Image: from TASS X@tassagency_en
By Open Chronicle Staff with Agencies | December 24, 2025
MOSCOW, Russia — A powerful explosion rocked Moscow on Wednesday, killing three people, including two traffic police officers. The attack occurred just two days after a high-ranking general was assassinated by a car bomb in the same district, fueling fears of a coordinated sabotage campaign within the heart of the Russian capital.
The Incident: Detonation During Police Approach
According to the Investigative Committee of Russia, the blast occurred when officers attempted to engage a suspicious individual during a routine patrol.
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The Detonation: As the officers approached, an explosive device was triggered. Investigative Committee spokesperson Svetlana Petrenko confirmed that both officers and a bystander died from their injuries at the scene.
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The Victims: The Interior Ministry identified the fallen officers as Lt. Ilya Klimanov, 24, who joined the force in 2023, and Lt. Maxim Gorbunov, 25, who is survived by his wife and a 9-month-old daughter.
Moscow, Russia ❗
🚗💥UPD: Two traffic police officers died in an explosion of a car on Yeltskaya Street in Moscow from multiple shrapnel wounds. An unknown person threw an improvised explosive device into a police car and fled the scene. – mash https://t.co/ydUu42W77d pic.twitter.com/nRzG5FZTna— LX (@LXSummer1) December 24, 2025
A Pattern of Violence: The Sarvarov Connection
The location of the blast is highly significant, as it took place in the same neighborhood where Lt. Gen. Fanil Sarvarov was killed on Monday morning.
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Target Profile: Sarvarov served as the Head of the Operational Training Directorate of the Russian Armed Forces’ General Staff.
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Method of Attack: The general was killed by a sophisticated car bomb, marking the third assassination of a senior military officer in Russia in just over a year.
Suspicions and Geopolitical Context
While the Kremlin has not yet officially named a perpetrator, investigators have pointed toward Ukraine as the likely orchestrator of this week’s violence.
As the conflict nears its four-year mark, the frequency of “rear-guard” attacks in Moscow has increased. Notable recent precedents include:
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Lt. Gen. Igor Kirillov: Killed exactly one year ago by a bomb hidden on an electric scooter outside his home.
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Lt. Gen. Fanil Sarvarov: Killed Monday by a vehicle-borne improvised explosive device (VBIED).
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Lts. Klimanov and Gorbunov: Killed today in the line of duty.
Impact on Internal Security
The ability of attackers to strike high-value military targets and law enforcement in the capital underscores significant gaps in Russia’s internal security net. Analysts suggest that by targeting officers involved in operational training and logistics, the attackers aim to degrade the Russian military’s command structure from within.
Kyiv has not yet officially commented on either explosion.