A senior Russian military officer died on Tuesday after the car he was driving exploded near a residential building outside Moscow. This incident is seen as part of a series of targeted killings of high-profile figures in Russia who oppose Ukraine.

The explosion took place in the city of Balashikha, east of Moscow, early in the day. Russian investigators have opened a criminal case related to this incident. They confirmed that the driver died at the scene but did not disclose the victim’s identity or details about the criminal case.

According to reports from Russian and Ukrainian media, the victim was Damir R. Davydov, an officer in the supply department for the Main Missile and Artillery Directorate of the Russian military. A senior Ukrainian official, speaking anonymously, confirmed this information.

Kremlin spokesperson Dmitri S. Peskov stated that President Vladimir V. Putin had been briefed on the blast, but details remain confidential due to the ongoing investigation. This explosion occurred in the same area where another attack happened in April 2025, which resulted in the death of Maj. Gen. Yaroslav Moskalik.

Ukrainian special services have increasingly targeted high-ranking Russian military figures, revealing vulnerabilities within the Kremlin’s security services. In December 2025, Lt. Gen. Fanil Sarvarov was killed in a car bomb attack. The previous year, Igor Kirillov, a general responsible for protecting nuclear and chemical weapons, died when an explosive device detonated near a residential building.

These incidents have been a significant embarrassment to Russian security services. In response to Kirillov’s death, President Putin called it a severe error and urged Russian special services to prevent such occurrences.

This report was prepared by Ivan Nechepurenko, who covers news related to Russia, Ukraine, Belarus, and various regions of the Caucasus and Central Asia.