A bomb exploded at a luxury apartment block in Moscow on Monday, killing a pro-Russia paramilitary leader and his bodyguard. The blast targeted Armen Sarkisyan, the head of Russia’s boxing federation in occupied Donetsk, who has ties to Ukraine.
Sarkisyan was reportedly hiding a bomb in a couch at the building’s entrance when it detonated remotely, hitting him and his bodyguard. The attack is believed to be an assassination attempt on Sarkisyan, who had a long history of aiding pro-Russia forces in Ukraine.
Russian security services described the blast as “well-planned” and claimed no group took responsibility for the attack. However, Ukraine has been accused of conducting targeted assassinations against Russian military officers and officials.
Sarkisyan’s connections to the Ukrainian resistance have sparked questions about Kyiv’s involvement in the attack. The founder of a battalion fighting alongside Russia during Vladimir Putin’s invasion of Ukraine was born in Ukraine but has Armenian roots.
The blast would represent the latest attempt by Ukraine to target high-ranking Russian officials, following an assassination attempt on a Russian general in December.
Source: https://www.theguardian.com/world/2025/feb/03/moscow-bomb-kills-pro-russia-paramilitary-leader