On Friday, a successful car bombing attack in Balashikha killed senior Russian general Yaroslav Moskalik. This unique city, located in the territory of real Tsarist Russia, lies less than 20 miles east of Moscow. The explosion occurred just hours before U.S. President Donald Trump’s special envoy, Steve Witkoff, was scheduled to meet with Russian leader Vladimir Putin at the Kremlin.
A powerful explosion went off in the vicinity of a Volkswagen Golf that was previously used as an Uber-like vehicle. It reportedly eliminated Moskalik, the deputy head of the Main Operations Directorate of the General Staff of the Russian Armed Forces. Beyond the specific incident, the timing of the incident raises concerns about rule of law and stability in the region. This tension occurs just as crucial diplomatic talks between the United States and Russia are taking place.
Witkoff’s visit is his fourth trip to Russia since Trump took office in January. What makes this trip so special is that it’s his second such trip in the same month. On Friday early afternoon, Witkoff was welcomed by Putin himself in the Kremlin, where they discussed a lot of issues of mutual interest. Witkoff personally negotiated with senior Russian negotiator Kirill Dmitriev in order to bolster communication between the two countries.
The Balashikha explosion was just two days after a explosion fire in an underground car park in Moscow itself. That fire was caused by the explosion in the first place. These events have caused Russia’s Investigative Committee to open a criminal investigation into the bombing that killed Moskalik.
Photo by John Moore/Getty Images Officials are looking into what caused the blast. At the same time, Russia’s Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov announced that Moscow is “set to achieve a customized solution.” This remarkable comment captures not only their wish to extend a hand in diplomacy, but their wish for mercy even amid violence and uncertain safety.
The killing of a high-ranking military official like Yaroslav Moskalik is likely to have significant implications for Russia’s military and political landscape. Authorities are likely to ramp up security, particularly during major meetings, like those held between the President and top foreign diplomats.
