Dec 22, Kathmandu - A senior Russian general was killed in a car explosion south of Moscow on Monday.

Russia’s Main Criminal Investigative Committee said it had opened an investigation into the murder of Lieutenant General Fanil Sarvarov.

Sarvarov was the head of the training department of the Russian General Staff. He played a key role in the army’s strategy and training.

Investigators are also investigating the possibility that the attack may have been linked to Ukrainian special forces.

Kyiv has been blamed for a series of attacks targeting Russian military officials and pro-Kremlin supporters in Ukraine since Moscow sent troops into the country in February 2022. In April 2023, General Yaroslav Moskalyk was killed in a car bomb attack near Moscow.

Military blogger Maxim Fomin was killed in a statue explosion in St. Petersburg in April 2023. Similarly, in May 2021, Daria Dugin, the daughter of ultranationalist ideologue Alexander Dugin, was killed in a car bomb attack.

The incident highlights the growing security challenges in Russia and the threat of targeting high-ranking officials. Investigators have already inspected the scene and are analyzing the remains of the bomb used in the explosion. In addition, a comprehensive investigation is underway to identify the possible perpetrators of this attack.