General Sarwarov dead after car bomb attack in Moscow – who is behind it?

General Sarwarov dead after car bomb attack in Moscow – who is behind it?

On December 22, 2025, Lieutenant General Fanil Sarvarov was killed in a car bomb attack in Moscow. The explosion occurred in a residential area in the south of the city, specifically on Yasenevaya Street, where the explosive device was planted under his vehicle. Sarvarov, born in 1969, was the head of the operational training department in the Russian General Staff and had previously taken part in various military operations, including in Syria and Chechnya.

The investigation into the attack is being led by the Russian Investigative Committee, whose spokeswoman Svetlana Petrenko is considering several theories. One possible group of perpetrators are the Ukrainian security authorities. This is considered a serious hypothesis given the tense situation between Russia and Ukraine. A year ago, General Igor Kirillov was killed in a similar attack in Moscow, for which the Ukrainian secret service SBU claimed responsibility. Among other things, Kirillov was held responsible for the use of chemical weapons against Ukrainian troops, which Moscow rejected.

connection with ongoing uncertainty

General Sarvarov's death is part of a worrying trend of attacks on high-ranking military officials in Russia. Another general was killed in an explosive attack in Moscow in April 2025. Such incidents are particularly alarming at a time when 80 percent of the Russian population is worried about the future. A survey by the Friedrich Ebert Foundation as part of Security Radar 2025 shows that many citizens in Russia perceive their country's international position as inadequate and 70 percent see a larger role for NATO as a threat.

The social tensions resulting from these incidents are compounded by economic uncertainty. The ruble has lost value and imports have become more expensive, weighing on the country's economy. A narrow majority of Russians, 54 percent, believe that Russia does not have the international status it deserves.

Demand for negotiations

Despite the uncertainties, many Russians see diplomatic negotiations as a way out. 76 percent believe it is unacceptable not to start negotiations about the ongoing war. Therefore, the bloody incident involving General Sarvarov could be seen as an occasion for a reassessment of the situation at the international level. A large part of the population is optimistic about the future of Russia, but is more pessimistic about the situation in Europe.

The back-to-back attacks and the general state of Russian society raise questions about how geopolitical tensions will evolve in the coming months and years. Further investigations into this attack could have a significant impact not only on the fate of the perpetrators, but also on the political landscape in Russia.

— Small newspaper, daily news, bpb.de