A high-ranking Russian general was killed in a car bombing in Moscow on Monday, with investigators suggesting that Ukrainian intelligence could be involved in the attack.

The explosion claimed the life of Lt. Gen. Fanil Sarvarov, who led the Operational Training Directorate of the Russian Armed Forces’ General Staff. He succumbed to his injuries, marking him as the third senior Russian military official to die in a bombing this year.

Svetlana Petrenko, spokesperson for Russia’s Investigative Committee, stated, “Investigators are exploring several potential leads in the murder case. One possibility under consideration is that the crime was orchestrated by Ukrainian intelligence services.”

Kremlin representative Dmitry Peskov confirmed that President Vladimir Putin was promptly informed about the assassination of Sarvarov.

This undated image, provided by the Russian Defense Ministry Press Service on Monday, December 22, 2025, shows Lt. Gen. Fanil Sarvarov, who was killed following an explosive device detonation beneath his vehicle in southern Moscow. (Image courtesy of the Russian Defense Ministry Press Service via AP)

Sarvarov had previously fought in Chechnya and taken part in Moscow’s military campaign in Syria, according to Russia’s defense ministry.

Ukrainian forces have yet to take responsibility for the attack.

Prior to Sarvarov, Russia lost the head of its nuclear, biological and chemical protection force, Lt. Gen. Igor Kirillov, in a similar bombing earlier this year. Ukrainian forces took responsibility for that attack.

Policemen secure the area near the scene where Lt. Gen. Fanil Sarvarov, head of the Operational Training Directorate of the Russian Armed Forces General Staff, was killed by an explosive device placed under his car in Moscow, Monday, Dec. 22, 2025. (AP Photo)

Russian military officer, Lt. Gen. Yaroslav Moskalik, was also killed by a car bombing in Moscow in April.

Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said in the aftermath of that attack that he had received reports about the successful “liquidation” of Russian military leaders, though he did not mention Moskalik directly.

The Monday bombing comes as Ukraine, Russia and the U.S. remain in peace talks. Russian officials said they were proceeding “constructively” on Sunday, even as missiles rained down on Ukraine’s port city of Odesa.

Russian President Vladimir Putin listens to a journalist’s question during his annual news conference and call-in show at Gostinny Dvor, in Moscow, on Friday, Dec. 19, 2025.  (Alexander Kazakov, Sputnik, Kremlin Pool Photo via AP)

Putin also noted on Friday that the nation’s “troops are advancing,” and expressed confidence that Russia would achieve its goals by military force if Ukraine does not accept its peace terms.

“The goals of the special military operation will undoubtedly be achieved. We would prefer to accomplish this and address the root causes of the conflict through diplomatic means,” he said.