, in what investigators have described as a targeted assassination. The incident has intensified concerns within Russia’s security establishment amid a growing number of high-profile attacks since the start of the war in Ukraine.

In a statement issued on Monday, Russia’s Investigative Committee said the explosion occurred when a device affixed to the underside of the vehicle was triggered, killing Lieutenant General Fanil Sarvarov at the scene. Sarvarov served as head of the training department of the General Staff, a senior role within the Russian armed forces that placed him at the heart of military preparedness and planning.

The Investigative Committee, which is responsible for probing serious and complex crimes, confirmed that it has opened a criminal case into what it formally described as Sarvarov’s “murder”. Forensic teams were deployed to the site to examine debris and collect evidence, while security services reportedly began reviewing CCTV footage from the surrounding area.

Although officials have not released details of any suspects, Russian authorities have suggested that the attack may be linked to Ukraine’s special services. The Kremlin has repeatedly accused Kyiv of orchestrating a series of assassinations and bombings targeting Russian military officials and pro-Kremlin figures since Moscow launched its full-scale military operation in Ukraine in February 2022. Ukraine has neither confirmed nor denied involvement in this latest incident.

The killing follows a pattern of similar attacks that have shaken Russia over the past three years, both within the country and in Ukrainian territories under Russian control. In April this year, General Yaroslav Moskalik, a deputy head of the General Staff, was killed in a car bombing near Moscow. In December 2024, Igor Kirillov, head of Russia’s Radiological, Chemical and Biological Defence Forces, died after an explosive device concealed in an electric scooter detonated in the capital. On that occasion, Ukraine’s Security Service (SBU) openly claimed responsibility.

Earlier incidents have included the assassination of military blogger and outspoken Kremlin supporter Maxim Fomin in April 2023, who was killed by an explosion hidden inside a small sculpture at a café in Saint Petersburg. In August 2022, Darya Dugina, the daughter of ultra-nationalist ideologue Alexander Dugin, died in a car bomb attack widely believed to have been intended for her father.

These attacks have fuelled debate within Russia over internal security and the vulnerability of senior figures, even in heavily guarded urban centres such as Moscow. Analysts note that the methods used—ranging from car bombs to concealed explosives—suggest careful planning and intelligence gathering.

As tensions with Ukraine continue and the conflict shows little sign of resolution, the death of Lieutenant General Sarvarov underscores the increasingly personal and covert dimensions of the war, extending well beyond the battlefield and into the heart of the Russian capital.

Notable Attacks on Russian Figures Since 2022