On Monday, a bomb exploded in the lobby of a luxury apartment block in Moscow, killing at least one person and injuring four others. The attack targeted a pro-Russian paramilitary leader from eastern Ukraine, according to the state TASS news agency.
The blast occurred as a man with bodyguards entered the lobby of the Scarlet Sails complex, located near the Moskva River, just 12 km (7 miles) from the Kremlin. TASS reported that the explosion was an assassination attempt aimed at Armen Sarkisyan, accused by Ukraine of supporting Russia's activities in the Donetsk region.
Reports from RIA, another state news agency, indicated that Sarkisyan was in critical condition and undergoing a leg amputation due to the injuries sustained in the bombing.
Authorities described the attack on Sarkisyan as a meticulously planned assassination attempt, with ongoing efforts to uncover the individuals behind the crime. Images of the heavily damaged lobby were shared by Baza, a Telegram channel with ties to Russia's security services, stating that Sarkisyan had suffered severe wounds. Reuters has not independently verified this information.
Last month, Ukraine's SBU security service labeled Sarkisyan a "crime boss" in Donetsk, accusing him of supporting illicit armed groups and orchestrating supplies for frontline units. In a separate incident, Russia's General Igor Kirillov was killed in a bomb explosion near a Moscow apartment building, for which Ukraine claimed responsibility. No immediate response was provided by Ukraine regarding the recent bombing in Moscow.