A bomb exploded in the lobby of a luxury apartment building in Moscow on Monday, killing at least one person and injuring four others. The attack targeted Armen Sarkisyan, a senior pro-Russian paramilitary leader from eastern Ukraine, according to Russia’s state-run TASS news agency.
Sarkisyan, who was critically injured in the blast, later died in the hospital, as reported by Kommersant newspaper. The explosion occurred just as Sarkisyan, accompanied by bodyguards, entered the lobby of the “Scarlet Sails” complex, located along the Moskva River, about 12 km (7 miles) from the Kremlin.
TASS, citing law enforcement sources, described the blast as an “assassination attempt” and identified Sarkisyan as the intended target. He has been accused by Ukraine of supporting Russia’s military efforts in Donetsk, an eastern Ukrainian region. According to RIA, another state news agency, authorities stated that Sarkisyan was in critical condition and that part of his leg was being amputated.
“The assassination attempt on Sarkisyan was meticulously planned and carried out by those who ordered it. Investigators are currently working to identify the individuals responsible for commissioning the attack,” a law enforcement official told TASS.
Baza, a Telegram channel with ties to Russia’s security services, shared footage showing significant damage to the building’s lobby. The channel reported that Sarkisyan had been severely injured in the explosion, though Reuters was unable to independently verify this claim.
In December, Ukraine’s SBU security service labeled Sarkisyan a “crime boss” in the Donetsk region, which has been largely under Moscow’s control since 2014. The agency accused him of being involved with and supporting “illegal armed groups.”
According to the SBU, Sarkisyan had formed a pro-Russian militia composed of local prisoners and was responsible for organizing supplies for units on the frontlines.
Last December, Ukraine claimed responsibility for the assassination of Russian General Igor Kirillov, who was killed in a bomb explosion outside a Moscow apartment building. There was no immediate response from Ukrainian officials regarding Monday’s bombing.
