Two traffic police officers and another individual have been confirmed dead following a car explosion in Moscow, dealing a blow to the Vladimir Putin administration amid a similar incident earlier in the week in which a Russian military officer was killed.
In a statement dated Wednesday, December 24, 2025, Russia’s Investigative Committee said the incident occurred early Wednesday when an explosive device was detonated as officers approached a “suspicious person” near their police vehicle on Yeletskaya Street in southern Moscow.
Authorities have sealed off the area as a crime scene and are reviewing CCTV footage to establish the circumstances surrounding the explosion and identify those responsible.
“An explosive device was triggered as the officers approached the suspect, who was standing near their service vehicle. Two police officers succumbed to their injuries, and the individual who was standing next to them also died as a result of the explosion,” the statement said.
Moscow Car Explosion Kills Three, Hits Putin Administration
Footage aired on Russian television showed the site sealed off, with a heavy police deployment in the area. Witnesses said the blast occurred at around 1:30 a.m. local time.
The blast took place on Yeletskaya Street in southern Moscow, close to the location where Russian General Fanil Sarvarov was killed earlier this week.
Also Read: Putin’s Senior Military Officer Killed in Car Explosion
Sarvarov, who was the head of the operational training department within the Russian General Staff, was killed on Monday, December 22, by an explosive device placed under a car, with authorities still probing his death.
Svetlana Petrenko, spokesperson for Russia’s Investigative Committee, said the authorities are investigating multiple versions of the attack, including possible involvement by Ukrainian special services.
“Investigators are pursuing numerous lines of inquiry regarding the murder. One of these is that the crime was orchestrated by Ukrainian intelligence services,” said Svetlana.
Several media in Russia reported that the car exploded in a parking lot on Moscow’s Yaseneva Street with the driver inside at approximately 7 a.m.
Video footage released by the Russian agency captured a car with its front severely damaged in a parking area.
Similar Incident of Explosion in Moscow
The deaths of the two policemen and a civilian, along with the recent killing of Lieutenant General Fanil Sarvarov, Head of the Operational Training Department of the Russian Armed Forces General Staff, are not the first explosions to occur in Moscow since Russian President Vladimir Putin launched a full-scale invasion of Ukraine in early 2022.
Russian Lieutenant General Igor Kirillov was killed by a remotely detonated scooter in December 2024, while General Yaroslav Moskalik died in a car bombing in April. Ukraine has not claimed responsibility for either attack.
Negotiations for a ceasefire between Ukraine and Russia are currently underway. These talks have yet to reach an agreement, particularly as President Zelenskyy’s administration continues to oppose any territorial concessions to Russia.
Also Read: Putin Hit Hard After Ukrainian Drones Kill Three, Russian Cargo Ship Catches Fire
Over the weekend of December 20–21, 2025, U.S. Special Envoy Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner facilitated separate meetings with Russian envoy Kirill Dmitriev and Ukrainian officials.
The discussions focused on a 28-point peace plan proposed by the U.S., which reportedly includes provisions for territorial concessions by Ukraine along with security guarantees.
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