A car bomb exploded beneath a Kia Sorento in a residential courtyard in southern Moscow on the morning of December 21, 2025, shortly after the driver entered the vehicle and began moving. 

Russian investigators believe an improvised explosive device (IED) was planted under the car, classifying the incident as a targeted attack rather than an accident. 

The blast occurred at approximately 7:00 a.m. local time on Yasenevaya Street in the Orekhovo-Borisovo Yuzhnoye district.  

The driver, a 56-year-old man, sustained critical injuries, including multiple fractures, shrapnel wounds, and a concussion. 

Emergency services reported that he was initially trapped inside the burning vehicle and required resuscitation at the scene before being transferred to intensive care. 

No fatalities were reported, though several nearby cars were damaged by debris and shrapnel.  

“A Deliberate Assassination Attempt”

Russia’s Investigative Committee of Russia opened a criminal case under statutes related to attempted murder and the illegal use of explosives. 

Preliminary findings indicate the device—possibly weighing several kilograms—was affixed beneath the chassis or driver’s seat and detonated seconds after the engine started, either remotely or via a motion sensor. 

Emergency responders secured the scene within minutes, and forensic teams began examining explosive residue and vehicle fragments. 

Officials have released no information on suspects or motives, but investigators are focusing on the victim’s professional role. 

Authorities confirmed the incident is being treated as a targeted attack, with no evidence of indiscriminate intent.  

Senior Military Figure Implicated

Unofficial reports from Russian Telegram channels identified the victim as Major General Fanil Fanisovich Sarvarov, head of operational training within the General Staff of the Russian Ministry of Defense. Sarvarov has served in senior command and planning roles since at least 2015 and is described as a veteran of multiple conflicts, including the Chechen wars, the 2008 conflict in South Ossetia, Syria, and the war in Ukraine.  

Sarvarov’s involvement in Ukraine has made him a prominent figure within the Russian military hierarchy. 

Ukrainian and international human rights organizations have accused him of overseeing abuses in occupied territories, allegations that Russian authorities reject. 

UPDATE: Russia’s Investigative Committee said the victim of the explosion on Yasenevaya Street in Moscow was Sarvarov, head of operational training of the Russian Armed Forces.