Russian general killed in car bombing near Moscow

A senior Russian general was killed on Friday in a car bombing near Moscow, in an attack that investigators have described as a terrorist incident.

Authorities identified the victim as Lieutenant General Yaroslav Moskalik, the deputy head of the General Staff's main operational directorate, responsible for army operations.

While Kyiv has not commented on the attack, it bears similarities to previous high-profile assassinations of Russian military figures and Kremlin supporters in the past three years. Ukraine has often referred to such individuals as "legitimate targets," viewing these attacks as retaliation for Russia's ongoing military actions, which have resulted in thousands of deaths.

Russia's Investigative Committee confirmed that a Volkswagen Golf exploded outside a residential block in Balashikha, east of Moscow.

“We have lost our military figure due to a terrorist attack,” said Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova.

Footage from the scene showed the general's body near the entrance of the building, close to the charred remains of the vehicle, which had been heavily damaged by the blast.

Emergency services quickly arrived at the scene, with police cordoning off the area as investigators conducted their work.